Protect America from the Protect America Act

The campaign has begun to encourage Democratic presidential candidates to support Chris Dodd in his fight against telecom immunity in the Protect America Act (FISA). Here's what Jane Hamsher and Glenn Greenwald have sent along:

John Edwards should challenge his rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to go back to Washington, DC and fight against retroactive immunity for the telecoms.

The Republicans are not going to let Harry Reid punt and extend the Protect America Act for another 18 months so it looks like the FISA bill is going to come back up again on Monday. Chris Dodd's objection to Unanimous Consent still stands, so they will pick up in the middle of the Motion to Proceed debate.

Without the help of the presidential candidates, we are doomed to lose this fight. And all their calls for change will ring hollow if they allow George Bush to railroad this bill through a supine Democratic-controlled Senate because of their absence.

You can email Senator Edwards directly at john@johnedwards.com.

Cheers,

Jane Hamsher & Glenn Greenwald

Here's what I sent in my email to John Edwards:

Senator Edwards:

I know you know how totally George Bush has screwed up America. And I know you agree that it's time to take it back.

You are in the perfect position to insist that your colleagues and opposing candidates in the run for President support your former Senatorial colleague Chris Dodd, and my senator, in his fight against the flawed FISA bill.

Technically you can't stand by Dodd's side and filibuster this bill which strips liberties from Americans, and rewards lawbreaking by major corporations. But you can make it an issue which your opponents have to respond to.

I urge you to make the FISA bill a major issue, because it is. According to an ACLU poll, two-thirds of American voters think that the telecomm immunity provided by the FISA, or as it's euphemistically titled, Protect America Act, is wrong.

Please voice your concerns immediately. The bill will likely come to the floor of the Senate next week.

I will be more than happy to support you, if you support Chris Dodd.

Ed McKeon