Something astounding and special happened yesterday.
205 – 217. That’s the vote tally on the amendment to defund the NSA’s blanket collection of phone records (and possibly web communications). People on the left and right lined up for it and were emphatic about passing it, so much so that Obama and the NSA came out to kill it. Now, that the bill did this well, albeit it didn’t pass, they know change is coming.
There’s a major shift happening in this country and it’s reverberating through DC right now. The way our reps voted on this Amendment will go down in history. Did they stand with the Constitution or vote to continue funding the NSA’s mass surveillance of innocent people?
Click here to find out how your rep’s voted — and then let them know how you feel.
What happened yesterday basically never happens. 94 Republicans rebelled against their party leadership and joined 110 Democrats who defied the White House’s call to tow the line. The Amash amendment almost passed, and just a few days ago no one had even heard of it. The media is calling it a win for us. Congressional staffers told us their phones were ringing off the hook, and said, “We know,” since more than tens of thousands of people used DefundTheNSA.com to look up their reps’ phone number.
The NSA was literally terrified, and kicked their lobbying into overdrive, holding secret meetings with politicians to beg for continued funding of their unconstitutional projects.
As a symbolic act to let Congress know that we’re watching this issue closely, we called up our favorite bakery in DC and had them send a few cakes with the text of the 4th Amendment on them to some of the braver members of Congress who broke ranks with their party leadership to defend our right to privacy.
So who’s getting cake and who wishes they had some? Find out at DefundTheNSA.com
After the smoke settled from the vote, we got on the phone with organizers from over a dozen other groups that we’re working with on this issue. Everyone agreed that — while the amendment failed by a narrow margin — we are so incredibly close to dismantling the U.S. Government’s illegal spying programs that threaten the basic rights of people worldwide.
It was incredible to see the internet light up with people taking action on this issue. We’re glad folks liked sharing this quick little meme we made on Facebook.
A lot of the action was happening on Twitter. Do you follow us there?
We are feeling extremely energized, thank you for everything you’ve done. We’ve accomplished an incredible amount already, and our numbers are growing.
More soon,
-Holmes Wilson & Tiffiniy Cheng
Fight for the Future
A brave new world