I wish to be 100% clear. I do not blame Webb's staff for their inability to articulate Webb's position. I blame Webb for his inability to articulate his position.
The Senator's office sent me a letter that Webb sent the House-Senate Conference saying that Webb, in effect, supports the House bill and my position, i.e. that he is opposed to Government spying on innocents, that he actually cares about the Constitution.
One would think, based on what Webb said in running for office that he cares more about the Constitution than donations from telecom companies.
But if this is true, why did he vote for the bill?
I'm still waiting for an answer. I deserve at least a phone call from their legal staff. If I don't hear soon, I plan to really ratchet up the pressure. You can help me by calling his office and telling him that you too believe the Constitution should be respected and you're wondering why he doesn't!
Here's a quote by Jim Webb BEFORE the telcom companies asked him to shred the Constitution:
The danger of the abuse of centralized power is an historical constant. Americans should indeed worry about a centralized government that has the power to listen in and monitor the conduct of average citizens, as well as the power to listen in and monitor the conduct of their political opposition. Those powers (and that conduct) are a staple of authoritarian and totalitarian societies. I'll never forget my visit 10 years ago to the defunct HQ of STASI in East Germany, which had kept informant files on millions of East Germans.I am not making any allegations against this Administration. What I am saying is that the Constitution deliberately built in checks and balances among the three branches of government in order to prevent such conduct. If the executive branch is not sharing the information it has collected from NSA wire taps, what gives it the authority to keep it to itself, and why is it so skittish?
Great stuff to run for office.
But does Webb actually believe what he claims?
If he did, his Senate office would return my call.
I'm still waiting for an explanation.
(Hint: If they had one, they would have called me already.)