The 19 Senators Who Voted To Censor The Internet (John Cornyn R-TX COICA a vote for censorship!)

techdirt.com ^ | November 18, 2010 | Mike Masnick

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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

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I am very disheartened by Sen. John Cornyn's vote in favor of COICA, which is a vote for censorship of the internet. No matter the BS explaination of how this blocks internet websites trafficing in copyright infringement, there is the issue of "dedicated to infringing activities", which is very much in the eye of the beholder, and the same people have a very long and troubled history of declaring all sorts of new technologies as "dedicated to infringing activities." The VCR, cable TV, the DVR and the MP3 player were all lambasted as being dedicated to "infringing activities" with no demonstrable, commercially significant purpose, when each was introduced. In hindsight, supporters of COICA like to ignore this, and insist they always knew that each of those technologies could have perfectly legitimate non-infringing uses. But that's only because they were allowed to go forward after a series of legal fights. With COICA, no such chance would be given. It's easy to declare something as dedicated to infringing activities if you're unwilling to see how it can be useful.

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101121/23584311958/why-voting-coica-is-vote-censorship.shtml

Also, the cast of dubious characters who also voted in favor of internet censorship include the likes of Arlen Specter, Al Franken, Chuck Schumer, Chris Coons (aka Bearded Marxist), Dick Durbin, Russ Feingold, Diane Feinstein and more. This is a very bad lot.

[tutstar]

bttt

[ScottinVA]

Cornyn, Sessions, Hatch, Grassley, Kyl, Graham -— WTH is the matter with these people??? Somehow they just can’t see the potential for government abuse of this power, huh???

[Celtic Cross]

And Scott Brown voted against it?

[maxter]

Tom Coburn voted for it? It may deserve a closer look.

[ScottinVA]

Copyright infringement can be dealt with individually through court action. Censorship is a VERY slippery slope.

[ScottinVA]

Wow... Coburn, too?? Missed that one!

[harpu]

BU4L

[Libloather]

Duplicate. The 19 Senators Who Voted To Censor The Internet

[King_Corey]

I haven’t ever liked Cornyn. He is awful.

I am sorry to ever see him. I want a Texas toss out for his butt. Next election cycle we need to run a Tea Party person against him.

[A.A. Cunningham]

four hour guideline

[cowtowney]

One more vote against Cornyn. I don’t know who is worse; Cornyn or Hutchison.

Texas deserves better.

[Surrounded_too]

Criminal or Stupid, take your choice. They all need their asses kicked, literally.

Sessions must have been drunk or pushed the wrong button.

[yoe]

You need to contact these senators and find out what they think they are voting for. (contacting your senator) Tell them how you see this bill...I can't imagine Jon Kyl or Cornyn agreeing to this unless there is something I can't see. Calling my Senator this morning. Please do the same. Post your answers here.

[Le Chien Rouge]

John Cornyn: Meet your successor, Michael Williams.

[Tulane]

Not defending their votes, but if FR folks are waiting to fins a politician that votes correctly every time, please don’t hold your breath. All we can do is choose the ones who will get it right most of the time. This is the real world.

Please remember this come 2012. We must get rid of Obama. I am not advocating for Romney or other RINOS, I am merely pointing out the need to get the best candidate to beat Obama — a confirmed socialist. We should rally around the nominee, whoever it is.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Laws? Wee dun need no steenking laws!

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/130763-homeland-security-dept-seizes-domain-names-

[Buckeye McFrog]

Cornyn, Sessions, Hatch, Grassley, Kyl, Graham -— WTH is the matter with these people???

It’s very simple. Recording industry lobby holds more sway with them than the US Constitution.

[BenLurkin]

“Our Own Government Has Become Our Enemy” - Paul Babeu

[SWEETSUNNYSOUTH]

The proverbial camel’s nose is in the tent! Thanks Senators!!! Who’s next? FR?