Libertarian Candidate Bob Barr Hits Obama On FISA

Ever since Barack Obama annnounced that he would be supporting FISA legislation that includes immunity for telecom companies, he has stirred up some anger from supporters.  Currently, the largest supporter group on his website is one that is urging him to change his mind on FISA.  Now, Libertarian Candidate former Congressman Bob Barr is criticizing Obama for his changed position on FISA.  In a press release Barr says:

“The two major parties like to say that a vote for anyone else is a wasted vote,” notes Libertarian Party presidential nominee Bob Barr. “But it should be obvious to all that only the Libertarian Party provides an alternative in November.  After all, Sen. Barack Obama has reaffirmed his refusal to live up to his promise to oppose the Bush administration, which violated the law by conducting warrantless surveillance of Americans’ telephone calls.”

[snip]

“Unfortunately, the Democrats also were more enablers of government abuse than defenders of American liberty,” he adds.  Sen. Barack Obama claimed to be different, offering real change.  “But when the Democratic congressional leadership decided to concede to almost all of the administration’s demands in rewriting the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, Sen. Obama went along with the crowd.”

[snip]

“If Sen. Obama can so easily abandon a commitment on so fundamental an issue, is there any issue on which he will take a stand,” asks Barr?

Certainly it’s smart strategy for the Libertarian in the race to take advantage of this opportunity and try and wrestle some supporters away from Obama.  Although, I’m not convinced that this will be all that effective.  However important this issue may be, I just don’t think many Democrats consider it to be significant enough to warrant risking a loss for Obama by supporting Barr.  Afterall, even the founder, Mike Stark, of the aforementioned group on Obama’s website is not prepared to threaten Obama with a loss of support, regardless of how upet he may be.  Stark has said:

“Of course I’m going to vote for him in November.  (But) we’re keeping score, and there’s going to be a time when he needs us. … We have long memories.”

It is worth noting that Barr will have an opportunity to publicize his criticism of Obama on two national Sunday talk shows tomorrow.  He’ll be on ABC’s This Week and CNN’s Newsroom Primetime Edition.