An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for 1st Amendment
Marc Rubio At CPAC
Undermining Faith
White House to Announce ‘Accommodation’ for Religious Organizations on Contraception Rule
With the White House under fire for its new rule requiring employers including religious organizations to offer health insurance that fully covers birth control coverage, ABC News has learned that later today the White House — possibly President Obama himself — will likely announce an attempt to accommodate these religious groups.
The move, based on state models, will almost certainly not satisfy bishops and other religious leaders since it will preserve the goal of women employees having their birth control fully covered by health insurance.
Sources say it will be respectful of religious beliefs but will not back off from that goal, which many religious leaders oppose since birth control is in violation of their religious beliefs.
Obama’s Attack On Churches
America….We Have A Problem!
What is that problem? Well, the laundry list is long, but in this case, I’m talking about two bills, HR 998 and S 555, both titled “Student Non-Discrimination Act of 2011 – To end discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools, and for other purposes“. Of course, the usual suspects are all co-sponsors.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t think anyone should be discriminated against, for any reason. I do, however, feel that making a certain group of people a ‘special class’ is ridiculous! It is more and more obvious that this country has lost it’s roots, and we are now floundering in the cesspool of ‘secular religion’. The intent of the bills on the surface, and I’m just guessing here, is to stop bullying. Well, we already have laws that are suppose to do that, as in ya don’t punch someone in the nose because they don’t think or act like you. 
Congress evidently believes they can overrule God!
Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.
This is not the only passage in the Bible that sets down the law, but it is the most well known one.
A brief summary of what this bill will do (from an email from the Public Advocate of the United States):
*** Require schools to teach appalling homosexual acts so “homosexual students” don’t feel “singled out” during already explicit sex-ed classes;
*** Spin impressionable students in a whirlwind of sexual confusion and misinformation, even peer pressure to “experiment” with the homosexual “lifestyle;”
*** Exempt homosexual students from punishment for propositioning, harassing, or even sexually assaulting their classmates, as part of their specially-protected right to “freedom of self-expression;”
*** Force private and even religious schools to teach a pro-homosexual curriculum and purge any reference to religion if a student claims it creates a “hostile learning environment” for homosexual students.
In reality, the bills are promoting discrimination, but that’s not all that unusual for the radical left.
SEC. 5. FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT; REPORT TO CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.
(b) Enforcement- Compliance with any requirement adopted pursuant to this section may be effected–
(1) by the termination of or refusal to grant or to continue assistance under such program or activity to any recipient as to whom there has been an express finding on the record, after opportunity for hearing, of a failure to comply with such requirement, but such termination or refusal shall be limited to the particular political entity, or part thereof, or other recipient as to whom such a finding has been made, and shall be limited in its effect to the particular program, or part thereof, in which such noncompliance has been so found; or
So, let me get this straight…no pun intended…if a public school doesn’t doesn’t comply with this law, and put their (both student and faculty) eternal souls at jeopardy, the federal gubmint will cut off funding? Somehow, refusing to return OUR money to OUR schools just doesn’t seem right. Well, of course not…it’s wrong, aka LEFT.
Section 7, STATE IMMUNITY
(a) State Immunity- A State shall not be immune under the 11th Amendment to the Constitution from suit in Federal court for a violation of this Act.
So, a state can’t opt out of this obvious violation of the 1st Amendment? Am I reading that correctly? People are suppose to be free to speak their minds, practice their faith, and NOT be penalized. With these bills, a person can NOT practice their faith, or speak about it to others. But yet, the religion of government is free to impose their will on the American people. Does anyone else have a problem with this, besides me?
Please, go read BOTH bills. They aren’t very long. I don’t much care for bullies, of any gender, or status. What I am seeing in these bills is the bullying of the American people by the very Congress whose salary they pay.
There is a petition to Congress, opposing these bills, not that Congress gives a flying flip what WE, The People have to say, but it doesn’t hurt to give it a shot!
United Against Evil
Obamacare Awakens a Sleeping Giant
The Foundry
It is a rare moment indeed when faith denominations of all stripes unite together in common cause, and it is rarer still when that cause is a political one, with a sole piece of legislation as its principal target. But when that law eviscerates the very foundation of religious liberty in America as protected under the First Amendment, it should not be surprising that Catholics and Jews, charismatic evangelical Christians, and mainline Lutherans alike find common cause in defense of their liberties.
Such is the case with the firestorm of opposition to Obamacare and the Obama Administration’s attack on religious liberty. Under a new Obamacare mandate issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the White House is mandating that many religious employers, with the exception of churches, provide health care coverage for contraception — including abortion-inducing drugs — thereby trampling upon their constitutionally guaranteed free exercise of religion. And it is this mandate that has caused a vehement response in churches and synagogues across the country.
Blacklisting The Truth
Blacklist
by Oliver North and Tom Kilgannon
Blacklist (n.): a list of persons who are disapproved of or are to be punished or boycotted.
The definition above, from an old Webster’s dictionary, was common parlance in the late 1940s and early 1950s as the U.S. House Un-American Activities Committee investigated subversive activity, Soviet espionage and pro-communist propaganda. The committee unearthed spies and traitors — Alger Hiss among them. But when the HUAC turned its attention to Hollywood writers, directors and actors, civil libertarians cried foul. The American Civil Liberties Union and others insist those on the “Hollywood blacklist” were unfairly persecuted for exercising their constitutionally protected rights to freedom of assembly and speech.
Now there’s a new-millennium blacklist for American patriots who fail today’s political correctness test. Retired Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin, a highly decorated special operations soldier with 36 years of service in uniform, is the newest name on the roster. The silence from the “civil liberties lobby” is deafening.
It often is said that our soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardsmen and Marines serve to “protect our freedoms” and “defend our liberties.” All true. Now consider what took place this week at the United States Military Academy at West Point — an institution responsible for training young men and women to protect America from those who mean us harm. West Point cadets take an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” and to “bear true faith and allegiance to the same.” Many West Point graduates will deploy to fight radical Islamists who commit acts of terror against Americans and our allies.
Read the entire column here.
I expressed my disgust, as politely as I could, here. Organizations like CAIR and the ACLU are working overtime to destroy a once great, and Godly, nation. Unless we reverse this trend, there will be no United States of America. The erosion of our 1st Amendment rights may provoke the use of our 2nd Amendment rights!
It’s About Bloomin’ Time!
Lawmakers move toward ouster of Occupy Nashville tents
Tennessee lawmakers moved Wednesday toward ousting the Occupy Nashville encampment from the grounds of the state Capitol, after a legislator said action is needed to stop the “theft” of a public place.
A subcommittee in the House of Representatives approved a measure that would bar camping on state property without permission, taking the first step toward giving Gov. Bill Haslam the legal authority to remove the approximately four dozen tents erected on War Memorial Plaza. The move puts the legislature on track to authorize removal of the encampment within a matter of weeks.
A representative for the Occupy Nashville protest tried to convince the House Judiciary subcommittee that the tents are a form of protest that should be protected by the First Amendment. But members acted unanimously to endorse removing an encampment that the measure’s sponsor, state Rep. Eric Watson, R-Cleveland, said has fostered crime, lewdness and unsanitary conditions since it began in October.
I am honestly surprised that Tennessee has allowed those nasty beings to continue to camp on PUBLIC property! I’m all for 1st Amendment rights, but these pigs have gone beyond ‘freedom of speech’ into, what some might consider, debauchery. The Occupy bunch have a rather colorful history of filth and crime.
Tents are NOT a 1st Amendment issue. They are inanimate objects, and have no voice. Those who put those tents up have every right to express their opinions. They do NOT have the right to hinder others from making use of the plaza that is owned by ALL the people of Tennessee. It is past time for these children to go home, get cleaned up, and grow up! Nobody OWES you a damn thing!
Occupy VS Tea Party
No, the Occupy “movement” is NOTHING like the Tea Party. There are NO similarities, unless you count people gathering together in a specific place. That’s about it!
Nothing like a visual aid to put it all in perspective.
Occupy = Criminals
Police arrest about 300 Occupy Oakland protesters
Oakland police said they arrested about 300 people Saturday as protesters spent a portion of the day trying to get into a vacant convention center, and later broke into City Hall and tried to occupy a YMCA.
Police spokesman Jeff Thomason said most of the arrests came around 8 p.m. local time, when police took many protesters into custody as they marched through the city’s downtown, with some entering a YMCA building.
At about the same time police were taking people into custody near the YMCA, about 100 police officers surrounded City Hall, while others swept the inside of the building looking for protesters who had broken into the building, then ran out of the building with American flags before officers arrived.
Let’s see, breaking and entering, vandalism, theft. Does that pretty much cover it?
Oakland Mayor Jean Quan during a news briefing late Saturday said protesters had forced their way into City Hall, where they burned flags, broke into an electrical box and damaged several art structures, including a recycled art exhibit created by children.
Are they going to spout the tired line/lie “It’s for the CHILDREN”?
Police said the group assembled at a downtown plaza Saturday morning, with demonstrators threatening to take over the vacant Henry Kaiser Convention Center. The group then marched through the streets, disrupting traffic.
The crowd grew as the day wore on, with afternoon estimates ranging from about 1,000 to 2,000 people.
The protesters walked to the vacant convention center, where some started tearing down perimeter fencing and “destroying construction equipment” shortly before 3 p.m., police said.
Just because a building is vacant, doesn’t mean it doesn’t belong to someone. And unless that someone says you can move into it, then you are nothing more than a criminal. When you destroy someone else’s property, you are a criminal.
Police said they issued a dispersal order and used smoke and tear gas after some protesters pelted them with bottles, rocks, burning flares and other objects.
Most of the arrests were made when protesters ignored orders to leave and assaulted officers, police said. By 4 p.m., the bulk of the crowd had left the convention center and headed back downtown.
When you assault another person, whether they are LOE or a private citizen, you are a criminal.
The demonstration comes after Occupy protesters said earlier this week that they planned to move into a vacant building and turn it into a social center and political hub. They also threatened to try to shut down the port, occupy the airport and take over City Hall.
When you intentionally interfere with business, you are a criminal.
Hey…let’s face it! These occutards are nothing but criminal elements. They are thieves, liars and cheats. They want to take what belongs to someone else, and destroy it. How about they go home, and destroy their own property? They are a hazard to the general public, and if the mayor isn’t going to do her job, and watch out of the WHOLE city, then perhaps she needs to find another line of work.
This is no longer a 1st Amendment issue. Freedom of speech doesn’t cover destruction and theft! Here’s a thought. How about letting them into that vacant building, and lock the doors. It can be their jail. After all, isn’t that what you do with criminals? Put them in jail?
Persecution of Christians
News of Christian imprisonment in Saudi only now reaching U.S.
Thirty-five Christians have been jailed in Saudi Arabia for worshiping in their own homes according to a recent report. The news only surfaced this week that the Christians have been imprisoned for over a month.
Jonathan Racho of International Christian Concern says it is no wonder that Christians there worship in their homes because of the danger they face.
“In Saudi Arabia there is no church,” says the ICC spokesman. “There is no other place of worship other than mosques — so the Christians in Saudi Arabia only gather at their private homes to worship. And when they worship, as you can see in this particular example, they could also be arrested.”
Using Bing search engine, there are 29,400,000 hits for “Christian persecution in Saudi Arabia“. That’s TWENTY NINE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND. This from a country that is supposedly an ‘ally’. I’m afraid I cannot consider any country run by Muslims an ally of the United States of America. I also am more than disturbed by the continuous importing of Muslims by our government to our country. Search for “Christian persecution in the United States“, and the number is even more disturbing… 150,000,000….ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION! That is more than 5 times the number in the supposed Land of the Free.
Visitors to Saudi Arabia are not allowed to bring in Bibles, wear Crucifixes, and I’m fairly sure, the Star of David is a no no as well. I guess I won’t ever be going there, will I, considering I carry a Bible with me everywhere I go, and this 
doesn’t leave my neck! I wonder how long it will be before I am banned from wearing it in the U.S.? When will Bibles and Tanuchs be banned? Organizations such a CAIR have our officials on the run for doing nothing more than telling the truth.
The saddest thing, and most dangerous, is the idea that Islam is a religion of peace. No. It. Is. NOT! There is nothing peaceful about forced conversions, or brutalizing women and children. The contradictions of what is said, and what is taught, are mind boggling. I have posted many times on this issue. I don’t think I need to post anymore of the pictures of the results of their ‘peace’. You can find them yourself, or look here, or here, or here, or here for information.
Many people say ‘I learned everything I need to know about Islam on 9/11.” I learned long before then, at my mother’s knee, and how she came to be a first generation American.
Censorship?
Twitter’s new censorship plan rouses global furor
Twitter, a tool of choice for dissidents and activists around the world, found itself the target of global outrage Friday after unveiling plans to allow country-specific censorship of tweets that might break local laws.
Well, after seeing this on Drudge, for some reason, I’m not all that surprised that Twitter, or any other “social network”, will censor. Of course, the occupy bunch are just nasty, and many are breaking laws already. They’ve had their say, now they need to go home, take a shower, and clean up their freakin’ mess!
It was a stunning role reversal for a youthful company that prides itself in promoting unfettered expression, 140 characters at a time. Twitter insisted its commitment to free speech remains firm, and sought to explain the nuances of its policy, while critics – in a barrage of tweets – proposed a Twitter boycott and demanded that the censorship initiative be scrapped.
“This is very bad news,” tweeted Egyptian activist Mahmoud Salem, who operates under the name Sandmonkey. Later, he wrote, “Is it safe to say that (hash)Twitter is selling us out?”
Unlike what we see on the evening news, we know there are some in the Middle East that actually DO want freedom. Medias like Twitter allows them to stay in contact with the rest of the world, and let people know what is REALLY happening, as opposed to what state run media allows out.
In China, where activists have embraced Twitter even though it’s blocked inside the country, artist and activist Ai Weiwei tweeted in response to the news: “If Twitter censors, I’ll stop tweeting.”
One often-relayed tweet bore the headline of a Forbes magazine technology blog item: “Twitter Commits Social Suicide”
To be honest, I don’t get on Twitter all that often anymore. But I do that there are a LOT who still use it, and that is where I go if something is breaking, and I can’t get find anything on traditional media. Usually, there will be someone retweeting the news. I can imagine in for people in countries like China and Iran, Twitter can be their lifeline to the world. For a company based in the U.S. (San Fransisco), where the 1st Amendment is vital to our very survival (after the 2nd), to censor users in other countries is completely mind boggling. Since when do Americans bow to the whims of foreigners?
“This is a good thing for freedom of expression, transparency and accountability,” he said. “This launch is about us keeping content up whenever we can and to be extremely transparent with the world when we don’t. I would hope people realize our philosophy hasn’t changed.”
I’m afraid I am having a problem equating this statement and the proposed censorship. Granted, I’m not exactly technologically savvy, but…..
Some defenders of Internet free expression came to Twitter’s defense.
“Twitter is being pilloried for being honest about something that all Internet platforms have to wrestle with,” said Cindy Cohn, legal director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. “As long as this censorship happens in a secret way, we’re all losers.”
How can censorship on any level be defended? Ok, I will admit things like pedophilia should be discouraged on all levels, and shouting ‘fire’ in a crowded theater when there is no fire, isn’t too bright. Some would call that censorship, but I’d call it protecting children and the general public. But those fighting for their freedom from oppression is not on the same level.
Reporters Without Borders, which advocates globally for press freedom, sent a letter to Twitter’s executive chairman, Jack Dorsey, urging that the censorship policy be ditched immediately.
“By finally choosing to align itself with the censors, Twitter is depriving cyberdissidents in repressive countries of a crucial tool for information and organization,” the letter said. “Twitter’s position that freedom of expression is interpreted differently from country to country is unacceptable.”
The freedom to speak out against oppression is a God given RIGHT! Twitter may very well be committing suicide. If another company comes out without the censorship issue, then the name Twitter may become a footnote in cyber history. There is more to the story. I’ve no doubt there will be more outrage, on the pages of Twitter itself, in 140 characters or less. We shall see!
Violations
U.S. gives church groups a year on birth control rule
The Obama administration on Friday ruled that religiously affiliated nonprofit organizations, including hospitals and universities, will have to offer birth-control coverage to women employees but gave the organizations an extra year to comply.
In a decision expected to draw opposition from religious conservatives, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule requiring affiliated groups to provide a broad range of services, from implanted contraceptive devices to the morning-after pill. Many do not at present.
The government’s decision does not apply to churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and some religiously-affiliated elementary and secondary schools, which remain exempt.
But it comes as a blow to the interests of some religious authorities.
Wait a minute….isn’t it the left that is always shouting “church and state”? Even if there really is no such thing?
Now, if I remember correctly, the 1st Amendment gives religious organization freedom to practice their religion without government interference, unless of course, there is some seriously sick crap going on…or unless it’s Muslim, of course. Well? These hospitals and schools are run by religious organization, teaching and actually practicing their faith. For the Obama administration to come in, and DEMAND they go against their faith, to me, seems like a complete violation of their freedom to practice their religion as laid out in the 1st Amendment by the Founders.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;….”
Yep….there it is…right there! The very FIRST ‘right’ in the Bill of Rights. Demanding a Catholic hospital or college to defy their God given RIGHT to practice their faith by passing out anything that would/could end the life of a child goes against church doctrine. I don’t care if a lot of churches, Catholic or otherwise, have become so liberal they have forgotten what is actually IN the Bible, and thing this kind of intrusion of the federal government is just honky dory, it actually is NOT!
I pray that all true Christians, who still remember the Word of God, and do their utmost to follow His teachings will remember the continuous trampling of the U.S. Constitution come this next November. I also pray the new POTUS will remember that ObamaCare is one of the major reasons why he was elected, and from day one, work to de-fund and repeal that piece of garbage!
H/T: Tena
S.968 – PROTECT IP Act of 2011
The Senate MUST scrap this bill, and if they want to actually do the job they were hired to do, go back to the drawing board! I have already voiced my opinion to both my senators, both of whom are co-sponsors (insert appropriate four lettered words here), and my representative, who is a co-sponsor of SOPA (more appropriate four lettered words).
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011’ or the ‘PROTECT IP Act of 2011’.
SEC 3, b
1) IN GENERAL- On application of the Attorney General following the commencement of an action under this section, the court may issue a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction, or an injunction, in accordance with rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, against the nondomestic domain name used by an Internet site dedicated to infringing activities, or against a registrant of such domain name, or the owner or operator of such Internet site dedicated to infringing activities, to cease and desist from undertaking any further activity as an Internet site dedicated to infringing activities, if–
Have they met our current Attorney General? The man is quite off his rocker, and completely anti Constitution. He drops cases that are obviously a violation of our laws, and brings suits against hard working Americans. He’s dangerous. Putting such power in his hands is beyond insane. Putting such power in ANYONE’s hands is beyond comprehension.
Apparently, those we have elected to represent us….don’t. Fortunately, at least one co-sponsor, Marco Rubio, has come to his senses. Will any of the others?
Sponsor
SenatorPatrick LeahyD-VT
- Sen. Lamar Alexander [R, TN]
Added May 25, 2011 - Sen. Kelly Ayotte [R, NH]
Added June 27, 2011 - Sen. Michael Bennet [D, CO]
Added July 25, 2011 - Sen. Jeff Bingaman [D, NM]
Added October 19, 2011 - Sen. Richard Blumenthal [D, CT]
Added May 12, 2011 - Sen. Roy Blunt [R, MO]
Added May 23, 2011 - Sen. John Boozman [R, AR]
Added June 15, 2011 - Sen. Barbara Boxer [D, CA]
Added December 12, 2011 - Sen. Sherrod Brown [D, OH]
Added October 20, 2011 - Sen. Benjamin Cardin [D, MD]
Added July 13, 2011 - Sen. Robert Casey [D, PA]
Added September 07, 2011 - Sen. Saxby Chambliss [R, GA]
Added November 02, 2011 - Sen. Thad Cochran [R, MS]
Added June 23, 2011 - Sen. Chris Coons [D, DE]
Added May 12, 2011 - Sen. Bob Corker [R, TN]
Added June 09, 2011 - Sen. Richard Durbin [D, IL]
Added June 30, 2011 - Sen. Michael Enzi [R, WY]
Added September 07, 2011 - Sen. Dianne Feinstein [D, CA]
Added May 12, 2011 - Sen. Al Franken [D, MN]
Added May 12, 2011 - Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D, NY]
Added May 26, 2011 - Sen. Lindsey Graham [R, SC]
Added May 12, 2011 - Sen. Charles Grassley [R, IA]
Added May 12, 2011 - Sen. Kay Hagan [D, NC]
Added July 05, 2011 - Sen. Orrin Hatch [R, UT]
Added May 12, 2011 - Sen. John Isakson [R, GA]
Added November 02, 2011 - Sen. Tim Johnson [D, SD]
Added October 03, 2011 - Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D, MN]
Added May 12, 2011 - Sen. Herbert Kohl [D, WI]
Added May 12, 2011 - Sen. Mary Landrieu [D, LA]
Added October 17, 2011 - Sen. Joseph Lieberman [I, CT]
Added July 07, 2011 - Sen. John McCain [R, AZ]
Added July 26, 2011 - Sen. Robert Menéndez [D, NJ]
Added October 31, 2011 - Sen. Jerry Moran [R, KS]
Added June 23, 2011
Wthdrawn June 27, 2011 - Sen. Bill Nelson [D, FL]
Added September 23, 2011 - Sen. James Risch [R, ID]
Added November 07, 2011 - Sen. Marco Rubio [R, FL]
Added May 26, 2011 - Sen. Charles Schumer [D, NY]
Added May 12, 2011 - Sen. Jeanne Shaheen [D, NH]
Added June 30, 2011 - Sen. Tom Udall [D, NM]
Added July 07, 2011 - Sen. David Vitter [R, LA]
Added November 07, 2011 - Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D, RI]
Added May 12, 2011
H.R.3261 – Stop Online Piracy Act
There is good reason to be extremely wary of this bill. The wording of many of the items in the bill should give EVERYONE pause. An example in SOPA:
Sec.1, Title 1, Definitions
Sec. 105. Immunity for taking voluntary action against sites that endanger public health.
I’ve no doubt the writers of this bill was considering the numerous jihadi websites, or others that promote violence, but what about Burger King? Many people seem to think that fast food restaurants ‘endanger public health’. Food nazis have been on the rampage for a while now, attempting to control what people decide to have for lunch. So, if I took advertising, which I don’t, and won’t, and Burger King wanted to put an ad on my site, the government could shut me down for accepting such an ad.
In Sec. 2, a, 1:
FIRST AMENDMENT- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to impose a prior restraint on free speech or the press protected under the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.
Not true. See example above. If I accept an ad from someone the government doesn’t like, they can shut me down, which would be violating MY right to free speech! Not only would they shut me down, but anyone who is connected to this site behind the scenes, like the host we pay to run our sites. That would include silent E, and Ick.
Read the entire bill. It’s more than a bit disturbing. Congress has, over the years, whittled away our God given rights, for the purpose of control. This is just one more step in the process. My description may be extremely simplistic, but I’m sure you get the idea. Stopping theft of intellectual property isn’t a bad thing, but this is not the way to do it!
Write your Congress critter, and both your Senators. If your Rep is on this list of sponsors, rip them a new one! Let them know we do NOT approve of their sponsorship!
Sponsor
Representative
Lamar SmithR-TX
- Rep. Mark Amodei [R, NV-2]
Added November 03, 2011 - Rep. Joe Baca [D, CA-43]
Added December 07, 2011 - Rep. John Barrow [D, GA-12]
Added November 14, 2011 - Rep. Karen Bass [D, CA-33]
Added November 03, 2011 - Rep. Howard Berman [D, CA-28]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Marsha Blackburn [R, TN-7]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Mary Bono Mack [R, CA-45]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. John Carter [R, TX-31]
Added November 03, 2011 - Rep. Steven Chabot [R, OH-1]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Judy Chu [D, CA-32]
Added November 30, 2011 - Rep. John Conyers [D, MI-14]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Jim Cooper [D, TN-5]
Added December 12, 2011 - Rep. Ted Deutch [D, FL-19]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Elton Gallegly [R, CA-24]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Robert Goodlatte [R, VA-6]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Tim Griffin [R, AR-2]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Tim Holden [D, PA-17]
Added November 30, 2011 - Rep. Peter King [R, NY-3]
Added November 03, 2011 - Rep. John Larson [D, CT-1]
Added November 30, 2011 - Rep. Ben Luján [D, NM-3]
Added November 14, 2011 - Rep. Thomas Marino [R, PA-10]
Added November 03, 2011 - Rep. Alan Nunnelee [R, MS-1]
Added November 03, 2011 - Rep. William Owens [D, NY-23]
Added November 14, 2011 - Rep. Ben Quayle [R, AZ-3]
Added December 13, 2011 - Rep. Dennis Ross [R, FL-12]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Steve Scalise [R, LA-1]
Added November 14, 2011 - Rep. Adam Schiff [D, CA-29]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Brad Sherman [D, CA-27]
Added December 07, 2011 - Rep. Lee Terry [R, NE-2]
Added October 26, 2011 - Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D, FL-20]
Added November 03, 2011 - Rep. Melvin Watt [D, NC-12]
Added November 03, 2011
“…or abridging the freedom of speech…”
An Internet Blackout Over SOPA and PIPA
The Foundry
As of midnight, Wikipedia is shut down for 24 hours, and hundreds of other popular websites have gone dark right along with it. They are standing together in protest of two controversial pieces of legislation that threaten Internet security and undermine the freedom of speech all in an effort to crack down on online “piracy” — the illegal distribution of copyrighted material.
Hollywood, the music industry, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have gone to bat on behalf of the proposed laws on the grounds that they will help protect valuable copyrighted property. And while the goal is laudable, the ends don’t justify the means. The Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act have far-reaching consequences for the Internet’s infrastructure, individual liberties, and innovation in the digital age.
