Obama responded to the critics of his support for FISA — including those organizing on his site — with a statement on his blog that wasn’t issued as a press release.

In it he praises his critics, but also frames the argument in a way that makes it a useful fight for the general election:

Given the choice between voting for an improved yet imperfect bill, and losing important surveillance tools, I’ve chosen to support the current compromise.

Obama also continues to be more critical of the portion of the act immunizing telecommunications companies against lawsuits for spying than of the new standards for snooping.