Obama Disappoints on FISA

clipped from blog.washingtonpost.com In recent days, Sen. Barack Obama has been targeted by supporters on his own social networking site, MyBarackObama.com, because of his stance on the FISA compromise. One backer formed a group on MyBO, as users call Obama's site, named "Senator Obama­ Please Vote NO on Telecom Immunity -­ Get FISA Right." Today, that group has grown to more than 16,000 members, making it the single largest group on Obama's site. In response to the group and a growing online controversy over his FISA stance, Obama took to his blog this afternoon to address concerns about his support for the intelligence surveillance bill.

The piece goes on:

"This was not an easy call for me," he wrote. "I know that the FISA bill that passed the House is far from perfect. I wouldn't have drafted the legislation like this, and it does not resolve all of the concerns that we have about President Bush's abuse of executive power... But I also believe that the compromise bill is far better than the Protect America Act that I voted against last year. The exclusivity provision makes it clear to any President or telecommunications company that no law supersedes the authority of the FISA court."

I think a lot of idealists out there are learning a couple of lessons; 1. If you want a candidate who believes exactly what you do, you're going to have to run. 2. In American Democracy, you pretty much wind up voting for the adversary you'd most want to have.