Joe Lieberman Sells Out the Internet

[Robbien]

I just got a letter from my senator, Joe Lieberman, dated Oct. 6, that indicates that he's completely flaking on network neutrality and other key telecom reforms. The letter says that he supports the principle of net neutrality, but underneath the letter's tricky language he's saying that he will vote for the telecom industry's telecom bill (S. 2686), the bill approved by the Senate Commerce Committee last summer without any net neutrality provision. Moreover, it shows that Lieberman is not willing to wait a year to see if his (former?) party wins a majority in one House of Congress so maybe the country can get a more balanced law.

Commerce Committee chair Ted Stevens (R-AK) has been scrambling to find the 60 votes needed to stop the filibuster promised by Senator Wyden, Senator Kerry and others who believe that the Stevens bill is anti-democratic and an industry give-away. To date, Stevens has lined up about 57 votes, and now with Lieberman and perhaps other swing senators falling Stevens' way, passage of the Senate telecom bill looks more likely than ever before.

If the Senate passes S. 2686, the worst-case scenario turns ugly. The House has already passed a similar telecom bill so there will be a House-Senate conference committee -- with all Republicans, held in secret, in "lame duck" session where voters will have no way to hold outgoing Senators and Representatives responsible for their actions -- where the *real* bill will be written. This bill is likely to limit our use of the Internet, to bolster the ability of Verizon, Cablevision or whoever our Internet access provider might be, to choose the content and services we use, and to extend the FCC's ability to regulate our speech.

Lieberman's beard -- that he supports the principle of net neutrality -- is bogus to the max. Once the telecom bill becomes law, there will be no impetus to bring the Snowe-Dorgan Net Neutrality Bill to the Senate floor, to the House, et cetera. The telcos will already have everything they want!

http://isen.com/blog/2006/10/joe-lieberman-sells-out-internet.html

Once again Lieberman is siding with Republicans and BigCos.

[ShortnFiery]

1. We need to get some of our Democratic Rep STARS to come to

Connecticut and Campaign with Ned Lamont! :-)

NOW!

[aquart]

2. Lieberman is a pig. I say that will full knowledge of his religion.

He is utterly unclean.

[Xenotime]

5. Agreed.

[Demeter]

3. Since the Internet Ate His Cheese, I'd Expect Lieberman To Revolt

After all, most of his positions are revolting...

[Jacobin]

4. He's a corporate pig. I for one am glad he was drummed out of the

party.

He's a tool