'Obamaphone' fight pivots to Internet

Politico ^ | 5/28/15 | Brooks Boliek

[magellan]

The FCC is readying a proposal to extend the controversial subsidy program to broadband.

Conservatives have reserved their worst epithet for the Lifeline program, which provides discounted phone service to low-income families: "Obamaphone."

Liberals call it a vital source of empowerment for the poor.

Now the Federal Communications Commission is readying a proposal to extend the subsidies to the Internet, setting up a new battle with Republicans who already want to shut down the effort.

[magellan]

We were warned. The Democrats would expand Net Neutrality beyond simply guaranteeing ISPs would not create fast lanes for favored content and slow lanes for other content, but instead it would become redistributionist.

Free phones, now free Internet.

[oldbrowser]

Free phones, now free Internet. That might backfire on them if they don't control the content. Some people might get exposed to a different point of view. I don't think liberals can prevail in a debate of ideas.

[Pearls Before Swine]

I HATE these people.

[HotHunt]

What's next? Free cable TV? Why not just throw in a free big flat-screen TV as part of the deal while you're at it? Where does this giveaway crap stop?

And the heat on the water containing us frogs continues to be turned up little by little.

[MrB]

The goal of the left is enslavement of those that oppose or disagree with them.
Their goal is for everything to be free for themselves and their supporters,
paid for by their political enemies.

[V_TWIN]

“Liberals call it a vital source of empowerment for the poor.”

Unfortunately politicrap failed to do any research on the EPIC corruption attached to this program and don’t even get me started on ebt cards.

[Old Sarge]

Never forget that one of the key Obamaphone providers is based out of Miami-Dade, where the power base is for (wait for it) Marco Rubio (RINO-FL)...

[Jim from C-Town]

I think even the poor should pay for some luxuries!

[Mr. K]

then they’ll need a computer...

the giveaways should be just in time for the next elections too

[Mr. K]

" Where does this giveaway crap stop?"

Right after this elections cycle, until the next one.

[Cboldt]

-- Their goal is for everything to be free for themselves and their supporters, paid for by their political enemies. --

That is the normal condition of democracy, because, in the right conditions, the lazy outnumber the industrious. No need to work for food if you can vote for it.

[circlecity]

So, I work like a dog now to provide deadbeats with luxuries I can barely afford.

[Tzimisce]

While we were sitting on our asses being the smartest people in the room, the left took over.

If I was a liberal Democrat in 2015, I’d be laughing and crapping on everyone too. :)

[Joe Brower]

Rubio could do better on the conservative side, for certain, but I don't think he has anything to do with this. In Miami, there certainly are enough democrats in power there who might benefit, and then there's the bonus for pandering to Hispanics.

That said, this just proves once again that the federal government, particularly when dominated by the ruthless left, will abuse any and every power it is given, or has usurped.

There's a lesson there, I think.

[RightGeek]

Democratic FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, a strong advocate of expanding Lifeline subsidies to Internet service, said it simply recognizes the reality of how people communicate today, with text messages replacing telephone calls and important business like applying for a job being conducted entirely online.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

My God! You typical heartless Republican, you.

[I want the USA back]

Of course. They have split the country. One half gets up in the morning and gies to work. The other half sleeps till noon, smokes weed, goes to the 7-11 to use its EBT card to buy beer and blames the other half for its problems.

[subterfuge]

Screw you. Ive been working my ass off for the last 40 years.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Ding-a-ling-ling-ling-ling-ling-ling-ling!

Boo-ba-doo-ba-doop!
Boo-ba-doo-ba-doop!

Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring
Obamaphone
Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring
Obamaphone
I’ve got this feeling, so appealing,
for us to get together and sing. Sing!

[Buckeye McFrog]

I don't think liberals can prevail in a debate of ideas.

They most certainly can when the audience is made up of those who would accept "free" internet service.