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
Herb Kohl is up in 2012. We are hoping that he joins Russ Feingold in retirement.
I’d rather not.
Surprised by Sessions and Kyl. Disappointed by Cornyn, Hatch, and Coburn, but not surprised.
OUT with you Cornyn!! Out with all these elitists who wish to rule over us. We’ve caught on to their game but a bit late IMO—not TOO late however, but close...
Yea, there are at least 7 Republicans on there. Shades of the “Gang of 14”. I’m sure McCain would vote with them if they needed him.
Wow, another really open minded liberal navel gazer!
WHAT was Coburn thinking??
Go ahead and TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And THAT is what surprised me.
I know practically every name on the list. WHY IS THAT? None of them are from my state.
Then I remember....
It's because there names have been in the headlines associated with corruption in office, voting corruption, and lack of moral standards.
Whatever.
They're not protecting us. They're protecting people whose copyrighted material is being shared on the web -- journalists, publishers, music producers, etc.
It's a case of interests who don't want to adjust to the reality of the internet and legislators who have no clue what they're doing.
What the heck is wrong with Chuck Grassley? Minnesota’s dumb and dumber I can understand.
Have you read the bill?
There is more to this than we are seeing....with this vote...I see Senators on this list that are truth worthy...Sessions for one...so what is going on here?
Yup-
Liberals and their RINO puppets will always be sniveling cowards at heart. We are probably limited in what we can do with liberals, but the RINO infestation is a problem that can be solved.
Have you?
>Which one’s are up in ‘12? The primaries start now.
2016 Patrick J. Leahy — Vermont
2016 Herb Kohl — Wisconsin
2014 Jeff Sessions — Alabama
*2012 Dianne Feinstein — California
*2012 Orrin G. Hatch — Utah
Gone! Russ Feingold — Wisconsin
2016 Chuck Grassley — Iowa
Gone!! Arlen Specter — Pennsylvania
*2012 Jon Kyl — Arizona
2016 Chuck Schumer — New York
2014 Lindsey Graham — South Carolina
2014 Dick Durbin — Illinois
2014 John Cornyn — Texas
*2012 Benjamin L. Cardin — Maryland
2016 Tom Coburn — Oklahoma
2016 Sheldon Whitehouse — Rhode Island
2016 Amy Klobuchar — Minnesota
2014 Al Franken — Minnesota
2016 Chris Coons — Delaware
“It’s because there names have been in the headlines associated with corruption in office, voting corruption, and lack of moral standards.”
Exactly. The dregs.
Yes, they truly do.
Apostle Claver tells the world how the real party of racism is the Democrats
Now expect him/her to ask if you’ve read the bill. You know because we’re just a bunch of rubes because we are against Congress implementing another law on the premise that it’s ‘for’ something; ‘for’ protection of something; ‘for’ resolving an imaginary problem. We are to go along like good little sheeple.
The US government didn't invent or manufacture or install any of the routers, cable, or computers that make the internet function. And they certainly don't maintain any of it except their own government equipment.
So what makes them think they can tell anybody what they can say on the internet?
They don’t “shutdown any website”, they seek injunctions against sites that have been foreclosed on, offer goods or services in violating intellectual property laws, or are selling counterfeit goods. Sarah Palin’s publisher just filed suit against Gawker.com - what for you may ask? Look it up.
I am in awe that the two idiots from New Jersey did not appear on this list. Menedez and Lautenberg. Menedez was probably out of the office and LBerg entranced in a senile coma.
Yep
Jeff Sessions? JEFF SESSIONS???
WTH?!?!
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