October 11, 2007 6:53 AM

Not Everyone Agrees With Steny

Yesterday, Michael dared Congress to send Bush a FISA bill...that he'd veto. The President has made it clear he wants his telecom friends to have immunity for their illegal actions -- and to our great dismay, Steny Hoyer, the number 2 in the House, seems ready to capitulate without a fight.

Michael suggested that courage might go a little further than capitulation...and statements by some Congressional candidates show that Steny is on shaky standing.

Our friend Matt Stoller at Open Left has been asking candidates for statements on the current FISA fight -- and five have already responded with such comments as Eric Massa's:

This proposal to offer amnesty for the telecommunication companies who illegally spied on Americans is just another example of the Bush administration protecting their corporate donor base. Instead of understanding and agreeing that if laws were broken companies should be held accountable, the Bush administration, like moths to a fire, has flocked to protect those who have knowingly and illegally disregarded the Constitution and violated the privacy of law abiding Americans.

Or Sam Bennett's:

It should be noted that not all such companies heeded the call for unchecked Presidential power, and those who resisted should be commended. For the others, blind immunity for crimes, especially when not even yet fully documented, is an alien and disturbing idea to Americans.

We particularly appreciate the implicit commendation for Working Assets' refusal to break the law. Then there's Larry Kissell, who sums it up nicely:

The Fourth Amendment doesn't exclude lobbyists.

Looks like Hoyer could learn a lesson from a few who are looking to become his colleagues. Let's just hope the rest of the House doesn't follow Hoyer's lead in the meantime.

Tell them to stand strong and change course on Bush's wiretapping program...and to hold all accountable for their criminal acts.