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Care about Internet/Media Issues? Obama is your Candidate |
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Matt Stoller sums up the importance of these issues more succinctly than I could:
The internet and our media are not just issues, and they are not just tech issues, they are organizing principles around which we are shaping the very nature of our politics and culture.
Obama is a strong supporter of Net Neutrality
Barack Obama supports the basic principle that network providers should not be allowed to charge fees to privilege the content or applications of some web sites and Internet applications over others. This principle will ensure that the new competitors, especially small or non-profit speakers, have the same opportunity as incumbents to innovate on the Internet and to reach large audiences. Obama will protect the Internet’s traditional openness to innovation and creativity and ensure that it remains a platform for free speech and innovation that will benefit consumers and our democracy.
This shows that he understands the issue, and is firmly planted on the right side of it. With Hillary, we can’t be so sure.
Clinton is also a vocal supporter of net neutrality, but her ties to Rupert Murdoch and heavy courting of the telecom industry for donations render her commitment to the issue questionable.
FCC Appointments
Senator Clinton’s likely pick for FCC Chairman is Susan Ness. Her work in Bill Clinton’s administration helped to reduce the number of radio station owners by over 1,100 (30%). Our democracy depends on diversity of viewpoints and ownership in media. After a disastrous Bush FCC, I’m not sure we can handle another administration bent on allowing further consolidation of the media.
The Illinois senator is on record saying that an Obama FCC will clearly support net neutrality.He also wants the FCC to spell out broadcasters’ public interest obligations before the DTV transition is complete. Specifically, he would like the FCC to require broadcasters to air public service announcements at times when viewers will see them.
Media Ownership and Consolidation
Encourage Diversity in Media Ownership: Barack Obama believes that the nation’s rules ensuring diversity of media ownership are critical to the public interest. Unfortunately, over the past several years, the Federal Communications Commission has promoted the concept of consolidation over diversity. Barack Obama believes that providing opportunities for minority-owned businesses to own radio and television stations is fundamental to creating the diverse media environment that federal law requires and the country deserves and demands. As president, he will encourage diversity in the ownership of broadcast media, promote the development of new media outlets for expression of diverse viewpoints, and clarify the public interest obligations of broadcasters who occupy the nation’s spectrum. An Obama presidency will promote greater coverage of local issues and better responsiveness by broadcasters to the communities they serve.
Senator Clinton actively courted and received funds from arch-conservative media mogul bad guy Rupert Murdoch.
This statement about Clinton also scares me: “broadcasters like the fact that she has ‘practical real-world experience’ in business.” That is code for deregulation and consolidation, Clinton style.
Telecom Immunity for Wiretapping
The big vote on this just took place today. Despite today’s “Potomac Primary”, Senator Obama was there voting the right way. Once again, Senator Clinton was nowhere to be found when it came time to cast votes on this vital issue.
On every issue relevant to Internet and media issues, Obama is in a better position to create the changes we need. His convictions are firm, his alliances aren’t in opposition to our causes, and he speaks directly and confidently about what he’ll do to ensure an open Internet, diverse media and an FCC we can be proud of.
If you care about media consolidation and network neutrality, or any other Internet/Media issues, you should cast your vote for Barack Obama.
Why do you advocate putting a hard core, left of the left, gun grabbing, tax raising, Patriot Act II signing, RealID, global warming tax, Socialist?
I agree with you completely… up until the socialist part. i really don’t see obama as a socialist. I don’t think he’s cool enough…
that patriot act bit though, that’s the first thing i consider before voting for anybody. how could you vote for anybody who helped to renew that piece of shit?
Obama is a fascist asshole, invest 6 minutes of your time to see how pro-war Obama is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIum0o-_LZk
I also tend to believe that Obama is a bit better on Net Neutrality, but the quotes you pull on consolidation/diversity are still pretty weak stuff. I would like to see him advocate for the reinstatement of the fairness doctrine, as well as a roll-back to pre-1996 levels of media diversity.
Also, contrasting Obama statements with HRC fundraising is a little bit apples/oranges. Have you looked into Obama’s contributers? I last checked in December, and BHO was in the top 5 for the telco lobby & related interests.
I applaud Obama’s vote today on the Dodd amendment, but we all knew it would lose. I would like to see him get out in front on 4th Amendment abuse–maybe even call Bush and Cheney out for breaking surveillance laws or demand Congressional hearings.
What I wouldn’t give for a candidate who wanted to repeal the 1996 telecommunications act…
Obama and Clinton both signed on to S.431, the Murdoch designed bill to protect MySpace business interests, and perpetuate the fraud that registered sex offenders were the root cause of MySpace problems. They signed on after getting wind of the MySpace Impact political channel which is essentially a fundraising platform. The details here: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/31/142742/315
CDT has a breakdown of the bill here: http://www.cdt.org/speech/20080206freespeechincongress.pdf
“At the end of the day, this bill will not actually do much to protect kids from anyone intent on
harming them, and it will have a negative impact on the free availability of outlets for lawful
speech online. CDT urges Congress to reject S. 431, and to adopt the more effective and
focused approach taken in H.R. 719 (detailed in Part V below).”
Murdoch wants to buy a search engine, and he’ll need political patsies in his corner.
Thanks for this. I’ve been wondering what was up with this crucial, yet ignored matter. Lets get Obama elected and Davey D on board with the FCC!!!