July 20, 2007

Call Nancy Pelosi and Demand Protection of John Doe Whistleblowers from Lawsuits

As you may know, yesterday - astoundingly - the Democrats killed an amendment that would protect "John Doe" whistleblowers from being sued. This amendment is needed because CAIR is suing the whistleblowers in the flying imams case, so as to intimidate future whistleblowers from giving us advance warnings of terrorist plots. CAIR's action is shocking - and the Dems supporting it is almost beyond belief.

I really didn't think the Dems were capable of this. This is a new low for them.

No Republicans voted against the amendment. Not one.

I just called Nancy Pelosi's office, via the Congressional switchboard, at 202-224-3121. It was answered very politely. I said I had a comment on the Democrat's efforts to kill this bill, and I was sent to a tape recording. Here's the comment I left:

Hi. I'd like to make a comment on the Democrat's killing of the "John Doe" amendment that would protect our whistleblowers from lawsuits. At this time, when we are all in so much danger from terrorists trying to blow things up, to leave the whistleblowers, the people who are trying to protect us, open to lawsuits - this is too horrifying, too terrible. It will lead to many deaths if those people are intimidated and unwilling to come forward. And my friends are starting to say, has our government been bought and paid for by the Saudis? So I'm asking you, please, please, put that amendment back in, or put it in somewhere else, or pass a stand-alone bill to the same effect. Thank you.

I then looked up the phone numbers of my Senators - Senators Boxer and Feinstein - using this web site. I first called Boxer's office. There was a nice tape of Sen. Boxer saying that because of the high volume of calls, I would be put on hold, and listen to classical music, until someone could speak to me. It also gave the number of her San Francisco office. Then the line was disconnected!

At her San Francisco office, a very nice woman answered the phone, and politely listened to my comments, which I gave her in a concerned, polite manner.

I then tried the number for Sen. Feinstein's office. It rang - then became a busy signal. I then called the Congressional switchboard, at 202-224-3121 and asked for Feinstein's office, and was put through to a number that was answered quickly and politely. The man who answered said that the correct way to refer to this issue is as "the John Doe amendment," to distinguish it from corporate whistleblowers. After finding out that I was in favor of the amendment, he said he would pass along my comments, and tried to cut me off, but I asked him to wait and listen to a few brief words, which he politely did. My sense of it was that he would try to cut off everybody after finding out their position, pro or con, on the amendment; I didn't feel he was trying to avoid taking my comments because I was in favor of the amendment.

Call Nancy Pelosi and your Senators (via the Congressional switchboard, at 202-224-3121) and support the John Doe amendment. Per Frank Gaffney:

Every one of us who understands the indispensable role alert private citizens can - and must - play in protecting the American people from future terrorist attacks should immediately contact Speaker Pelosi's office (202-225-4965), their own congressional representatives and their favorite talk radio show hosts and bloggers. The message should be clear: Enact the King amendment - because our lives, literally, depend upon it.