Read other letters about this article

• Sunday, August 24, 2008 06:19 AM

  Whatever

  Peter Maranci: "Obama lost my vote with his FISA flip-flop; I could have taken a lot from him, but not a flat-out screwing of the Constitution."

  Obama didn't screw the Constitution, Bush and Cheney did. Obama didn't even flip-flop, which is a term reserved for full-on policy reversals. Obama did go back on his pledge to filibuster, which was a tactical decision. A filibuster would have been a useless and distracting sideshow accomplishing little. Obama can much more effectively direct a reform of the FISA laws as president. I am tired of reading people who call his FISA moves a "betrayal" or "flip-flop" without having a clue what they're talking about.

  No, he just screwed the supporters who thought that this was a rather important issue on which to say to Bush/Cheney once and for all: No more. Instead, his actions said, what else do you want before you leave office? Call it what you will (I prefer either "capitulation" or "sell-out"), but his decision to vote for FISA with the understanding (totally unstated but certainly imagined by Obama's supporters) that he'll keep things under control -- just trust me -- once elected president is a leap of faith at best. You are what you do, and when push came to shove, Obama stood with Bush/Cheney and the Fascist Right. Remember, he didn't vote no in a losing effort; he voted yes.

  Flip-flop? Maybe not. Change? Definitely not.

  —senorplaid Read senorplaid's other letters
  Permalink
  Flag
  Click "Submit Flag" if you feel this post is inappropriate. Explain why below if you wish.

  Cancel