To Pols Trying To Raise Money From Silicon Valley: Supporting SOPA/PIPA Probably Isn't Wise
from the well,-look-at-that dept
A brief, little report from Politico notes that various Democrats are ramping up their efforts to raise money from Silicon Valley for the 2012 election. What struck me as interesting was the first two names on the list:As the election season is ramping up, so too are pols’ trips to Silicon Valley. That includes Vice President Joe Biden, who’s heading to San Francisco on Jan. 18 for a lunch reception. Tickets cost $2,500 per person, with $7,500 for lunch and a photo for two. Sen. Robert Menendez will also be in the area on the same day, starting with a dinner in Menlo Park, Calif., followed by a breakfast in San Francisco.Biden, of course, has been the leading voice in the administration for worse and worse copyright enforcement efforts, and almost certainly supports SOPA/PIPA. Sen. Menendez is a PIPA co-sponsor. Given how widespread the outrage in the tech community is against these bills, it seems like an odd choice for them to try to raise money while supporting legislation that will make innovation in tech a lot harder...
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Filed Under: democrats, fundraising, joe biden, pipa, robert menendez, senators, silicon valley, sopa
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"Give ma money, or else".
If it was me I let them rot and finance the other guy whomever that is maybe Ron Paul which is surprisingly popular lately :)
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I mean think of what would happen if the RIAA gives more money to Biden instead of Google, SOPA really will pass.
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Agreed
Let the palm greasing commence. It's an old-fashioned shakedown.
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Re: Agreed
I keep wondering why trench coats, gloves and tommy guns continue to have such great sales. It must be how nicely they go with the vintage hats.
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Re:
(2:30)
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And when SOPA/ProtectIP passes...
TL;DR: The United States is becoming a technology ghetto, and it will only get worse
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What I would love to see
Imagine a large swathe of the internet industry straight up saying "We have lots of money to spend on the upcoming elections, and ALL of it will go to politicians opposed to SOPA/PIPA?" This will, of course, be fully legal due to the Citizens United ruling.
If that were to happen, I hope incumbents this year have practiced their backstroke.
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Response to: anonymous on Jan 11th, 2012 @ 12:38am
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Re: Agreed
Stick with the legacy companies, guys; they're the ones who literally have nothing better to do.
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Joe "Hollywood" Biden
I don't believe this is the point of his visit when simply this is a whitewash and damage control. Joe Biden's love of Hollywood's lobby funds has alienated the Internet and Tech community and VP Biden knows they can prove a serious enemy if he messes things up. So he is simply there to see how he can keep them basically happy with the odd tossed bone while his copyright rampage continues.
We can of course hope he sees beyond the copyright's side propaganda and false statistics but all VP Biden has done to date is to accept their large lobby checks while quoting their anti-piracy manifesto word for word. It is also doubtful he would abandon such a consistent long-term source of campaign funds.
Well at least on his dinner date he may actually learn something and if Silicon Valley do good they will use the time to put on a presentation as to why he is helping things none.
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Or so I'd like to believe...
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Money Well Spent,
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Empty tables
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SOPA/PIPA is going to cost this Government a World of poop.Once people realize what has been done to them ( it will all be wikileaked) then there will be no peace.I hate my Government and no longer care about anyone who is in it.They have screwed with my life and they do not deserve my support.
We need Anti-Money takers and Anti-SOPA/PIPA types to Vote in to Office.
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Re:
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Re: Empty tables
A clear message would be, the tech sector types showing up saying, "well you got my $2,500, I only came to tell you the other guy is getting $25,000,000" ...
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Re: Re: Agreed
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Re: Re: Agreed
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Response from Feinstein on PROTECT IP
I received your letter expressing opposition to the "Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act," commonly known as the "PROTECT IP Act." I appreciate knowing your views on this matter.
The "PROTECT IP Act" (S. 968) gives both copyright and trademark owners and the U.S. Department of Justice the authority to take action against websites that are "dedicated to infringing activities." These are websites that have "no significant use other than engaging in, enabling, or facilitating" copyright infringement, the sale of goods with a counterfeit trademark, or the evasion of technological measures designed to protect against copying.
The bill does not violate First Amendment rights to free speech because copyright piracy is not speech.
America's copyright industry is an important economic engine, and I believe copyright owners should be able to prevent their works from being illegally duplicated and stolen. The protection of intellectual property is particularly vital to California's thriving film, music, and high-technology industries.
I understand you have concerns about the "PROTECT IP Act." While I voted in favor of this bill when it was before the Senate Judiciary Committee, I have also been working with California high-technology businesses to improve the bill and to address the concerns of high-tech businesses, public interest groups and others. I recognize the bill needs further changes to prevent it from imposing undue burdens on legitimate businesses and activities, and I will be working to make the improvements, either by working with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) or through amendments on the Senate floor.
On May 26, 2011, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the "PROTECT IP Act" for consideration by the full Senate. Please know I will keep your concerns and thoughts in mind should the Senate proceed to a vote on this legislation. As you may be aware, Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) has introduced similar legislation, the "Stop Online Piracy Act" (H.R. 3261), in the House of Representatives.
Once again, thank you for sharing your views. I hope you will continue to keep me informed on issues of importance to you. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3841.
Wishing you a happy 2012.
Sincerely yours,
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
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I really want to disagree with this.
Unfortunately all that is being eroded by the recent trend in stifling American freedoms. I suspect you are correct, and a lot of upcoming American engineers and entrepreneurs will begin doing what is best for themselves (rather then their nation) by taking their skills and ideas to less hostile regions. As more and more start-ups leave the US we will indeed see the once great nation gradually dragged into the gutter.
Even if these particular bills do not pass, the general trend continues.
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Re: Money Well Spent,
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Re: Response from Feinstein on PROTECT IP
January 10, 2012
Mr. Jeffrey Nonken
(address redacted*)
Dear Mr. Nonken:
Thank you for taking the time to contact me. I appreciate the opportunity to know your opinions on the pressing issues facing our nation. Regrettably, due to the huge volume of mail that I receive, I am only able to research and address comments sent to me from Connecticut residents. If you are not from Connecticut, you may want to consider sending a message to the Senators from your state of residence. You can do so by visiting http://www.senate.gov for a link to the websites of each member of the United State Senate. If you are currently residing out of state, but are still a Connecticut resident or have a connection to Connecticut, please be certain to use your Connecticut address or indicate your Connecticut connection in the first paragraph of your email.
I value having the benefit of your thoughtful concerns, since I do receive detailed weekly reports from my staff providing a sampling of comments from across the country on timely issues before Congress.
Thank you again for sharing your views and concerns with me. I hope you will continue to visit my website at http://lieberman.senate.gov for updated news about my work on behalf of Connecticut and the nation. Please contact me if you have any additional questions or comments about our work in Congress.
Sincerely,
Joseph I. Lieberman UNITED STATES SENATOR
JIL:JV
Couldn't even be pissed to send a form letter about SOPA. He had to send me a form letter saying he couldn't afford to send me a form letter.
*Though I'm sure you can find me with minimal research. I'm not exactly hiding.
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If you pass this crap legislation, we are done with you.
We will make sure you have no access to anything we develop, you claim IP is important to the countries future and your trying to destroy the people making real IP.
You declared war on us, our answer is to cut you off.
Enjoy your websites made by Geocities rejects, if you can get a license to use a server that is. We are taking our ball and going home, enjoy all of tech you use everyday going dark.
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Marsha Blackburn Responds
“Critics of SOPA can’t deny the undisputed fact that piracy hurts America,” she said in an emailed statement. “The same radical left-wing special interests groups that advocated for Obama’s so-called net neutrality regulations are trying to hijack conservative principles and mislead the public about SOPA.
“The fact is SOPA only applies to dedicated foreign rogue sites that are harming American consumers and creators,” she added.
She is everything that is wrong in DC within just one comment. Oh, and will someone inform them on "RED STATE" that they are radical left wing? I dont think anyone's told them yet.
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Re: Response to: anonymous on Jan 11th, 2012 @ 12:38am
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What kind of lunch costs THAT much?
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Re: Response from Feinstein on PROTECT IP
Given your position on this legislation, I will direct my financial contributions, vote and volunteering efforts towards helping whomever opposes you in the next election.
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