The honerable Alan Franken
Posted on 11/20/2010 10:46:57 AM PST by Libloather
The 19 Senators Who Voted To Censor The Internet
from the free-speech-isn't-free dept
This is hardly a surprise but, this morning (as previously announced), the lame duck Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously voted to move forward with censoring the internet via the COICA bill -- despite a bunch of law professors explaining to them how this law is a clear violation of the First Amendment. What's really amazing is that many of the same Senators have been speaking out against internet censorship in other countries, yet they happily vote to approve it here because it's seen as a way to make many of their largest campaign contributors happy. There's very little chance that the bill will actually get passed by the end of the term but, in the meantime, we figured it might be useful to highlight the 19 Senators who voted to censor the internet this morning:
Patrick J. Leahy -- Vermont
Herb Kohl -- Wisconsin
Jeff Sessions -- Alabama
Dianne Feinstein -- California
Orrin G. Hatch -- Utah
Russ Feingold -- Wisconsin
Chuck Grassley -- Iowa
Arlen Specter -- Pennsylvania
Jon Kyl -- Arizona
Chuck Schumer -- New York
Lindsey Graham -- South Carolina
Dick Durbin -- Illinois
John Cornyn -- Texas
Benjamin L. Cardin -- Maryland
Tom Coburn -- Oklahoma
Sheldon Whitehouse -- Rhode Island
Amy Klobuchar -- Minnesota
Al Franken -- Minnesota
Chris Coons -- Delaware
This should be a list of shame. You would think that our own elected officials would understand the First Amendment but, apparently, they have no problem turning the US into one of the small list of authoritarian countries that censors internet content it does not like (in this case, content some of its largest campaign contributors do not like). We already have laws in place to deal with infringing content, so don't buy the excuse that this law is about stopping infringement. This law takes down entire websites based on the government's say-so. First Amendment protections make clear that if you are going to stop any specific speech, it has to be extremely specific speech. This law has no such restrictions. It's really quite unfortunate that these 19 US Senators are the first American politicians to publicly vote in favor of censoring speech in America.
Why do these law and order liberals and Rinos feel as though they need to “protect” us?
Just another boost for the Tea Party Movement!
John Cornyn.
Kick the RINO out next time, Texas.
Which one’s are up in ‘12? The primaries start now.
Not a single name that surprised me.
The big shocker I see in that list is Jeff Sessions. Was his vote on a “protecting traditional values” basis?
Chuck Grassley? Someone should poke him and see if he was even awake when he voted.
Thanks for this post. The usual suspects strike again!
I don’t think you understand the bill. I don’t see censorship here, I see protection of intellectual property rights.
The following summary was written by the Congressional Research Service...
9/20/2010—Introduced.
Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act - Amends the federal criminal code to authorize the Attorney General (AG) to commence an action for injunctive relief against a domain name used by an Internet site that is “dedicated to infringing activities,” even where such a domain name is not located in the United States. Defines an Internet site that “dedicated to infringing activities” as a site that is: (1) subject to civil forfeiture; (2) designed primarily to offer goods or services in violation of federal copyright law; or (3) selling counterfeit goods. Requires the AG to maintain a public listing of domain names that the Department of Justice (DOJ) determines are dedicated to infringing activities but for which the AG has not filed an action. Allows parties to petition the AG to remove such a domain name from the list and obtain judicial review of the final determination in a civil action.
Al Franken: Say no More.
Go Read Sarah Palin’s latest Facebook. It is AIMED at these 19!
Strange times...strange times...
We’re working on it. Up first is KBH, who supported term limits but when the bill didnt pass, stayed anyway. Then, said she would retire to run for Gov but lost the primary and decided to stay in the Senate.
Kick the RINO out next time, Texas.
This is one Texan who is going to try!...and I was his county re-elect chair part of last election. I quit before the election.
They don’t feel a ‘need’ to “protect” us. They feel the need to “control” us.
If you look at that list, the repubs on there want to hang on to their seats by any means possible and that includes going against the constitution. Americans are awakening and that is due, in large part, to the ‘free exchange’ of ideas and information on the internet. Their reasoning is, kill it so we can’t monitor what it is they are doing and will not be able to inform others that might not know.
The Post office is under attack as well. That entity has pissed away billions and has been running at a loss for years. Now Saturday deliveries are on the chopping block and who knows what other days they may cut in the future. What a wonderful opportunity for the government to shut it down or cripple it to where it is no longer useful.
Communication is vital to a free people and that’s the problem.
This is all designed to keep us oblivious to their treasonous acts.
The honerable Alan Franken
Yes, Kay Bailey is a bigger Target than Cornyn. Both have to go.
WE already done took care of Russ Feingold. heh heh
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