This is a very important to issue to protect our privacy and freedom. Please call and send your U.S. senators representing your respective state to oppose the bill providing retroactive immunity to the telecom companies.
Regards, Sultan --- On Sun, 7/6/08, Delegate Saqib Ali <delegate@saqibali.org> wrote:
From: Delegate Saqib Ali <delegate@saqibali.org>
Subject: Take 2 minutes to defend liberty today!
To: "Delegate Saqib Ali" <delegate@saqibali.org>
Date: Sunday, July 6, 2008, 10:50 PM
SAQIBALI DEMOCRAT, DELEGATE
MARYLAND 'S DISTRICT 39
Dear Friend,
As a Maryland State Representative I have direct influence over state legislation. Usually I contact you to keep you abreast of and seek your input on state-level issues. However, today I'm taking the unusual step of writing to you about a federal issue. I'm doing this because the issue at stake is of crucial importance to every American who takes their Constitution seriously. I'm writing to appeal for your help to stop federal legislation to allow warrantless wiretapping of our telephone and email conversations. I believe that it is not an overstatement to say that the rule-of-law and liberty itself are at stake.
You see, on Tuesday June 8th, the US Senate is scheduled to debate legislation that would allow the President, with the help of big telecommunication companies like AT&T spy on the telephone and email conversations of all Americans. You may have heard that over the past few years, these telecom companies -- at the behest of President Bush -- have been spying on innocent US Citizens without any warrants. There is widespread agreement that this un-American practice is illegal. On Tuesday our US Senators will be voting on a bill that would grant retro-active immunity from civil liability to those telecom companies. This is a very bad idea. Our nation is built on the rule of law and freedom from unlawful search and seizure. You can read about the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 by clicking here.
But because George Bush wants to grant immunity, Republicans in Congress, joining with many Democrats are trying to push this bill through. Many leading Democrats including Senators Dodd, Feingold and even Senator Obama have voiced their displeasure with retro-active immunity. Below you can see Senator Feingold's (D-Wisconsin) passionate video statement against this bill.
 Unfortunately, our US Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland) has previously voted to immunize the telecom companies for warrantless wiretapping. (Our other Senator Ben Cardin thankfully voted against this measure). It seems likely that on Tuesday Senator Mikulski will again vote for this measure. I'm urgently appealing for your help in this matter. I'm asking you to take 2 minutes of your time to call Senator Mikulski's office to politely ask her to oppose any bill that provides retro-active immunity for warrantless wiretapping. Please be very polite but firm, and don't forget to tell whoever answer's the phone that you are a voter in Maryland. Since this matter is expected to come up for a vote on Tuesday, it is crucially important that you make this brief call today. - Who to call: Office of US Senator Barbara Mikulski
- Telephone Number: (202) 224-4654
- What to say: "Please defend the constitution by opposing any bill that provides retro-active immunity for warrantless wiretapping"
This is an issue of utmost importance for our nation. So I thank you for your support and for your time. Delegate Saqib Ali
(301) 685-3409
www.SaqibAli.org By Authority of Friends of Saqib Ali, Treasurer Christopher Wilhelm |
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