“Senator Obama has serious concerns about many provisions in this bill, especially the provision on giving retroactive immunity to the telephone companies. He is hopeful that this bill can be improved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. But if the bill comes to the Senate floor in its current form, he would support a filibuster of it.”
– Barack Obama campaign, October 23 2007
The bill is coming forward to the Senate in exactly the same form in which it emerged from the Senate Judiciary Committee. Barack Obama promised to support the filibuster. You have to be present in the Senate to do that.
But Barack Obama is not at work in the Senate today, breaking his promise.
Instead, he just started a presentation selling his candidacy to the people of Spencer, Iowa. Scheduled for 9:20 AM, this event is one in which the people of Spencer are permitted the honor to “join Barack Obama as he shares his vision of hope and the kind of change we can believe in”.
What kind of change is that, Senator Obama? Apparently it’s not the kind of change in which a candidate for president keeps his promises. Apparently it’s the kind of change in which a politician’s career advancement is more important than his oath of office, in which he solemnly swore to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. I mean, heck, when you’re a rock star like Barack Obama and you have your storybook trajectory to look after, why bother with little things, like the 4th Amendment, the rule of law, judicial review, stupid little pissant stuff like that? That’s for the serfs to take care of, not you, not the Big Guy, not Barack Obama.
When Barack Obama can’t keep a promise from the end of October to the middle of December, why should I believe any other promise he makes?
[P.S. Click on the graphic to the left to find out whether your Senators have committed to support Senator Dodd's filibuster. If they haven't, follow the "Call Them Now" link to get them on the phone and give them a tongue-lashing.]
