Barack Obama Backs House Plan To Grant Immunity To Telecoms For Spying Activities, Senator Reid Promises To Strip The Provision. Fat Chance, Senator.

Sorry for the slow posting day.

Today, the U. S. House passed, on a 293-129 vote, a compromise bill that will grant immunity to telecoms that spied on Americans as a part of the war on terror.

Surprisingly, Barack Obama supports it. Here's his prepared release on it:

"Given the grave threats that we face, our national security agencies must have the capability to gather intelligence and track down terrorists before they strike, while respecting the rule of law and the privacy and civil liberties of the American people. There is also little doubt that the Bush Administration, with the cooperation of major telecommunications companies, has abused that authority and undermined the Constitution by intercepting the communications of innocent Americans without their knowledge or the required court orders.

"That is why last year I opposed the so-called Protect America Act, which expanded the surveillance powers of the government without sufficient independent oversight to protect the privacy and civil liberties of innocent Americans. I have also opposed the granting of retroactive immunity to those who were allegedly complicit in acts of illegal spying in the past.

"After months of negotiation, the House today passed a compromise that, while far from perfect, is a marked improvement over last year's Protect America Act.

"Under this compromise legislation, an important tool in the fight against terrorism will continue, but the President's illegal program of warrantless surveillance will be over. It restores FISA and existing criminal wiretap statutes as the exclusive means to conduct surveillance - making it clear that the President cannot circumvent the law and disregard the civil liberties of the American people. It also firmly re-establishes basic judicial oversight over all domestic surveillance in the future. It does, however, grant retroactive immunity, and I will work in the Senate to remove this provision so that we can seek full accountability for past offenses. But this compromise guarantees a thorough review by the Inspectors General of our national security agencies to determine what took place in the past, and ensures that there will be accountability going forward. By demanding oversight and accountability, a grassroots movement of Americans has helped yield a bill that is far better than the Protect America Act.

"It is not all that I would want. But given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as President, I will carefully monitor the program, review the report by the Inspectors General, and work with the Congress to take any additional steps I deem necessary to protect the lives - and the liberty - of the American people."

Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, has promised to strip the bill of its immunity provisions, even though the Senate has previously passed a similar version containing the immunity provisions.

Here's what he had to say:

"I'm going to try real hard to have a separate vote on immunity."

Editor's comment: Fat chance, Senator.

I look forward to what Senator Mitch McConnell will do to you on this one!

And, Barack Obama seems to be moving slowly to the center, and House Democrats are INCOMPETENT to be able to deliver on ANY promises they made to their voters in order to win back Congress!