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Blue America is launching a call tool today to help you get in touch with Senators regarding the FISA bill.   We're trying to make it as easy as possible for everyone to talk with their Senators about the importance of standing up for the constitution, the rule of law -- and standing against telecom immunity.

We have been working hard to put together some tools to make your voice heard -- and there is more to come today.  

This first tool allows you to directly contact Senators to tell them to stand up for the rule of law and vote in favor of the Dodd-Feingold-Leahy amendment.  (That's S.A.5064 to H.R. 6304 which will come up for a vote on July 8th, 2008.)  Not only will this tool help you phone your Senators -- including connecting your call -- but it also gives us the ability to track positions on FISA given your input on what you ascertain during your conversations.  

As the ACLU recently said, "no president should have the power to monitor the phones and emails of Americans without a warrant, and telecommunications companies should not be let off the hook."  The laws apply to presidents and cronies alike, just like they do to the rest of us.  We want to give you the tools needed to tell your Senators just that.  And for you to be able to do so today.

We've decided to launch this in support of the Dodd-Feingold-Leahy Amendment to strip telecom immunity from the bill.  But your conversation with staffers isn't limited to just that amendment -- we want the Senate to stand up for the rule of law, and we want to give you an opportunity to tell your Senators just that.

Sen. Russ Feingold has a fact sheet about the current FISA bill that contains useful information on the various problems with the bill. 

If you don't want to use the tool, but still want to make calls to your Senators, here's a suggested script as a starting point for your calls:

For Senators who support civil liberties:

"Trust us" just doesn't cut it as a constitutional protection.  In the vote next week on H.R. 6304, Sen. _________'s voice is essential for upholding the rule of law and the vital role of Congress and the judiciary in our system of balanced government.  Stand up for liberty by voting in favor of the Dodd-Feingold-Leahy Amendment.

For Senators who tend to waver/oppose civil liberties issues:

"Trust us" just doesn't cut it as a constitutional protection.  When the Founders established our government based on the rule of law, they specifically wrote the constitution and the Bill of Rights to apply equally to the highest officeholders and to regular citizens alike.   In the vote next week on H.R. 6304, uphold the vital role of Congress and the judiciary instead of rubber stamping an imperial presidency -- it's how a patriot would act.  Please stand up for liberty by voting for the Dodd-Feingold-Leahy Amendment.

PS -- Tools like this don't come for free.  If you would like to donate to Blue America PAC to help us fund more action like this now and in the future, you can do so here.