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Senator Obama,
Normally, I am not a single issue voter. I know that I will not agree with everything anyone has to say or present, especially in an election cycle. However, there are issues I feel strongly about. You have addressed this issue of civil liberties more than once, but a single statement that you made during the Des Moines debate (Aired December 13, 2007) resonated with me.
Your own words, in response to this question:"In light of the big needs and the financial realities we've talked about up to this point, what realistically do you believe you could accomplish in your first year as president?"
"OBAMA: I will call in the Joint Chiefs of Staff and tell them they have a new mission, which is to, in a responsible, careful way, end this war in Iraq, bring our combat troops home. I will initiate the kind of diplomacy that's necessary to stabilize the country and the region as we're pulling out. Number two, I'll call in my new attorney general to review every single executive order that's been issued by George Bush. And any of those that have undermined our Constitution or subverted our civil liberties are going to be reversed."
Now how you reconcile this statement with your vote last week on the primary FISA bill I do not know. Apparently it has everything to do with politics, your campaign, and the Bush administration, and NOTHING TO DO WITH "We the People" or adherence to the US Constitution and the 4th Amendment. It does not matter that there was an attempt at an amendment to prevent stop the immunity clause of those corporations and individuals that participated in illegal data mining, phone tapping, and other who knows what else. The resulting vote on the primary bill retroactively permits activities that were clearly conducted illegally under the previous FISA bill.
I was a supporter. I was going to vote for you. I had made up my mind. Now, with a single vote you have lost my vote. If you cannot uphold the US Constitution as a Senator, how can I think you would uphold the Constitution as a President? Oh, don't worry, I am not going to vote for McCain. I just will not be voting for you.
Please tell us that your vote was necessary, and once in office you will do what you said you would do during the Des Moines debate. In fact, of all the debates, and everything that was said, this single statement was what swayed me to vote for you in the Montana primary. Please reaffirm your position on ending the war, and making the rule of law and the US Constitution whole again. I will come back.
Thanks for listening.
Sincerely,
Dan Leithauser
