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Obama Playing With Fire Over FISA 'Sell-Out'

He better not take his base for granted, writes Joan Walsh

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 9, 2008 8:35 PM CDT

(Newser) – Barack Obama was never the great reformer his supporters made him out to be, but his decision to give telecom companies immunity for spying on Americans is nevertheless "unforgivable," writes Joan Walsh in Salon. She's tired of the "political cave-ins" and says Obama better not to take his base for granted just because John McCain is his opponent. "Telling voters they have no place else to go, before he officially has the nomination, is not a winning strategy."

"I've admired Obama, but I never confused him with a genuine progressive leader," writes Walsh. "Today I don't admire him at all. His collapse on FISA is unforgivable. The only thing Obama has going for him this week is that McCain is matching him misstep for misstep."

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at a fundraiser in New York, Wednesday, July 9, 2008.
Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at a fundraiser in New York, Wednesday, July 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at a fundraiser in New York, Wednesday, July 9, 2008.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at a fundraiser in New York, Wednesday, July 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at the League of United Latino American Citizens, Tuesday, July 8, 2008, in Washington.
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at the League of United Latino American Citizens, Tuesday, July 8, 2008, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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