An Email From The ACLU

Date:Mon 5 May 12:09:06 EDT 2008
From:"Caroline Fredrickson, ACLU"
Subject:Stop Secret Spying Deal

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From the Desk of Caroline Fredrickson, ACLU
Demand that the House Stand Firm on FISA!
http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=n6SQnGFZy8RVgRBifx9Xdw..
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Dear ACLU Supporter,

Late Friday night, the ACLU caught wind of a dangerous backroom deal
brewing. The "deal" would rush a House vote that would
push through a dangerous sellout on government spying powers, possibly
in the next few days.

We need you to immediately contact your member of Congress. Let your
representative know you're watching and expect him or her to
stand firm. That means no immunity for lawbreaking phone and internet
companies, and no spying on Americans without a warrant.

Let your member of Congress know you're watching! Go to:
http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=Ruly8f4pMF3Qvc1r3a79Aw..

Back in February, the House stood up to President Bush's
fear-mongering tactics by letting the so-called "Protect America
Act" expire. This ill-named bill eviscerated the protections of
the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and violated the
constitutional rights of Americans.

This breakthrough victory for civil liberties came only because you
and other ACLU activists refused to yield. Because of your emails and
phone calls, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer rallied defenders of
freedom to hold their ground.

But now, word comes that House leadership may be working hand-in-hand
with Senator Jay Rockefeller, the Democratic Chairman of the Senate
Intelligence Committee, who has spearheaded efforts to give immunity
to law-breaking phone companies that provided mountains of customer
data to the government without warrants.

As discussions continue, it's critical that House leadership
avoid buckling to pressure from the White House or Senator Rockefeller
at all costs. House leadership -- and every representative -- need to
draw a line in the sand by rejecting any compromise that would undo
the achievement we fought so hard for in February.

Make no mistake: any "compromise" that is acceptable to Senator
Rockefeller and the President will undoubtedly let lawbreakers off the
hook and seriously put at risk -- or even end -- lawsuits that
may be the only way to get to the bottom of crimes that were committed
by phone companies and Bush administration officials.

Demand that the House Stand Firm on FISA at:
http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=i3kKMHG5j2Jvm6u8cWU20w..

Let's make it clear. We won't tolerate:
*  Backroom deals on telecom immunity. Lawsuits may be our last
chance to expose the truth about illegal spying activities by
telecom companies and the Bush administration.

*  Backroom deals that let election year fear-mongering steal our
freedom and undermine the rule of law.

*  Backroom deals that give Bush new powers to spy on Americans
without a warrant.

With your help, we have worked relentlessly to protect freedom in the
long-running FISA debate. Now, we need to make sure all that work
isn't undone by backroom deals.

Please, urge your representative to stand firm:
http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=6_6hBLTY3r3GY873F_kc9w..

Let's make sure every member of Congress knows how proud we are
that the House has stood its ground and how outraged we will be if our
representatives and House leadership reverse themselves now.

Please act quickly,

Caroline Fredrickson, Director
ACLU Washington Legislative Office

P.S. Once you've emailed your representative, don't forget
to follow up with a phone call by going to:
http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=ZGXoOEEWAgsKmMFqEB1pVg..

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