![The Internet Is For Freedom of the Day: One of the more inspired maneuvers used by anti-SOPA lawmakers to try and stymie their near-invincible opponents during yesterday’s House Judiciary Committee hearing was attempted by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), who introduced an amendment excluding “pornography” from SOPA’s protection [pdf].
The genius of it was that the bill’s supporters, particularly its conservative author Rep. Lamar Smith, would likely want to avoid voting in favor of a bill that has the best interests of the adult film industry at heart.
Additionally, determining what constituted “pornography” would undoubtedly leave many entertainment industry properties such as rap songs and certain mainstream films vulnerable to exclusion — something the bigwigs behind SOPA would not particularly care for.
Though the effort was short-lived — the amendment was ultimately defeated by pro-SOPA politicians — it did manage to accomplish two important feats.
It contributed to the derailment of the hearing, which in turn led to the clock running out, forcing the indefinite postponement of the debate. (alert: word is that the markup might start up again next Wednesday)
Perhaps more importantly, however, it accomplished something heretofore thought impossible: The insertion of the lyrics to Avenue Q’s Internet-famous number “The Internet is for Porn” (below) into the official congressional hearing record.
[cnet.]](http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwczf87yr51qzpwi0o1_500.jpg "The Internet Is For Freedom of the Day: One of the more inspired maneuvers used by anti-SOPA lawmakers to try and stymie their near-invincible opponents during yesterday’s House Judiciary Committee hearing was attempted by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), who introduced an amendment excluding “pornography” from SOPA’s protection [pdf].
The genius of it was that the bill’s supporters, particularly its conservative author Rep. Lamar Smith, would likely want to avoid voting in favor of a bill that has the best interests of the adult film industry at heart.
Additionally, determining what constituted “pornography” would undoubtedly leave many entertainment industry properties such as rap songs and certain mainstream films vulnerable to exclusion — something the bigwigs behind SOPA would not particularly care for.
Though the effort was short-lived — the amendment was ultimately defeated by pro-SOPA politicians — it did manage to accomplish two important feats.
It contributed to the derailment of the hearing, which in turn led to the clock running out, forcing the indefinite postponement of the debate. (alert: word is that the markup might start up again next Wednesday)
Perhaps more importantly, however, it accomplished something heretofore thought impossible: The insertion of the lyrics to Avenue Q’s Internet-famous number “The Internet is for Porn” (below) into the official congressional hearing record.
[cnet.]")
The Internet Is For Freedom of the Day: One of the more inspired maneuvers used by anti-SOPA lawmakers to try and stymie their near-invincible opponents during yesterday’s House Judiciary Committee hearing was attempted by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), who introduced an amendment excluding “pornography” from SOPA’s protection [pdf].
The genius of it was that the bill’s supporters, particularly its conservative author Rep. Lamar Smith, would likely want to avoid voting in favor of a bill that has the best interests of the adult film industry at heart.
Additionally, determining what constituted “pornography” would undoubtedly leave many entertainment industry properties such as rap songs and certain mainstream films vulnerable to exclusion — something the bigwigs behind SOPA would not particularly care for.
Though the effort was short-lived — the amendment was ultimately defeated by pro-SOPA politicians — it did manage to accomplish two important feats.
It contributed to the derailment of the hearing, which in turn led to the clock running out, forcing the indefinite postponement of the debate. (alert: word is that the markup might start up again next Wednesday)
Perhaps more importantly, however, it accomplished something heretofore thought impossible: The insertion of the lyrics to Avenue Q’s Internet-famous number “The Internet is for Porn” (below) into the official congressional hearing record.
[cnet.]
(Source: thedailywhat)
