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DeLay's Latest Proposal: Let's Close Internet For "Remodeling"Democrats believe the move is designed to curtail Democratic fund raising
Currently, the internet is home to virtually everything related to news and entertainment, gossip, commerce and now apparently campaign financing. But, all that could soon change, if congressional Republicans get their way. "It's gone too far," says House Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-Tx.). "By that, I mean the internet can be used by terrorists to communicate anti-American messages to the masses and for the proliferation of homosexual pornography. The only way to stop it is to pull the plug on the whole thing until we can find a way to censor the content that goes into American homes."
"This is crazy," said Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Ma.), "to think that we can just close the internet. It's blatant censorship, and its goal is to keep Democrats from mobilizing for the 2004 elections. It's no coincidence that this bill is introduced right after Dean raises $7 million over the web." "That's just Teddy talking," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.). "What we're doing is for the good of the country. It's similar to when a restaurant closes for remodeling, then reopens bigger and better than ever." Critics of the plan cite many challenges to the plans of Delay and Frist. "You've got the obvious constitutional problem," said Professor Nevin Walthrop from the University of Michigan's School of Law. "Then you've got the practical problems of people gaining web access through servers based in foreign countries." Attorney General John Ashcroft had answers to both problems raised by Professor Walthrop. "We'll charge anyone attempting to gain access to the internet with subversion of justice and treason, with possible penalties ranging from deportation to a long stint at Guantanamo Bay," said Ashcroft. "As for the constitutional hurdles, well, I've discussed this at length with Chief Justice Rehnquist and, quite frankly, he doesn't really see any." Democrats, like Dean, who have depended on the internet to raise funds and to get their messages to the masses, will likely be the big losers if the net is shut down. But, Frist claims the November 2004 elections have little to do with the "cleansing" of the web. When the "remodeling" job is completed, the internet is expected to relaunch through web servers controlled by the Department of Homeland Security. "It's important that we protect American citizens from the rhetoric and lies that filter in through the internet," said Frist. "For Governor Dean or anyone else to claim that this bill is aimed at them is just nonsense. Plus, other countries filter their internet services. It's not like we're the only ones." Currently, China, North Korea and Iran are the only two countries censoring web feeds coming into their countries. |
Former Governor Howard Dean raised an unprecedented $7 million
through internet campaigning. While Democrats are praising
Governor Dean's efforts and applauding the evolution of the
internet, Republicans are taking a different tact: they
want to close down the internet for an extensive "remodeling" job.
The bill introduced by Delay, entitled the "Freedom to
Access the Internet Act," would require all web servers
located in the country to be shut down until December 2004.
At that time, the law would "sunset" or expire, and internet
services could once again be made available through government
controlled servers.