What does it mean to be a Democrat?  It means standing up for the Constitution and standing strong against retroactive immunity for telecom companies.

Sign the letter to California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres encouraging him to ask Senator Dianne Feinstein not to fail California Democrats on FISA.

Dear Chairman Art Torres:

We are writing to continue the dialogue opened up within the California Democratic Party in response to the resolution to censure Senator Dianne Feinstein, originally authored by Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Mal Burnstein and endorsed by 35,031 people, the Progressive, Women's and Irish-American Caucuses of the CDP, as well as 38 other Democratic Clubs and organizations including the Courage Campaign, MoveOn.org, and Progressive Democrats of America.

Specifically, we ask that you use your access to and influence with Senator Feinstein to oppose retroactive immunity for telecom companies.

On Saturday, November 17th, you gave a passionate speech defending Senator Feinstein in response to the movement to pass that resolution at the CDP's Executive Board meeting. You said, in part:

"If we don’t have transparency in our rules, if we don’t have open discussions, and if we don’t argue with each other, we’re not the Democratic Party. We’re the Republicans."

We agree. That's why we are sending you over 1,000 comments from people writing to you and Senator Feinstein in response to the question "What does it mean to be a Democrat?" Beyond openness and transparency, many concerned citizens expressed to you that Democratic Party values are also fundamental American values.

For example, John W. wrote via the Courage Campaign web site:

"I don't even want to talk about what it means to be a Democrat; I want to talk about what it means to be a good American who supports the Constitution and wants our country to act with integrity. I expect my Senator, no matter what his/her party, to stand against torture, for human rights for all, against homophobia, for the rule of law and accountability of elected officials and corporations, against the senseless taking of civilian lives, for the Constitution, and for the checks and balances among our branches of government."

As a demonstration of support for core principles expressed by people like John W., we ask you to directly engage Senator Feinstein about one of the most important issues facing the Senate: saving our Constitution by not granting telecom companies retroactive immunity for wiretapping Americans without a warrant.

In your speech last week, you relayed a conversation you had with Senator Feinstein, in which you recalled saying to her:

"I also want to share with you a conversation I had with her this week... I said, 'Our party is concerned, and I feel it is my duty as the Chair of this party, Senator, to let you know that there are deep concerns within our party regarding two of your votes… 'I think it's important that you hear this from me because there's also concern about the telecom immunity issue' (applause)… which was a very important issue to me."

With Senator Feinstein facing a pivotal vote on the floor of the Senate next week on telecom immunity, we are relying on you to communicate your concerns -- and our concerns. Telecom companies have no greater rights than individuals. They must be held accountable in the courts for eavesdropping on private conversations without a court order.

As Spandan C. wrote to you via the Courage Campaign web site:

"Being a Democrat means preserving the basic rights of Americans -- and one of those basic rights is the ability of Americans to sue in a court of law companies that violate (even in cooperation with the government) the Constitutional rights of the people."

Please tell Senator Feinstein to join you and all of us in defending our Constitution by opposing in every way — including a filibuster, if necessary — retroactive immunity for telecom companies.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

For more information on FISA and retroactive immunity for telecom companies, please visit:

USA TODAY, November 27: "Intelligence bill may hinge on immunity for telecoms"

ACLU Fact Sheet on FISA

Electronic Frontier Foundation FAQs on FISA