RIAA: We Must Take A Shoot First, Ask Questions Later Approach To Censorship

Obama Working To 'Fix' His Relationship With Hollywood

from the hello...-sopa dept

Thu, Jan 5th 2012 1:15pm — Mike Masnick

We recently wrote about how it was unlikely that President Obama would veto SOPA/PIPA if they reached his desk, because he probably feels he "needs" the support from Hollywood. As if to underscore that point, apparently he's worried that he's pissed off folks in Hollywood -- who feel that he "has given their causes short shrift since moving into the White House." In order to fix that, according to the Hollywood Reporter, Obama has sent his former top Hollywood fundraiser, Nicole Avant, back to Hollywood to help patch things up there. Apparently, as a thank you for helping raise money in 2008, she'd been given the assignment as the US Ambassador to the Bahamas. But she's left that job to go back to fundraising in Hollywood. One has to imagine that a key "cause" that Hollywood will want assurances on is... SOPA/PIPA. Already, Avant is apparently beginning the fundraising process as part of an attempt to "rekindle at least some of Hollywood enthusiasm for Obama." Of course, Obama is also seeking support from the tech industry, who's almost universally opposed to the bill. Could make for some interesting discussions on his frequent swings through California...

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Filed Under: fundraising, hollywood, lobbying, nicole avant, obama, pipa, protect ip, sopa

42 Comments

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Dark Helmet (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 1:20pm

Random Thought
Anyone who would give up an Ambassadorship to the Bahamas for, well, anything is criminally stupid and should be forced to sit in a padded room and watch I Love Lucy reruns all day....
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Miles Barnett (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 1:21pm

What's the definition of an honest politician?
Once he's bought, he stays bought.
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Brad Hubbard (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 1:29pm

Please Remember
Dear Mr. President,

Please remember that the very state in which Hollywood resides is arguably the foremost technological hub of the world. More people and more money are involved in that industry than the narrow interpretation of "Entertainment" that Hollywood carries. Yes, they have marketing muscle. But ultimately, they don't drive our country and our planet forward the way that technology does.

Pissing off technologists is a dangerous and politically fatal move, especially as the Youtube/Facebook/Tumblr/whatever generation begins voting. They will care a lot more if Facebook tells them a bill is bad than if some aging studio exec does.
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fogbugzd (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 1:33pm

This is scary. It seems like Obama has done nothing except give Hollywood what they want and stack the Justice Department and random other legal positions with MPAA/RIAA attorneys.

My only hope is that the reason he is worried about his relationship with Hollywood is that he plans to dump Biden.

When he was running I donated to his campaign, but this time around I have not and will not donate a penny. ICE seizures and other actions of his department mean that I will be looking seriously at third party candidates this year. I know third parties are a wasted effort, but at this point I don't see any reason to give Obama my vote (although in honesty, the Republicans seem to have several good reasons to vote for Obama, but we will have to see which of their reasons gets the nomination).
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Ima Fish (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 1:35pm

To paraphrase Jerry Lee Lewis, there'll be a whole lot 'o check cashing goin' on.
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anonymous, 5 Jan 2012 @ 1:35pm

Re: Please Remember
well put!
unfortunately, these and similar words will fall on deaf ears! however, backing SOPA/PIPA or any other Bill that favors Hollywood could easily signify Obama's fall from office. what a legacy for him to go out with! they would probably make a film!
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 1:53pm

Just pathetic. The politics in this country are laughable.

The movement to get money out of politics is getting bigger by the day.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 1:53pm

Re: Random Thought
Sign me up. I love Lucy is my favorite. Though are the walls bouncy also or just padded? I have always wanted a bouncy bouncy room
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MRK, 5 Jan 2012 @ 1:55pm

We clearly don't need social uprisings like in the middle east! Here in America we have a healthy democracy where the people can rally behind an underdog candidate who promises to end the corruption and politics as usual and win! Then we will finally see an end to the crony capitalism and rent seeking! Because it worked out so well in 2008.
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Chapeau d'Aluminium, 5 Jan 2012 @ 1:55pm

Gov't (Obama, whoever) wants to use SOPA/PIPA-type legislation as the thin edge of the wedge to maintain and expand spying capabilities. Iron fist of gov't. surveillance in the velvet glove of private industry info collection so you can skip all that Constitutional and/or international challenge mess. Hollywood seems full of tools, so why not use them. The end.
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bjupton (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 1:57pm

Re:
No matter who the R's run, it'll be one corporate backed stooge against another corporate backed stooge.

Hooray for democracy.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 1:58pm

Once again mike, please do something else as we cant hear you over this volcano full of money we are swimming in. Hollywood needs much love. Thankyou. :D
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 1:59pm

Lie to both sides, the public, and then go with the one that gives you the most money. Screw the common peons. That's how the current US government works. All for me and none for you.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 2:02pm

He might as well rename this country the People's Democratic Republic of Hollywood and get this charade over with.
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weneedhelp (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 2:11pm

O B A M A ! ! !d he just goes off.
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weneedhelp (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 2:12pm

Re:
Dunno what the hell I was doing.
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This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it

Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 2:33pm

We/you/me/us...
need to vote this corrupt foreign born interloping alien out.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 2:36pm

<sarcasm>Obama is afraid of Ron Paul</sarcasm>
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 2:39pm

Re:
kinda like bush; only on steroids...
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Someantimalwareguy (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 2:41pm

Playing Hollywood against silicon valley...
This is nothing more than a blatant move to see which side coughs up the most money. If the tech sector starts pushing cash barrels at the Dems, and out paces Hollywood, SOPA/PIPA die. If the other way around, they live.

Make those supporting this legislation pay by sending them home permanently - money only goes so far if they don't also get the votes they need to keep this nonsense going...
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Someantimalwareguy (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 2:42pm

Re: We/you/me/us...
You mean Arnold? He is already out of office so you can crawl back under that rock you have been living under...
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 2:49pm

Re:
He will be.... He will be.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 2:57pm

Re: Random Thought
Anyone who would give up an Ambassadorship to the Bahamas for, well, anything is criminally stupid and should be forced to sit in a padded room and watch I Love Lucy reruns all day....

In other words, perfectly qualified to talk to Hollywood about intellectual property rights.
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bjupton (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 2:58pm

Re: We/you/me/us...
Birther morons:

There's no need to cling to such idiocy. There are myriad reasons to be upset with the President. Stupid BS about birth certificates, especially when you have seen it, take away from legitimate criticism.
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gorehound (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 4:02pm

Re:
The more the merrier.And maybe in 2012 we can all March on the Cancer called Washington DC.
Frakken Corporations are not People !!! They do not equal to one of us and never will.
We will have to March on Them because I have the feeling this will be the only way to end the corruption.Those who run for Office will be to busy taking that Big Money to care.All they do is make a little mouth noise to get more votes.
More and more people are waking up to what is going on.
2012 will be an interesting year.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 6:58pm

Re: Re: We/you/me/us...
He's likely an IP maximist posing as a critic. It's happened here on Techdirt before.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 7:00pm

Re: Re: We/you/me/us...
The other one; but nice try and thank you for playing.
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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jan 2012 @ 7:06pm

Re: Re: We/you/me/us...
I saw a reluctantly produced �document� that they had 2 years to �fix it up� Mr. Gullibility.
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Justin Olbrantz (Quantam), 5 Jan 2012 @ 7:13pm

Re: Re: Re: We/you/me/us...
Quite possible. Could be an attempt to hijack the thread with the birther debate.
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Mikey Boy (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 8:58pm

no brains
anyone who would vote for Obama in 2012 is a MORON.He's in way over his head and has no idea what he is doing. Is it still Bush's fault 3.5 years later? M O R O N S.
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LC (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 9:25pm

Obama. Time to go?
I liked Obama, and I voted for him last election, and I find him more palatable as a person than any other US president or presidential candidate so far. I thought he had a much greater moral foundation than Bush and he would never allow this sort of shit to go down under his watch. I may end up sorely disappointed. If he does not pull his finger out and use his powers as president to veto these laws, then this issue alone means the Libertarian party or the Republicans (if Ron Paul is their Presidential Candidate) will be the ones getting my vote. I hate small government libertarian politics, and you only need to look at history to see how they fail routinely regardless of the intentions behind them. But these laws need to be stopped at all costs, so if push comes to shove they will receive my vote on this issue alone.

Obama, take this as a warning. You still have an opportunity to stop this, and if you do, you'll find yourself in favor with the technological hub that exists in the same state as Hollywood, and before the end of the this decade will hold more power over voters than Hollywood (unless Hollywood dramatically revises their business model).
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bjupton (profile), 5 Jan 2012 @ 9:35pm

Re: Re: Re: We/you/me/us...
oh good. more coded racism.
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Just John (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 1:31am

Re: Obama. Time to go?
At least Bush didn't lie about government being open and honest....
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 4:47am

So what happens when we get Mitt Romney for Pres and Senator Marco Rubio (R- FL) as VP (Who is in bed with Disney and Universal.)?

Wont this be more of the same? Government ran by the Entertainment Industry?
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 4:51am

Re:
Mitt Romney for Pres and Senator Marco Rubio (R- FL) as VP (Who is in bed with Disney and Universal.)?

Wont this be more of the same? Government ran by the Entertainment Industry?

At lest the angry old man - Ron Paul - Does scare many of the current congress and senate. He kind of scares me too actually, but I don't believe he's in bed with the "AA"'s.
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 5:17am

Re:
I know third parties are a wasted effort

This reasoning has always bothered me because it's self-defeating. Everyone 'knows' that a 3rd Party can't win against the Dems and GOP, and so no one votes for them. But the reason they can't win is because no one votes for them. I want to believe that if enough people stop voting for the lesser of two evils, we might actually HAVE a 3rd Party president.

And if nothing else, at least you'd be sending a message with your vote: I don't like your stance, be more like these guys. If you vote for the guy you tolerate instead of the guy you like (so that the guy you don't-like doesn't win), they only thing they'll see is that they got your vote. Even if a Dem or GOP wins, if a large portion of the vote goes 3rd Party, maybe they'll rethink their strategy in the future.

We keep getting more of the same because we keep voting for more of the same. We need to change the way we do things.
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 5:21am

Re: Re: Re: Re: We/you/me/us...
Or he's just bad at trolling. That line might've gotten a rise a couple years ago, but now?
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 5:27am

Re: Obama. Time to go?
Obama always struck me as an updated model of Clinton -- a practiced Speaker with more charisma then he deserves. He made a lot of nice-sounding promises about hope and change, and we might as well have had another 4 years of Bush for all the good it's done us. We still have the Patriot Act. We still have the war. We still have a very closed, secretive government -- in fact, it feels like it's MORE closed and MORE secretive. It's been 4 more years of business as usual in Washington, and I think that's more than enough reason to not vote for Obama again, regardless of anything he might do to "fix" things in the next 9 months.
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Loki, 6 Jan 2012 @ 5:27am

apparently he's worried that he's pissed off folks in Hollywood -- who feel that he "has given their causes short shrift since moving into the White House."

After sitting here for five minutes trying to consider how it was possible to kowtow more to the entertainment industry that he already has, I came up with absolutely nothing.
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 8:08am

Re: Re: Of course they are not EQUAL, they are GREATER Than people....
"They do not equal to one of us and never will."

You are right, but they are thinking about it the other way, we are a 'corporation' of X people (500 employees), they expect their 'vote' to count as 500 'normal people's' votes...

To make sure the Politicians 'feel' the same way the corporations do, they back their 'votes' with cash (Joe Nobody off the street donated $100 to the campaign, he'll be lucky to get an acknowledgement, Corporation X donates $100,000 to the campaign, and they get a personal invite to discuss their 'ideas' with the politician)...

Seems fair for a corporatocracy....
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 8:11am

Re: no brains
Obama is in over his head. Any candidate that thinks he/she can wade into the corrupt cesspool of D.C. and "change" it, is fairly delusional. That said, the answer to the question about it being Bush's fault, is a definite YES.

All Obama has done is continue along the Bush path so as not to make enemies. Epic FAIL
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Machin Shin (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 10:32am

Re: Re: Please Remember
Surly you jest! Hollywood make a film that was original? You mean they would actually have to make something other than a prequel, sequel, or a remake!?!? This cannot be!!
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