Obama Changes Position on FISA: Damages Credibility

In an abrupt about face, presidential candidate Barack Obama has decided to throw his support behind the FISA compromise bill worked out between the white house and the democrat controlled congress after threatening to filibuster similar legislation earlier this year.

The original bill gathered controversy because it contained language modifying the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, allowing for wiretaps to be ordered without warrants or judicial oversight. The bill also provided immunity to telecommunications companies who, in the past, have given phone records to the government without proper warrants or subpoenas. The revised legislation would not only make it legal for telecoms to do so in the future, but would also provide retroactive immunity against lawsuits filed against these companies for violating their customers privacy rights.

The first version of this bill was stonewalled in congress because of its controversial nature. This was when Obama stood strongly opposed to this legislation. Recently, a new version was proposed, created out of a compromise between republican and democrat leaders. This new version contains the same warrantless wiretapping provisions, but some change to the telecom immunity language. Under this version, the telecoms are only immune to lawsuits if they can prove that they were informed by the government that it was legal to turn over such records. Of course, the telecoms were told this, and the passing of this legislation would basically give the telecoms the immunity they were looking for, just in a round about way. The only thing the democrats really gained from this compromise was a chance to save face, a chance that Obama jumped for. However, civil liberties groups and some left leaning pundits aren’t buying it.

For the first time, Obama has angered a great deal of his far left supporters. Obama says that he is supporting the compromise and recognizes the need to pass this legislation in a timely manor. I call it a cop out and a flip flop. A bill is not a compromise when one side gets everything they asked for and the other side gives up everything they were standing up to fight against.

I understand why the Obama campaign has reversed its position; they are trying to move toward the center in order to get votes in key swing states. However, they have made a grave miscalculation. Trying to appeal to the center by running away from leftist positions is a failing strategy for Obama for several reasons.

One reason would be because he is up against McCain. If Obama wants to try to compare his record against McCain on reaching over the isle, he is going to lose the fight. McCain has many years of experience and a proven bipartisan voting record on issues like campaign finance and immigration. Obama just does not have the senate experience to back up his bipartisan claims. That is not to say the Obama would not work toward a “Purple America,” but when Obama’s record is put next to John McCain, Obama falls short and independent voters can see this. Running to the center will not help Obama catch independent voters.

Another problem with this strategy is funding. By running away from the left, Obama risks damaging his reputation with left wing supporters. McCain has the same problem with his far right supporters as well. The difference in the two candidates is how they plan on financing their campaigns. McCain is taking public financing money, while Obama will rely on individual donations. Obama has been setting record fundraising levels because of his grass-roots campaign style and small individual donations. If he starts alienating his base, those donations will dry up fast. One example is Markos Moulitsas, founder of the Daily Kos website who has already said he plans of cutting back donations to Obama’s campaign now that Obama supports the new FISA legislation.

Finally, the Obama campaign has made the mistake of underestimating the values of independent voters. Independents and moderates tend to cast their ballots for a candidate, not a party. Integrity and trust are important issues, more important than some of the political posturing seen so commonly throughout the election season. By changing his position on the FISA legislation, Obama has compromised his leadership qualities. Facing off against McCain, who can be very firm in his beliefs, Obama’s ill-advised position swapping may be a very serious mistake that will hurt him with independents and moderates that he will need to win key swing states.

Whatever Obama’s reasons for changing his position and supporting the new FISA provisions for telecom immunity and warrantless wiretapping, here is what the public will see: a candidate who has completely changed his position on a fundamental issue, a candidate who cannot be trusted, a candidate who cannot keep his campaign promises, and a candidate giving into political pressure instead of following his core beliefs. If Obama truly believes that turning his back on his strongest supporters is the way to win this election, we will be welcoming president McCain come November.

Clinton vs. Obama ... and McCain

The last few Democratic primaries are approaching. The convention is only a few months away. Yet the Dems have not chosen who they will nominate. Obama may have a majority of delegates, but Clinton has said that she will remain in the race as long as it takes, which means the convention in August. What does this mean for the Democratic Party?

There are 2 scenarios. One, the 2 potential Democratic candidates will continue the campaign of mud throwing accusations. There will be a winner… that looks really bad, dirty, with a reputation for negative campaigning. Meanwhile, McCain gets to run his campaign the way he likes, virtually unopposed by any united front. From now until August is McCain’s chance to accrue a lead so vast, that the eventual nominee cannot possibly catch up.

The other possibility plays out a little different. With Obama and Clinton still in contest for the nomination, they dominate the media (because lets face it, big nasty TV fights are good for ratings). All this free media attention drowns out McCain’s message and allows the Democrats to control the news stories up until the convention. There is some evidence that this could occur. According to open secrets, in April Obama raised $30,694,196 and Clinton raised $25,787,239 compared to McCain’s $18,310,686.

Those numbers amaze me. Together, the Democratic presidential candidates raked in $56,481,435, an amount more than 3 times what the Republican candidate raised. To me, this shows that the Barack vs. Hillary onslaught is drawing much more attention to the Democratic side, and leaving McCain far behind.

But Democrats should not go out celebrating just yet. With all the bitter feelings on both sides, the primary winner might very well alienate some of Democrats who supported their rival candidate. These people might not show up on Election Day, or worst case (for the Dems), they show up and vote McCain. McCain is exactly the right Republican for this to happen. His experience commands a great deal of respect. Enough to attract some of the Democratic supporters? We’ll see.