It began with a twitter from one of Capitol Hill’s best-known technophiles.
“I just learned the Dems are trying to censor Congressmen’s ability to use Twitter Qik YouTube Utterz etc — outrageous and I will fight them,” Representative John Culberson, Republican of Texas, wrote last Tuesday on his personal page on Twitter…
A few hours after he posted his first complaint, Mr. Culberson logged back on: “Before I could post a Tweet I would have to get approval of the twits that run the House!” And an hour later: “The Dems will do this unless the Internet community stops them.”
Mr. Culberson was responding to a proposal by Representative Michael E. Capuano, chairman of the franking committee, that would impose new guidelines on legislators who post videos on external Web sites like YouTube.
Mr. Capuano, Democrat of Massachusetts, who made the recommendations last month, said they were intended to prevent members from using public money to communicate on outside Web sites featuring commercial and political advertisements.The two sides appeared to agree that antiquated House rules needed to be refreshed. Mr. Capuano wants Web sites where lawmakers post videos to be scrubbed of advertising — “from the latest Hollywood blockbuster to Viagra,” he said — and political messages that could be seen as endorsements.
“There are no restrictions on our ability to conduct, radio, television or newspaper interviews or conversations in our official capacity,” so why, Mr. Culberson asked, should the Internet be different?
As best as I recall, Congress hasn’t examined the premises of Franking since the 1890’s. Overdue, I’d say.
I have nothing against brevity or marketing of counterculture slang, but “tweet” sounds as if a toddler was trying to pronounce a word.
So Dems in Congress are trying to keep members from exercising their 1st Amend rights? WOW! They must really be afraid of the truth getting out…
Why don’t they just mandate the use of firefox with adblock and noscript?
i’m in agreeance with Paddy-O looks like they are trying to make a filter.
I’m glad Representative Culberson is pushing the technology envelope in Congress. Unfortunately he sees everything through partisan glasses and blames all problems on the Democrats. He looses all credibility when he does this and that’s unfortunate because his message is important. It’s obvious that the problem isn’t “the Democrats” it’s technology ignorance and antiquated rules. I’m following him on Twitter and I hope he eventually sees the light and starts educating his colleagues so we can ultimately have more immediacy and transparency with our government. We need it desperately.
Someday (in an increasingly not too distant future), a politician or two will wake up to find they cannot speak their will and their political opponents know there every move and thought. They will be quickly ostracized or labeled even “traitor” if they voice remorseful objections. Then they will realize the monster they participated in unleashing.