Kirsten Gillibrand, SOPA/PIPA, 2016, and cake
There was some interesting blowback today for Kirsten Gillibrand on SOPA/PIPA -- federal legislation touted as a way for copyright holders to crack down on piracy, but in practice would muck up much of the internet. Under pressure from widespread online protest this week, Congressional leaders took the bills off the table today. [TechDirt] [Wired]
Both Chuck Schumer and KG were co-sponsors of PIPA (basically the Senate version of SOPA), and tech industry people in NYC organized a large protest (with actual, in-real-life people) outside the senators' office there on Wednesday. [BetaBeat]
Apparently in response to the protests and the pulling of the bill, KG (or her office) posted on her Facebook page today:
Whether passing the 9/11 Health Bill, repealing DADT, or my call to action for women, I have always urged New Yorkers to make their voices heard. There has been an outpouring of democracy in action over the last several weeks on PIPA & SOPA. While many of my colleagues and I have worked hard to address concerns with the current bill, it is clear this proposal will not create consensus on how to crack down on the real problem of online theft that threatens tens of thousands of New York jobs in a balanced way that ensures our tech companies will continue to flourish. It is time for Congress to take a step back and start over with both sides bringing their solutions to the table to find common ground towards solving this problem. New talks between stakeholders -- media companies, music and film companies, Silicon Valley and Silicon Alley here in New York is a critically needed step forward. Make no mistake, we must act to protect the theft of intellectual property that costs our economy billions in revenue -- but we must get it right without unintended consequences that could stifle the internet.
Which, in turn, prompted Markos Moulitsas (the Kos in Daily Kos) to argue that KG is "trying to have her cake, and eat it too, on PIPA." And the overarching reason, in his view: she's looking ahead to 2016 and a run for a White House.
[via @patrickboegel]
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Comments
There was pressure from her constitutions to back away from the bill. And she has. Isn't that how this whole democracy thing is supposed to work? I don't really understand why Markos would hold that against her.
... said Betty Jones on Jan 20, 2012 at 5:39 PM | link
President Abe said it best " You Can't please all the people all the time".No big suprise about her goal for the white house,it's in the genes.
... said mg on Jan 21, 2012 at 7:22 AM | link
I just had to smirk about the 2016 comment. It's like every politician in NYS must has this goal - Hilary, Pataiki, Cuomo and now KG.
Also, I agree with Betty.
... said Jessica R on Jan 21, 2012 at 1:31 PM | link
The bill was squashed because major tech corporations had too much to lose by it passing. I do wonder why such an important issue draws so little comment, however. I suppose sushi selections hold readers' attention better.
... said Cincinnatus on Jan 23, 2012 at 8:08 PM | link
I am challenging her and it will be an interesting race.
Www.norenforsenate.com
Andrew Cuomo will run in 2016....
... said Scott Noren DDS on Jan 23, 2012 at 10:26 PM | link
Perhaps she should have asked here constituents if she should have been backing or working on this bill in the first place. It is not democracy when huge corporations line your coffers to get favorable legislation passed and you just happen to get burned because people don't like it.
The point Markos is making is that she DID NOT listen to her constituents, she waited until the floor fell out and then "reassessed".
... said Patrick on Jan 25, 2012 at 9:54 AM | link
Kirsten Gillibrand Co-sponsored PIPA along with Senator Chuck Schumer for $747,991 reasons.
Schumer $494,325 reasons.
Source - OpenSecrets.org
... said Micahel on Jan 25, 2012 at 4:03 PM | link