Reply #45: No and yes. When Clinton was still running I called her office as [View All]

[slipslidingaway]

well, that was back in January and February when there were days of debate. Both had the attention of the media and the people, did they try and fight to strip out the immunity provision at that time or highlight their concerns about warrantless wiretapping and educate the people?

Clinton is now out and Obama has the media glued to him, use the media IF you want it defeated.

It is about both the bill and Obama's capacity to lead on this issue and about him keeping the promise he made to MoveOn filibuster the bill. Obama made the promise, not Reid or anyone else.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6396994#6400709

Obama did not speak on the floor that day, although he was there to vote on all the amendments. If he had made it an issue the media might have covered his speech that night and Senator Clinton could have done the same thing if she had been there for the votes.

And as I've said over the past few days, and to a lesser degree back in February, if our party really wanted to defeat this bill, or strip the immunity clause, they could have rallied support from the American people in their travels across the country and interviews in the media.

To come in at the 11th hour and say 'I'll try' knowing full well 67 senators voted against removing the immunity clause in February is a little late.


As they were campaigning against the Republicans it would have been easy to mention the illegal wiretapping under Bush and that the Republicans now wanted retroactive immunity for the companies that broke the law.

There is only one reason I can think of that this issue was not brought to the people and that is because too many in our own party wanted the bill with immunity to pass.

If you want to fight for an issue then use all the tools available.