A Telecom Bill Senate Vote... From IL?
I finally got to ask a Senator how he would vote on the telecom rewrite bill in the Senate (Communications, Consumers Choice & Broadband Deployment Act of 2006) and I got the answer I wanted. Here's the crazy part... He was not from Ohio. And he happens to be the one of the most popular senators in decades - Barack Obama. I'm telling you, it was like getting a few minutes with a rock star, people are crazy about this guy. Here is my story...
I was invited to sit at Barack Obama's Blogger's table at the Ohio Democratic Party 2006 State Dinner (yes, Obama actually sponsored a blogger's table at the dinner for which he was the keynote speaker). You can make whatever suppositions you would like to about what this means :-) but at face value it conveys the obvious --- that Obama is a blogger and understands the power of blogs. And what it told us, up close, is that all the hype is for a reason. He is charismatic, intelligent and down to earth. He actually has a tongue in cheek letter to Stephen Colbert on his website.
The ten of us at the bloggers table received 15 minutes of Obama's time. As soon as he sat down our table was immediately swarmed. Our questions and discussion was interrupted continually by "fans" wanting his autograph (I kid you not). And there was a rotation of people standing behind him getting their picture taken of them with/near Obama while he was speaking with us. It was a circus.
Most of our 15 minutes was spent dicussing the intersection of blogging and politics. The other bloggers detailed the conversation in their blogs Redhorse, Chris Baker, YellowDogSammy, Cindy Zawadski, Eric Vessels, Scott Piepho, Jill Miller Zimon and Buckeye State Blog . I wanted to discuss the multiple issues within the telecom bill but knew I could not because of the time constraint so I went with the question of "Are you familar with the telecom rewrite bill?" Obama responded with "I support Net Neutrality". I asked "How will you vote on the bill in the Senate?" He responded again with a statement about supporting net neutrality. I pressed again. He stated he would vote against the bill. Mission accomplished. Four hours at the dinner for 15 circus minutes and this one question. What a night.
posted by Angela Siefer @ 10:14 AM
20 comments
20 Comments:
Nice job, Angela, asking that question/getting the answer! It was a pleasure to meet you and I'm going to add you to my blogroll. This is such an important issue. But here's something that's boiling me: Sensenbrenner supposedly supports net neutrality, right? But then why has he drafted the bill that would require ISPs to track and keep records of every site visited and email exchanged by the ISPs customers for two years? Do you know anything about that?? (pleasure to meet you last night!)
Jill, here is my theory... the ISP info issue is a privacy issue. It is not one that the Net Neutrality folks have been pushing. And the national coalitions pushing Net Neutrality are pushing hard (and winning). The privacy issues are ones I am just now getting into. I was just elected to the advsisory council of the international organization that oversees all .org domain names and I know this issue is big one for them. So you will see this come up on my blog as I delve into it.
I was really glad to meet you as well. Great question, and even better answer! It was wild, right? Please keep me in the loop on net neutrality and other issues...and I'll add you to my watch list as well!
Eric
Sen. Obama has since added a podcast on the topic of Net Neutrality.
Here is the text of it.
http://obama.senate.gov/podcast/060608-network_neutrality/index.html
obama,wow!
Hi Angela.
I like this stuff-"I kid you not."
See you.
Alex.
Great job, and Obama is probably blogging as we speak!
Angela, keep up the good work
.
Barack Obama would most likely make a good Democratic presidential candidate , if the southern states and Senior Cheeseburger weren't voting.
Obama, Obama....the Democratic Party's dream.
Half black, half white, speaks well, intelligent, a moral,family man, and the dedicated heart of a socialist.
What a wonderfully dangerous politician he is!
While I dread the conclusion of such affairs, I drool with sheer delight over ant possible campaign involving a man of minority background, flowery/populist rhetoric, and the emotional appeal of liberal utopia. A perfect politician for an American populace of intellectually lazy myrmidons who just might TIVO American Idol for a glipse of the second black President (Clinton of course was the first they say!)
Dear Statesman,
Take me down the road of poverty and oppression...simply hold my hand, feed me and tell me of the promised paradise ahead.
OH Obama...you make it sound so good! It simply must be.
And we're worried about Telecom and the Net.....scrumptuous!
Congratulations on becoming a blog of note. You certainly are a noteworthy human being in most respects.
Just checking in : )
Topics a bit over my head...
Nice picture of the discussion! Isn't it nice to get a direct answer to a direct question?
I Like Your Blog!
had a meeting with a SENATOR?! WOW! lucky you!
i'm going to add you to my blog. i like your thoughts :)
Great....
Would love to see Obama on the Dem ticket
oh my gorsh
who ever said everyone no matter where they live or what they can afford should have the fastest fiber cable access....this is NOT a socialist country as some would prefer....
Im ready for a new post!
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