Obama’s AG choice: Regulate Internet communication

hotair.com ^ | November 21, 2008 | Ed Morrissey

[Free ThinkerNY]

Danny Glover at Eyeblast reveals a nine-year-old NPR interview with Eric Holder regarding how the government needs to regulate Internet communications. The rumored front-runner for Attorney General told NPR that the Columbine killers may have found some of their venom through Internet access, as well as a bomb recipe or two. If the government can regulate pornography, Holder insisted while serving as Deputy AG during the Clinton administration, surely the government can restrict speech in general:

[vbmoneyspender]

Why stop at Internet communications? Why not also place reasonable restrictions on phone conversations and face-to-face communications?

[null and void]

I’m shocked. Just shocked. No really, I mean it. Shocked.

[null and void]

The civilian security force, as large as, and as well funded as, the military will take care of that part.

[Dahoser]

Not to worry. The Republicans on the Judiciary committee, led by Arlen Spector (RINO-Glasgow), will roast Holder on this.

[cetarist]

On one hand, they scream about net neutrality, on the other hand, they want to restrict speech. yikes. make up your mind!

oh wait, they probably can’t. never mind.

[sickoflibs]

Exactly how do pornography laws on internet work? It’s against the law to download files or create and distribute certain images. Is it against the law to actually go to a website or view images online ?

Now how would that apply to speech? I am about 99.9% certain that courts, even liberal justices would not allow that (campaign finance reform ala McCain anyone ?) I will say the same thing I said about Fairness Doctrine, we can only dream they would try a bunch of crazy stuff like this. Typically it’s our side that screws up and democrats lay low and point the finger, 2006+2008.

[Bon mots]

The old Soviet Union used to require the registration of typewriters.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Is it against the law to actually go to a website or view images online ?No no no, you don't understand. Pornography is free speech. Anything that is said in words that don't match their ideology is HATE speech. Get it?

[FrankR]

"Why stop at Internet communications? Why not also place reasonable restrictions on phone conversations and face-to-face communications? "

Don't laugh...at first we couldn't smoke at work; then we couldn't smoke in the building; then we couldn't smoke within 50 feet of the building; then we couldn't smoke in cars with children; then we couldn't smoke at home....

Now, I'm not advocating smoking, I quit 15 years ago; but I'm trying to point out the incremental modus operandi of the left.

A lot of people spoke up during the tobacco witch hunt (a nice way of saying liberal lawyers splitting millions of dollars), and many warned others that they might finally object to governmental encroachment of freedoms when they come for something they DID like.

Here's a great quote that illustrates the same principle:


"When they took the 4th Amendment, I was quiet because I didn't deal drugs. When they took the 6th Amendment, I was quiet because I am innocent. When they took the 2nd Amendment, I was quiet because I don't own a gun. Now they have taken the 1st Amendment, and I can only be quiet." - - Lyle Myhr

[ElectricStrawberry]

The government regulates porn on-line???

[sickoflibs]

I know you are being sarcastic but here in liberal empire maryland they define speech protected by courts as ‘hate incidents’ vs hate crimes. Hate incidents are investigated by police (means you cant lie) and tracked and reported, but cannot be against the law. Plus they put remote controls on our thermostats(just an aside).

Welcome to the strict/loving Mommy state!

[AFreeBird]

The government regulates porn on-line???

Yes, with the same tenacity as they do our immigration laws.

LOL

I had to laugh when I read that.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Wow, it's worse than I thought.

Plus they put remote controls on our thermostats(just an aside).

Seriously? I heard the idea floating around a while back but thought it was just that, an idea.

[TNCMAXQ]

After the ‘04 election can you imagine the outrage that would have followed if Ashcroft or Gonzales had suggested such a thing, or if it had been revealed they have favored this kind of regulation in the past? The screams in the “news” media over fascism, censorship, etc. Again we shall see if the young skulls full of mush who demanded change and voted for the big 0 because they thought they were getting more freedom will stand for this kind of restriction.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Remember Echelon and Carnivore?

[DustyMoment]

We knew this would be a possibility if Obama were elected. Free speech and other favorite rights protected under the Constitution will be but fond memories after 4 years of Obozo!

[listenhillary]

Our local taxpayer supported Rural Electric Cooperative gives you a small discount if they can turn off your electric water heater via radio control during high electrical demand.

[ckilmer]

A detroit radio station called the Kenyan embassy after the election of Obama. After a lot of trouble they get through to the ambassador of Kenya.

The ambassador of Kenya says that obama was born in Kenya and that his birth place has become a national shrine.

Listen to the recording here

Be sure to download it as well. The chances of it remaining online for long is remote.

[Question_Assumptions]

The Chinese do it so it *can* be done.