Telecom immunity switch haunts Obama campaign

Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is under fire from some of his most liberal supporters for supporting the compromise that likely will result in new surveillance laws with immunity included for telcos who engaged in wiretapping initiated by the federal government in the past, reports the New York Times. At the heart of the complaints is that fact that Obama switched his stance on the legislation, saying in the past he would fight a new Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, but then switching to support the legislation after a so-called compromise was reached in the House of Representatives.

A number of other legislators switched allegiances after the compromise, but of course, they are not the ones who are running for president. Could a telecom-related issue--ok, one with telecom interests at its fringes--greatly hamper Obama? Will those inflamed by his new position on telco immunity be moved enough to jump to Nader?

The new legislation with telco immunity included is set to hit the Senate floor early next week.

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