| [UPDATE II] Both Cazayoux and Melancon voted for shredding the 4th Amendment. Thanks for that, gentlemen. At least the corrupt Jefferson voted against it. It's now up to the Senate. Hopefully, Senator Obama will use his platform to speak out against this horrendous legislation. Ditto Senator Clinton.
[UPDATE] The bill just passed the House by a vote of 293 to 129. The Democratic Majority, the ones that whine all the time about how the Bush Administration violated the FISA law on the campaign trail, couldn't even stand together on this bill, voting in opposition by a vote of 128-105. I just hope that Congressman Cazayoux, Melancon, and Jefferson voted against it, or they will get an earful from me tomorrow night at the Jefferson Jackson Dinner.
The big boys of the Netroots have been agitated for awhile now over the FISA bill that the Bush Administration and its' allies have attempted to push through Congress. It was defeated earlier in the year, and it seemed that that was that. Apparently not.
Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a corporate Democrat if there was ever one, was negotiating with the GOP to ensure that AT&T and other telecoms receive immunity for spying upon American citizens at the request of the Bush Administration. Hoyer and other Blue Dog Democrats will likely argue that it leaves the issue of telecom immunity to federal courts on a case-by-case basis, subject to these telecom companies having a Get Out of Jail free letter from the Bush Administration saying that what they did was necessary for reasons of national security:
One source said that the court would review whether there was "substantial evidence" that the companies had received assurances from the government that the administration's program was legal.
A Senate Intelligence Committee report on an earlier version of the legislation detailed how the companies had received such assurances from the Justice Department and the White House.
Those telecoms already have the Get Out of Jail Free letter, y'all. This is being pushed through right before the July 4th recess, at a time when most Americans are not paying attention. The bill is actually being debated on the floor RIGHT NOW. To be sure, there are Democratic Congressman in opposition, like Rep. Conyers of Michigan.
My question is this ... where do Congressman Cazayoux, Congressman Jefferson and Congressman Melancon stand? I have no hope that our Republican Members of Congress from Louisiana will vote against this sellout of our Constitution. However, I would hope that our Democratic Representatives, particularly Congressman Cazayoux, having been educated at Georgetown Law, would appreciate the importance of the 4th Amendment, which is what this fight is all about:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
In short, the Bush Administration assured the telecoms that spying on Americans without a wiretap, without probable cause, was legal, in plain defiance of the U.S. Constitution, Amendment 4.
So, Congressman Cazayoux, Melancon, and Jefferson ... we're watching what you do. The support of Democratic voters in your districts hinges on how you vote on this piece of legislation. If you vote the wrong way, I, for one, will be looking for a better Democrat to primary you ... if not this year, then definitely in 2010. The Netroots has already started talking in the language we all know you understand all so well ... raising money for eventual primary challenges. If you can, donate.
Readers, please thank Congressmen Cazayoux and Melancon for shredding our 4th Amendment rights by calling them at the number below. And thank Congressman Jefferson for doing the right thing.
| Representative |
D.C. Office |
District Office |
| Don Cazayoux (D) |
(202) 225-3901 |
(225) 929-7711 |
| Bill Jefferson (D) |
(202) 225-6636 |
(504) 589-2274 |
| Charlie Melancon (D) |
(202) 225-4031 |
(985) 876-3033 |
|
