I think a lot of things are assumed about our future junior senator that she has never said publically, I just wished the same courtesy was extended to Kerry.

This said, we probably will never know given that the bill is effectively dead. I think it is very telling Kerry did not come in support of the bill.

I took the fact that there were 40 co-sponsors to the bill and Kerry, Chair of the Commerce committee's subcommittee that oversees the internet and Rockefeller, the chair of the Commerce committee itself were not among them as a signal that they had problems with the bill. The reason is that there was clearly an aggressive effort to get co-sponsors and either of them would have been major "gets".

I would have expected them to have been among the people with amendments to fix the problems. They have the staff and the knowledge that most lack.

I tried to find if Kerry had said anything using various googles. Other than sites saying he had not said anything, I did find one December interview (from Europe) where Cam Kerry was asked - apparently he was part of the administration team on this. In the interview, he essentially said he would not state what there position was as there was no official position. Now, obviously brothers can disagree and the fact that Cam was part of the administration team does not even mean that he sided against it.

I do think it silly that the Republicans removing their names as cosponsors are considered more against it than people who never signed on and are saying nothing.

That said I really which that Kerry would have put out an opinion - even if it were complicated.

There was a tweet from someone that called his office yesterday and said that he was still on the fence about PIPA until a statement was reached. IMO, the names on there (i.e. Boxer. Sh. Brown, Franken, etc) are suprising, but some are up for hard re-election battles, so there stance is understandable.

and edited the OP to say that illegal piracy should be punished, but she had concerns about SOPA and PIPA.

https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethWarren/posts/10150507772003687


Her stance, the other one and MA Dems in the house that came out against it was used to bash Senator Kerry, but you won't please everyone.

This is exactly why I have issues with some people. Kerry has been fighting for the Internet for years, but those two come with a vague comment yesterday and come out as heroes for some. Got to love stupidity (not talking about anybody here).

Listen, nice of them to have posted that (I wonder who was first), but I would not worry about idiots bashing Kerry because those two saw the light (in a tough electoral race). I cant say for Warren, but I am sure Brown would have stayed out of this if he was not running for reelection (and I would assume that Warren would as well, just because it is not her area of expertise).

though I agree with what you say here. Just thought anyone had heard where Senator Kerry had stood on this issue, but it wasn't an intent throw shade at him.

Will just leave this alone cause it won't be taken up for a vote (IDT?), but it was a hot topic yesterday. OTOH, his staff already put out the early town hall meetings schedule. And he did receive a Tousssaint L'Ouverture award for work for MA Hatian-Americans, so kudos there.


Hope you are doing well. Peace.

For example, there was another bill about performance royalty payments (another pet project from the content industry), for which Sen. Kerry never gave an opinion:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=273x158657

Here is a list of Senators who have come out definitely against PIPA:

http://venturebeat.com/2012/01/19/25-senators-oppose-pipa/

Scott Brown is down as opposed.

It looks like more Republicans than Democrats are opposed but it's still a bipartisan list. Thing is, this battle is a Big Tech vs. Big Media ongoing war. There are little guys on both sides as well (small blogs and independent artists). I oppose the bill as written because it may have "unintended consequences" buried in its language, but let's not act like Google is some full scale Good Guy. The truth is, go right now and type in any song title: in addition to legitimate sources, you will get hits for FREE mp3s on the first page. I can't figure out why Google can't fix this. Well, the truth is they probably could but it would expose them to other problems, like accusations of censorship and maybe people would try another search engine that would give them the pirate hits. So they're not exactly innocent here.

I just think this is NOT a black and white issue. Sure this site and DailyKos are opposed but that is because it is against their self interest. Independent music labels have a different set of interests and actually support the bill (it's not just the majors and large corporations that are for this bill).

In the end, the Congress should first do no harm. Since the bill might harm, then it should not go forward. But it's not like piracy isn't a problem. And with everything that has been outsourced to China and India, our entertainment industry still is a major export that creates a lot of jobs stateside. The Chinese are pretty jealous about this, by the way. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/world/asia/chinas-president-pushes-back-against-western-culture.html?scp=1&sq=china%20culture&st=cse

It would have been nice to see his name as a "nay" but I have to say, I don't really care since as Mass says, it's not going to be voted on by the Senate anyway. Why should he alienate some of his supporters for an issue he is not an expert on and doesn't have to vote on? It's different for Brown and Warren who have an election this year. But Kerry is not up for re-election, and his stance won't affect anything anyway.

Though you never know on Facebook some of them identified themselves as "a constituent of yours" Interesting..

Thought all pols had to be experts on every bill that is put up for a vote, unless there is something missing?

Hopefully, both bills will die or stall.


Do agree with everything you all have said though.

Frankly, his not co-sponsoring it is a big tell.

I'm a little puzzled why you come here to air what critics of the Senator from Facebook are saying. The more important question is: do you agree with them? Would you prefer he come out with a position? If you do then say so instead of hiding behind random Facebook posts.

As to being an expert, you do know that most of the yahoos in Congress know close to nothing. Of those that know something, they tend to have specialties. Kerry is chairman of the SFRC, and is a very important member of Congress in regards to foreign affairs. Other Senators know issues of the military or commerce or rule of law better. Kerry is not an expert on copyright law or the internet. In that newspaper hearing, it was clear he understood the journalism side but had not completely prepared for the internet side. He has been good on internet issues in the past, but from where I sit, I don't think he is focused on that issue. I would defer to Sen. Wyden myself. And I am deeply disappointed in Al Franken on this issue. Kerry has not been a big player on it.

No, I don't agree with them. I am not a Facebook friend, just a lurker. Should he come out with a statement, if he doesn't know about that issue, no, but if so, maybe (so the Senate staff won't be so overwhelmed with people calling him on this issue).

It wasn't the intent to come here and air what critics think from Facebook. Just a heads up to see if anyone had heard anything about his stance on this issue cause his Facebook and Twitter pages were getting inundated with people wanting to hear from him on this issue (some was respectful, some not). His staffer (Ms. O'Rourke, think) responded with a statement about his stance on Net Neutraility, but that wasn't good enough, but you won't please everyone. The rest of your post is spot on. Since it is not up for a vote, everything is good now.


The OP was not intended to make trouble, and again, I don't have an agenda against anyone. Just wondering where the Senator stood on PIPA/SOPA cause it was a hot topic everywhere and if anyone heard anything.

Going to leave this thread now. Nice to see you again. Peace.

...politicasista! Look at this:

POTUS didn't sound bad either.

And he kept the Sandman (the one escorts the amateur booed off stage during the Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater) out in the audience.

Thanks for posting this. Like Motown, Stax music is timeless.