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Democrat Rep. Henry Waxman: 'Oversight of the Internet is One of His Top Priorities'
Monday, February 16, 2009 | Kristinn

Posted on 02/16/2009 6:59:38 PM PST by kristinn

The American Spectator's Prowler column published today has a disturbing report on the plans by the Democratic Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Henry Waxman to regulate political speech on the Internet.

In addition to details of methods Waxman is considering to rein in conservative talk radio, The Prowler reports on Waxman's desire to use the power of the federal government to investigate amd control political content on the Internet.

The article quotes an unnamed committee staffer as saying of Waxman's power grab:

"Does one heavily trafficked Internet site present one side of an issue and not link to sites that present alternative views? These are some of the questions the chairman is thinking about right now, and we are going to have an FCC that will finally have the people in place to answer them."

"Internet radio is becoming a big deal, and we're seeing that some web sites are able to control traffic and information, while other sites that may be of interest or use to citizens get limited traffic because of the way the people search and look for information. We're at very early stages on this, but the chairman has made it clear that oversight of the Internet is one of his top priorities."

"This isn't just about Limbaugh or a local radio host most of us haven't heard about. The FCC and state and local governments also have oversight over the Internet lines and the cable and telecom companies that operate them. We want to get alternative views on radio and TV, but we also want to makes sure those alternative views are read, heard and seen online, which is becoming increasingly video and audio driven. Thanks to the stimulus package, we've established that broadband networks -- the Internet -- are critical, national infrastructure. We think that gives us an opening to look at what runs over that critical infrastructure."

The article reports that Waxman intends to work with Democratic Party President Barack Hussein Obama's nominee to be chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Julius Genachowski, who is awaiting confirmation by the Democrat controlled Senate, to investigate and regulate free speech on the Internet.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 111th; 1stamendment; batboy; bigbrother; censorship; censorshipdoctrine; democrat; democratcongress; democrats; dncbrownshirts; fahrenheit404; fairnessdoctrine; fascism; firstamendment; henrywaxman; internet; islamobama; lping; neomarxism; nostrildamus; obama; orwelliannightmare; porkulus; stalinisttactics; talkradio; waronconservatives; waxman; webnazis
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To: Gone_Postal
policy that would require all TV and radio stations to have in place “advisory boards” that would act as watchdogs to ensure “community needs and opinions” are given fair treatment.

Jawohl !

121 posted on 02/16/2009 7:46:15 PM PST by 1066AD
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To: SERE_DOC

SAMIZDAT.......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samizdat


122 posted on 02/16/2009 7:46:22 PM PST by Red Badger (Zimbabwe has removed 12 zeroes from its currency. We need to remove ONE from the White House......)
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To: kristinn

Mr. Waxman, kindly remove your government nose from the private business of citizens.


123 posted on 02/16/2009 7:46:35 PM PST by Faith
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To: FlingWingFlyer
Waxman is watching you right now! Note the ears!

Now that is interesting

124 posted on 02/16/2009 7:47:18 PM PST by Jolla
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To: kristinn
Dont you just love these liberal HYPOCRITES who so love to wrap themselves in the American Flag and say that they are for Freedom & Free Speech, however when they get the majority they bare their fangs and their real evil intentions come to the surface!!

Waxman in indeed among the lead PIGS of Animal Farm.

125 posted on 02/16/2009 7:48:17 PM PST by prophetic (God, let 0Bama and his evil plans for this country fail & let him be utterly disgraced like HAMAN!!)
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To: Perdogg

It won’t go away as long as DU exists...but that’s not what bugs me, it’s the asinine statement that by default any internet site, talk radio et al have to be “fair”....why? Is the person reading not free to choose to find news/info/comments/opinions elsewhere without harm to them? Of course, that’s the entire premise of a FREE COUNTRY for crying out loud...

It is seriously like we’re in a sick and twisted episode of the Twilight Zone and the theme song and initial credits haven’t even been played and the worst is yet to come.


126 posted on 02/16/2009 7:48:17 PM PST by phatus maximus ( John 6:29. Learn it, love it, live it.)
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To: Man50D

I heard Graham, but McCain would never sign legislation to stiffle free speech, Obama will do it in a heart beat... you allowed your two main issues get in the way of your common sense and people like you cost us the election and now our country is headed for worse than socialism, much worse.


127 posted on 02/16/2009 7:48:21 PM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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To: kristinn
The Prowler reports on Waxman's desire to use the power of the federal government to investigate amd control political content on the Internet.

I'm imagining the total shitstorm that would have hit had this been mentioned in February,2001. This is some dangerously retrograde stuff here.

128 posted on 02/16/2009 7:48:21 PM PST by Seven plus One
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To: kristinn

May he be blinded by the light...


129 posted on 02/16/2009 7:49:16 PM PST by Domestic Church (AMDG...)
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To: kristinn; LucyT; Alamo-Girl; ExTexasRedhead; bamahead; socialismisinsidious; FormerACLUmember; ...
One if by land, two if by sea

Yes, the Second American Revolution will soon begin if Waxman and crew push much further.

BTW, Mark Levin discussed your posted article in detail on his nationally syndicated radio show tonight. Understandably, he was giving Waxman hell!

130 posted on 02/16/2009 7:49:29 PM PST by justiceseeker93
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To: ColdWater
I think they are trying to get as much done as they can before the sheeple wake up.

I've been thinking the same thing. Blitz socialism for a year then moderate before the elections. then bliz, then moderate. They know election campaigns are getting longer so they have to operate faster and do it quick before people realize it. actually the sheeple will not ever notice it unless people like us have enough time to wake people up.

131 posted on 02/16/2009 7:50:29 PM PST by plain talk
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To: StarFan; Dutchy; alisasny; BobFromNJ; BUNNY2003; Cacique; Clemenza; Coleus; cyborg; DKNY; ...
Excerpt of Kristinn's report (quoting The American Spectator's "Prowler" column, published today):

The article quotes an unnamed committee staffer as saying of Waxman's power grab:

"Does one heavily trafficked Internet site present one side of an issue and not link to sites that present alternative views? These are some of the questions the chairman is thinking about right now, and we are going to have an FCC that will finally have the people in place to answer them."

"Internet radio is becoming a big deal, and we're seeing that some web sites are able to control traffic and information, while other sites that may be of interest or use to citizens get limited traffic because of the way the people search and look for information. We're at very early stages on this, but the chairman has made it clear that oversight of the Internet is one of his top priorities."

"This isn't just about Limbaugh or a local radio host most of us haven't heard about. The FCC and state and local governments also have oversight over the Internet lines and the cable and telecom companies that operate them. We want to get alternative views on radio and TV, but we also want to makes sure those alternative views are read, heard and seen online, which is becoming increasingly video and audio driven. Thanks to the stimulus package, we've established that broadband networks -- the Internet -- are critical, national infrastructure. We think that gives us an opening to look at what runs over that critical infrastructure."

132 posted on 02/16/2009 7:51:54 PM PST by nutmeg (DemocRATs: The party of tax cheats and other assorted crooks)
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To: sergeantdave
The fascist rats are moving too fast.
I disagree. It's the political version of Blitzkrieg. They'll get all their crazy policies into law before the American people wake up. By then it will be too late.
133 posted on 02/16/2009 7:51:57 PM PST by Scutter
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To: kristinn

Regulating Free Speech is an oxymoron.


134 posted on 02/16/2009 7:52:21 PM PST by vidbizz
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To: kristinn
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Waxman's (et al) goal--silence dissent and crush free speech! FR isn't the only site in danger--replace the FR shield with any conservative website logo!! We are all under attack, and it's going to get very ugly here on out! >:-(
135 posted on 02/16/2009 7:54:09 PM PST by pillut48 (CJ in TX --"God help us all, and God help America!!" --my new mantra for the next 4 years)
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To: Perdogg

You remember one, or maybe a few knocks. Drop ‘em. Be more confident in your own opinion.


136 posted on 02/16/2009 7:54:14 PM PST by bvw
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To: fieldmarshaldj

137 posted on 02/16/2009 7:54:21 PM PST by MissouriConservative (If there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way.)
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To: ETL
ROTF....LOL..... that's hilarious...

Waxman is the real Batman.....

138 posted on 02/16/2009 7:54:23 PM PST by tflabo
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To: dixiedarlindownsouth

Sight in your rifle, stock up on ammo and be ready.


139 posted on 02/16/2009 7:54:42 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money. Margret Thatcher)
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To: kristinn

So first we lose the SECOND AMMENDMENT, NOW THE FIRST AMMENDMENT?!! Madison must be rolling in his grave :(


140 posted on 02/16/2009 7:55:18 PM PST by Freedom56v2
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