Al Gore Comes Out Against SOPA/PIPA

from the and-he-invented-the-internet!-(joke) dept

Fri, Jan 6th 2012 7:14am — Mike Masnick

Well, check this out. Al Gore has come out strongly against SOPA and PIPA, angrily denouncing the bill and its supporters. It's a quick 2-minute video taken at a CareerBuilder event, and it's in response to an audience question. The actual question isn't heard in the video, but he's clearly talking about SOPA/PIPA and appears to be well-informed on the issue: A quick transcript (the very beginning is cut off, so it comes in mid-sentence):

"... are now able to be shared digitally. There is a growing concern on the part of the companies and individuals who create that content, that they're not getting compensated in a fair way, and so they want to impose a new set of requirements on those companies who provide access to the internet, like the browsers, the search engines, etc. And some of these new requirements, according to the experts on the internet, would very probably have the effect of really shutting down the vibrancy of the internet. As in all things, some compromise must be possible. The content creators and owners have a point and a legitimate complaint... But, in our country, in our world today, there is hardly anything more important -- whether you want to solve global warming, as I do, whether you want to reinvigorate democracy as many of us do, whatever problem you want to fix -- there is hardly anything more important to getting the right things done than to save and protect the vibrancy and freedom of the internet. The internet is bringing life back to democracy. We saw it in Egypt. We're seeing it in Russia now. We've seen it in so many places.... If you look at the reform movements around the world, and in the US, more than likely they're based on internet forms of organization. And anything that would threaten the vibrancy and freedom of the internet, I'm against!"

There's very loud applause at the end. If you watch it, you see he gets more and more animated and worked up towards the end. He's also clearly familiar with the details, since he knows the real impact of the bill. Rather than just focusing on "foreign" sites, as supporters of these bills would like everyone to, he points out that the way in which this is done is to put new requirements on tons of domestic internet companies. He may not have invented the internet (and yes, I know that was taken out of context, but it's a meme at this point, so live with it), but he certainly understands its importance... and he's clearly not a fan of SOPA/PIPA.

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Filed Under: al gore, copyright, internet, internet freedom, pipa, protect ip, sopa

65 Comments

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CanadianObserver, 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:20am

Go Al Gore!!!
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John Doe, 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:21am

Are you sure that is the real Al Gore?
Wow, I am not an Al Gore fan at all, but I am glad to see that he not only knows about the issues but appears to be knowledgeable about them as well. And even better, he lands on the right side of the issue.
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A Dan (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:22am

Candidates
I was to see a Paul/Gore vs Obama/Biden election. That would be awesome to watch, even if it isn't going to happen.
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Michael, 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:22am

Although I don't agree with him with regards to global warming, he's right about the internet and how it's helped promote freedom around the world. A censored and regulated internet would compromise democracy and completely undermine our global leadership on this issue.
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:27am

Re: Are you sure that is the real Al Gore?
He'll change his mind when in office and it comes time to vote. IE: See, Obama.
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Chris ODonnell (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:30am

Damn, any Republican's that were on the fence will now have to come out strongly in support of SOPA. No way they can be on record agreeing with Al Gore in an election year.

Sadly, I wish I was just kidding...
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:34am

Everyone is naive if you think that his alleged opposition to this bill now means he won't be opposing this (or a similar) bill if he were in office right now. It could be the case, sure, but it's certainly premature to say that.

The only think we can really look at is his voting history. What's the most similar bill proposed or passed during his elected term (IE: DMCA?) that he voted on and what was his vote? What he says now almost means nothing and we should take it with a grain of salt. Voting history is what we should try and look at when possible.
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Hephaestus (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:34am

Hey didn't Gore invent the internet ?
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PrometheeFeu (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:38am

Now all the Internet's inventors oppose SOPA!
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:42am

Trouble is, he is still playing to the false narrative
"The content creators and owners have a point and a legitimate complaint"

They don't and until legislators grasp that, they cannot come to any sensible decisions.
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JackHerer (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:42am

Is he super serial?
And has he defeated ManBearPig yet?
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John Doe, 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:43am

Re:
By golly, I think you are right. In fact, if you forward an email 10 of your friends Al will cut you a check. Or was that Bill Gates?
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:44am

Re:
They also didn't have a point or a legitimate complaint about the VCR's or gramophones for that matter and if their view had won out, they would all be a lot poorer now.
These are people who regularly oppose those things that will expand their businesses and make them more money, what they clearly do not need is for people to buy into their fake storylines, the losses they will face due to the legal and political support they are currently getting will probably destroy them.
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Rich Kulawiec, 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:45am

Re:
That's true. One of the implicit -- and wrong -- assumptions made frequently on this topic is that there's a problem in need of solution. There isn't. There is only the incessant whining of bloated, fat pigs in their corporate offices and their Congressional lackeys.
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Richard (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:46am

Re:
Yes - as noted here very recently

"The content creators and owners have a point and a legitimate complaint... But,"

anything that come before the "but"....
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John Doe, 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:51am

Re: Re:
That's true. One of the implicit -- and wrong -- assumptions made frequently on this topic is that there's a problem in need of solution.

This is what scares me the most. Not that SOPA will pass, at this point, I think it might not. But now that the ball is rolling, something will get passed and it will be bad for all of us.
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:52am

Re:
Exactly, IP is not something that anyone is entitled to. No one is entitled to a government granted monopoly, IP is something that should only exist to promote the progress and social welfare.

Anyone claiming to have a legitimate claim because they want IP laws for themselves don't. The only one that would have a legitimate claim is the public since that's whom IP should benefit.
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Ninja (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 7:57am

Re:
As I said in my post at TF article about this, global warming was largely exaggerated and shadowed more urgent issues. But I do agree with him in this point.
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:Lobo Santo (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 8:02am

Re: Re: D's Advocate
"No one is entitled to a government granted monopoly,"
To be fair though, there are times when a temporary government granted monopoly is more advantageous to everybody, though such normally applies when you're speaking of physical utilities (water, electricity, internet, cell network, telephone network, natural gas lines, etc). The natural end result of such work should always result in a break-up of said monopoly after its usefulness has ended.
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jupiterkansas (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 8:05am

Re:
Why, yes he did... http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp
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el_segfaulto (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 8:14am

Re: Re: Are you sure that is the real Al Gore?
IE: See, any politician who has ever lived, ever.
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Rich Kulawiec, 6 Jan 2012 @ 8:17am

Re:
As I pointed out yesterday:

What Al Gore actually said is quite accurate (per, among other people, Vint Cerf and Robert Kahn); what was misquoted in the press is wrong. Please see: How a journalist invented that Al Gore invented the Internet, which links to Seth Finkelstein's page describing how this story spread.
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el_segfaulto (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 8:18am

Re: Re: Re:
My fear is that once SOPA gets squashed, a "compromise" bill will come through that is slightly pared down and will get passed overwhelmingly because, hey it isn't SOPA and something has to be done. Do you know how much insurance on a Jag is?!
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Hephaestus (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 8:24am

Re: Re:
Yeah, I know I was being waggish. ;)
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A Monkey with Atitude, 6 Jan 2012 @ 8:26am

What times we live in.... I have to agree with Nancy and Al on an issue... But i guess it does show no matter the person or position, some common ground always exists...

Now if we could just get people to actually speak about issues and look for common ground, we might actually get some where (even if its not ideal for both side, it will be far from the worst outcome).
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el_segfaulto (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 8:27am

Re: Is he super serial?
That was important, but in fairness SOPA is super cereal.
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 8:45am

Re: Re: Re: Re:
My hope is that people won't fall asleep again once SOPA/PIPA die, and that'll avoid these other scenarios.
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Greg G, 6 Jan 2012 @ 9:45am

Re:
As a conservative (not necessarily Republican) I would just say it's astonishing that Algore is actually agreeing with me and is on the right side of an important issue.

Then I would look skyward so I could spot the winged pigs flying by.
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AJBarnes, 6 Jan 2012 @ 9:47am

Re: After ALL
He DID invent the internet!
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Free Capitalist (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 10:26am

Re:
Chris I know you will absolutely be right if the search results on CNN ever change.

Even with the on-going stream of opposition, this is still not a "story" to be followed by the mass media, and therefore is unknown to a great portion of the population. For them, and for congress, having most of the country be aware of what's actually in this bill is "bad for business". As are civil protections.

Showing 1-10 of 11 CNN results for SOPA

Did you mean: soap ?Top 2 results shown

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

updat ed 21 hours, 13 minutes agoNew 'Celebrity Apprentice' stars speak their minds
Not unlike the host of the show, Donald Trump, the fifth season cast of "Celebrity Apprentice" will speak on just about any topic under the sun. First and foremost, of course, they spoke to reporters on Wednesday about what to expect this season...
http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/05/latest-celebrity-apprentice-contestants-speak-their-mind/

updated 23 hours, 10 minutes agoHow to nominate a CNN Hero
It's often said that just one person can make a difference, and CNN Heroes -- everyday people changing the world -- are evidence of that.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/05/living/cnnheroes-how-to-nominate/index.html Sponsored LinksHelp us Stop SOPA
Help stop SOPA while we still can. Just learning about the danger help
www.name.com

Sponsored LinksHelp us Stop SOPA
www.name.com - Help stop SOPA while we still can. Just learning about the danger help

Doh! The top 10 tech 'fails' of 2011 updated Wed December 28, 2011Can't win 'em all, can you?
http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/29/tech/web/2011-tech-fails/index.html
Anti-piracy bill meets Web-freedom backlash updated Fri November 18, 2011A bill moving through Congress is intended, on its surface at least, to do something relatively simple: Crack down on the illegal pirating of movies, music and other copyrighted material.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/18/tech/web/sopa-online-privacy-backlash/index.html

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Atkray (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 10:31am

Re: Re: After ALL
It's a Trap!
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ltlw0lf (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 11:31am

Re: Re: Re: Are you sure that is the real Al Gore?
IE: See, any politician who has ever lived, ever.

IE: See, any politician. FTFY
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FM Hilton, 6 Jan 2012 @ 11:48am

So what?
Just because Al Gore is against SOPA/PIPA, it does not mean his opinion matters any more.

I do believe he is a private citizen, and as such, he has absolutely no impact on these matters before Congress except as a private citizen.

He was once VP. Not any more, and not even credible in most cases. (see the "Al Gore invented the Internet" meme.)

But he's still right about the issue. Too bad nobody will ever listen to him or us, for that matter.
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Fickelbra (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 12:05pm

Re: Candidates
I've seen both George W. Bush and Kwame Kilpatrick receive a second term. I'm willing to believe anything is possible at this point. (I would love to see it too)
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Fickelbra (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 12:09pm

Re:
I believe him on this front. Like it or not, piracy is wrong, but again, they are largely to blame for piracy. They underserve their consumers.

I always summarize my view as this. I have Netflix and Hulu Plus, which I love. I pirate any other cable shows if I really want to see them. I also don't like doing it, because I have to search for a good torrent, download it, upload it to my server, worry about disc space.. OR.. stream it through a simple interface. I stand before Hollywood a willing consumer with no price effective solution.
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mrprophecy, 6 Jan 2012 @ 12:27pm

Looks like the SOPA lot have taken it down, video removed.
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ShaunDakin (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 12:52pm

Use your voice AND donate to EFF
Use your Free Speech to Robocall Congress on #SOPA AND donate to @EFF http://ow.ly/8kRmO (pls rt) :)
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 1:04pm

Really? No one's going to make a joke about Al Gore creating the internet?
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Warezweek, 6 Jan 2012 @ 1:29pm

Anyone has the youtube video? It's been deleted.
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 1:39pm

Re:
Not to rob you of your well-earned cynicism (because I share it!) but...

Wikipedia says the DMCA was passed in 1998. The WIPO treaties that lead up to the DMCA were both apparently ratified in 1996. In both cases, Gore was Vice President (1993-2001).

Assuming Wikipedia's dates are accurate, he would only have voted in the event of a tie (which wasn't true in either case), so his actual voting position is unknown.
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freedomfan, 6 Jan 2012 @ 1:48pm

After all he invented the internet...
Al Gore is about as credible as Mickey Mouse.
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nerdfiles (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 2:14pm

Doesn't help
"Content creators" aren't complain. Plus, that's a huge oversimplification, if not principally false.

"Owners" is a stupid word. What he says is divisive. We're NOT arguing for the importance of the Internet over something else. With that rhetoric, we look like we're trying to replace something. We're NOT. The Internet JUST IS important. It's not "up for grabs" like their content is. Their content goes away, who cares. Internet goes away, we all lose.
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Herpy Derpington, 6 Jan 2012 @ 4:01pm

This video has been removed by the user.
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 4:33pm

The Video is down.. Is it elsewhere on the internet?
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A Dan (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 4:49pm

Re: Candidates
I mean "I want to see"; this has not been a good day for my typing ability.
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 4:56pm

Re: Are you sure that is the real Al Gore?
Of course he would be knowledgeable about this, he invented the internet!
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jan 2012 @ 5:58pm

It's so sad sitting here and seeing so many dumb retards re-hash the "Al Gore Invented the Internet" quote of mass inaccuracy. He never stated he invented the Internet. He stated he took the initiative to create the Internet, and he did by pushing legislation to turn what was already ARPANET, into something that could be used by the public in what he eventually became and has grown into today. Jesus Christ you people are fucking stupid.
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Richard Bennett (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 6:42pm

Al Gore uses DMCA to take his speech down
It's absolutely hilarious that Al Gore, the initiator of the Internet, used a DMCA notice to take down his alleged criticism of SOPA.

His objection is what, exactly? "Copyright for me but not for thee" seems to be the gist of it.
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Anonymous coward's son, 6 Jan 2012 @ 8:19pm

Re: Re:
Yes, dad. Because collective socialist politicalism isn't what got us to this point in the first place. Please just go back to wall st. and get pepper sprayed. Those that know the government regulation in any form, the way you state it or otherwise, is THE PROBLEM. Why? Becuase they aren't nerds.
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vayapues, 6 Jan 2012 @ 8:29pm

crud, that is the last thing this issue needs
The last thing this issue needs to to have Gore against these bills. That hurts our efforts to defeat them.

It was frustrating to watch the issue of net neutrality get politicized. To this day, it takes a great deal of energy to convince people that net neutrality is a good thing.

Obama supports it. He is widely unpopular. So net neutrality must be a bad thing.

If Gore wanted to help us defeat Sopa and Protect IP, he would keep his mouth quiet. He is even less popular than Obama!

I can hear them now... "I read that Gore is against SOPA, and foxnews is for it."

Dumb! Who is behind this strategy? I am glad Gore is on the right side of this issue, but it is absurdly dumb to broadcast that!

All it does, is make the issue that much more polarizing.
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Michael Avery (profile), 6 Jan 2012 @ 9:53pm

Removed video
Here's part of the first half of the original clip that was removed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK7fYy3wwHY
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rageinghobo, 6 Jan 2012 @ 10:30pm

the video is down.... but not be sad, its not censorship its just freedom, its what we all like the free marked thinking.
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Alternareal, 6 Jan 2012 @ 10:42pm

Gore's Rant Now In Graphic Poster Form!
In trying to raise awareness against SOPA, I made a digital poster from Al Gore's rant today against it, to dress and articulate the rage against the bill that threatens to destroy cyberspace, using the futuristic graphic language of cyberspace. Here's the link: http://www.reddit.com/tb/o6dgy � Enjoy. XD
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Me, 7 Jan 2012 @ 12:38am

"This video has been removed by the user"?!?
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Richard Bennett (profile), 7 Jan 2012 @ 1:09am

Censorship!
There they go again, censoring the Internet. Democracy is lost,
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M. Kamermans, 7 Jan 2012 @ 3:22am

if you can't hear the original question,
there is no "clearly". He could be responding to SOPA, or he could be answer "what do you think of the policies used in China and Australia, and the trend of western countries starting to implement similar things". This entire response can be treated as a comment unconnect from SOPA, and when asked directly, he could still say he isn't directly opposed to SOPA. So no, "The actual question isn't heard in the video, but he's clearly talking about SOPA/PIPA and appears to be well-informed on the issue" means "I don't know what he's responding to, but I hope it's SOPA. Find out what the actual question was and update your post with it, please.
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Richard Bennett (profile), 7 Jan 2012 @ 3:45am

Re: if you can't hear the original question,
Please, don't confuse the angry mob with mere facts.
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Timic83, 7 Jan 2012 @ 6:11am

Re: if you can't hear the original question,
australia still hasn't implemented those purported internet censors, and doesn't plan to until 2013 where it will be re-reviewed (and hopefully shot down)
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jan 2012 @ 6:47am

who is more of an idiot, al gore or joe (stand up chuck) biden? no wonder gore flunked all his science courses. maybe they live together in their imaginary universe.
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.keepalive, 7 Jan 2012 @ 12:19pm

since the vid wa removed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK7fYy3wwHY
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The Groove Tiger (profile), 7 Jan 2012 @ 2:00pm

Re: Re: Re: After ALL
Al Gore used to invent things like the internet, but he took an arrow to the knee.
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bongo houzi (profile), 7 Jan 2012 @ 7:13pm

video pulled
Who owned the video that you linked to? It's gone from youtube
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bongo houzi (profile), 7 Jan 2012 @ 7:19pm

RE: video pulled
Maybe it was to make a point one way or the other. Saying, this is what it will be like or, this is what we want it to be like.
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Chilly8, 8 Jan 2012 @ 9:12pm

I compare Lamar Smith to Sir Allistar Dormandy, in the movie Pirate Radio. Dormandy was hell bent on passing laws to put them off the air much in the same way that Lamar Smith is hell bent on passing SOPA, and does not care what public opinion says.

If you watch the movie, you can see some similarties between Lamar Smith and Allistair Dormandy.
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tpp, 9 Jan 2012 @ 5:48am

What do you think the OPEN act is?
The Darrell Issa proposed OPEN act is exactly that.

You're absolutely right about this. Even if we win, we'll still lose, because SOMETHING will be passed. If not SOPA, some other version of it, which will still be bad.
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