Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality?

Updated 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Is the Obama administration worried about the political ramifications of its push for net neutrality? That’s a question being asked by opponents of the policy in the wake of news that White House senior adviser Susan Crawford resigned last week.

Crawford, an adviser to Obama on technology and communications policy, is a strong proponent of net neutrality, which critics have charged would amount to a government takeover of the internet. The policy has been the focus of widespread, bipartisan ...

opposition in recent weeks, emanating from everyone from internet service providers to liberal-aligned groups and elected Democrats at the state and federal level.

Crawford’s resignation attracted little attention when the American Spectator noted it on Monday, the day before the 2009 election. The results of the election have had the virtually the entirety of the U.S. media focused on Republican wins in gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, and what has been described as a “rejection” of the Obama agenda. But observers say that Crawford’s exit may be part of that story, too: According to the Spectator, Crawford ran afoul of White House economic adviser Larry Summers, who sources say may be concerned about the political impact of net neutrality. In its write-up, the Spectator noted that:

“[Summers] and other senior Obama officials were unaware of how radical the draft Net Neutrality regulations were when they were initially internally circulated to Obama administration officials several weeks ago. ‘All of sudden Larry is getting calls from CEOs, Wall Street folks he talks to, Republicans and Democrats, asking him what the Administration is doing with the policies, and he isn’t sure what they’re talking about,’ says one White House aide. ‘He felt blind-sided, and Susan was one of those people who heard about it.’”

It now appears that Crawford is the latest to be thrown under the Obama bus, and that the Summers upset may have been responsible for the moderation of proposed net neutrality regulations away from their more radical, original form, as suggested by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. Genachowski, like Crawford, is a strong proponent of the policy, which reportedly remains the focus of deep concern on the part of groups historically seen as Democrat-aligned, including the NAACP, 100 Black Men, National Black Caucus of State Legislators, National Conference of Black Mayors, National Minority Supplier Development Council, LULAC, and the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute. According to the Hill newspaper, Genachowski also came under fire yesterday from Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, for proceeding with the net neutrality rulemaking process with insufficient analysis having been carried out confirming the supposed necessity of net neutrality rules.

Sources say that such ongoing concern and criticism regarding the push for net neutrality could further impact the thinking of key Obama advisers—including Summers and potentially Obama strategist David Axelrod—and ultimately result in the administration backing away from net neutrality entirely. The White House aide cited by the Spectator notes that radical figures within the administration “are just a bunch of targets on our back that we can’t shake.” With regard to Crawford, however, an effort to “shake” her seems to have been made, and it is possible that Genachowski could be the next to be “dealt with” in some form. The White House political operation will be keen to stop the bleeding and eliminate obvious fodder for attacks ahead of next year’s midterm elections, especially in the aftermath of Tuesday. The increased focus on net neutrality ensures that at the very least, scrutiny of Genachowski will continue.

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@centerright 2 months, 4 weeks ago on Wordpress

It would be great if a right-left-libertarian coalition forces Obama to back off on this matter – as well as on issues such as amnesty for illegal aliens, foreign interventionism, violations of individual liberties.

Here is a recent piece, from the Goldwater Institute and Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), on how this "net neutrality" could violate the First Amendment.

Also: ... See all content Hide content

DisneyEcho 3 months ago on Twitter

Another czar tossed under the Obama bus: Internet Czar Susan Crawford, who was for the misnamed "net neutrality."

http://bit.ly/1inA41

Obama’s Chess Pieces: Mao Cheerleader Anita Dunn Stepping Down, Rahm Emanuel Says He Wants to Return to Elected Office Sometime Soon « Frugal Café Blog Zone 3 months ago on Wordpress

[...] Schweizer, Big Government: Obama vs. The American Businessman Capitol Confidential, Big Government: Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality? Political Derby: Obama wrong for the 34,837th time since being elected Michelle Malkin: If you [...]

amohlenhoff 3 months ago on Twitter

Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality? http://is.gd/4Oh34 #tcot #asamomorg

fantum 3 months ago on Wordpress

Obama back-tracking on net neutrality? NOT!

AS SOON AS YOU RELAX Obama ahd his CORRUPT CONGRESS backed by a PUPPET PRESS will push it through in secret just like they do for their own raises! MARXIST OBAMA is determined to socialize America.

Corruption in Congress…

http://usataxpayer.org/pagex.asp?Get=corruptcongr" class="reaction_link" target="_blank">http://usataxpayer.org/pagex.asp?Get=corruptcongr...

Obama wants America to fail…

http://usataxpayer ... See all content Hide content

wldbil 3 months ago on Wordpress

Well Smarter Guest, that seems to be the definitive word on this "Free Press" baloney/. Well said my friend Well said.

Most peopje should get the message 5 by 5.

smarter guest 3 months ago on Wordpress

Guest, I strongly disagree.

You are basically saying we need to accept an evil of government control for the greater evil of private sector monopoly, when the only difference between government and private monopoly is that once it gets its foot in the door government never leaves. A Private monopoly still must maintain profitability, which it could not if word got out about censorship. Censorship ... See all content Hide content

guest2 3 months ago on Wordpress

So.. Do I leave my eggs with the yearly mood-swinging fox, or the always obvious coyote? Really guys- at this point is there a difference? If our Gov ran the way it was SUPPOSED to- then maybe… but now? The gov bends the rulles to what they want – in any sly way they can. Sure I could elect them out.. in a couple of YEARS -assuming there wasn't any voter faud involved. Maybe just like ... See all content Hide content

wldbil 3 months ago on Wordpress

Don't you find it curious people that those who have weak arguments, hidden agendas, or weak minds seem to always resort to name calling and or outright lies to articulate their views? I wonder what Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Panyne, or John Adams would recommend? Limited Government or Big Government?

PotVsKtl 3 months ago on Wordpress

Fools. You're being used as pawns to line Comcast's pockets. Net Neutrality is status quo. You're ADVOCATING private censorship of the internet and DEMONIZING a bill that would do nothing but prevent it.

diggrbiii 3 months ago on Twitter

Oh look, yet another Czar making decisions and setting policy. When it goes bad, they get tossed. http://bit.ly/ayCjh #tcot

Lafcopolitics 3 months ago on Twitter

Reading Breitbart: Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality? (Another Czar quietly bites the dust) http://is.gd/4Oh34

Mrs D 3 months ago on Wordpress

Wasn't Susan Crawford Obama's second internet czar? I think I remember he had someone in the job for a very short time right after he was elected, but she quit. It looked a little shaky, as I recall, like she didn't like what she was being asked to do.

Does anyone else remember this?

Another Czar Bites The Dust - Caleb’s blog - RedState 3 months ago on Wordpress

[...] the flurry of news this week, you may have missed another body tossed under the insatiable Obama bus: Internet Czar Susan [...]

nansen 3 months ago on Twitter

Is Obama back-tracking on #netneutrality http://bit.ly/ayCjh

Guest 3 months ago on Wordpress

Yes they are easy to control by those private interest groups with the money and power to influence them.

George Soros will have a much easier time controlling the Internet with the first amendment out of the way.

The ISPs won't want the bad business of having powerful wealthy pressure groups call them "racist" and "sexist" and "anti-semitic", ... See all content Hide content

Guest 3 months ago on Wordpress

Fine then don't complain when Jesse Jackson shuts down your website for being "hate speech" and the courts saying they can do nothing about it because your ISP is a private party not subject to the constraints of the Constitution.

Guest 3 months ago on Wordpress

The government is E-LEC-TA-BLE and subject to SEPARATION OF POWERS unlike Comcast and the other Telcos who have no Constitution or separation of powers to prevent them from shutting up speech.

With net neutrality, the people through their elected representatives shall maintain control of the Internet. Yes the government is incompetent but if their handling of the Internet was a major issue ... See all content Hide content

Guest2 3 months ago on Wordpress

JWN & other Guest – Question-? – if the FED is backed by "independent entity within the government" [yeah, wonder who THAT is (insert eye roll here)], then I'm sure they have enough clout to own quite a lot of the big "evil" corporations supporting the net. It looks to me that no matter what, some "entity" will get what they want no matter which way ... See all content Hide content

wldbil 3 months ago on Wordpress

Dear Mr. Guest.

Some of us believe in free markets and free interprise. Many of us also believe in freedom from Big Government controll and regulation. We certainly don't want it anywhere near our free market driven internet. So please Mr. Guest go back to your move on, madia matters "free press" loving progressives.

Freedom Line Blog » Morning Links 3 months ago on Wordpress

[...] Miami Herald – Florida a Battleground State … Again San Diego Union-Tribune – Fear of Health ‘Reform’ is Warranted Charles Krauthammer – The Myth of ’08, Demolished Breitbart – Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality? [...]

momcat617 3 months ago on Twitter

Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality? http://is.gd/4Opoj Crawford resigns, Summers unaware of how "radical" draft regs were. #tcot

WesternOutdoors 3 months ago on Twitter

Big Government » Blog Archive » Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality?: Barak Obama,his czarist administration .. http://bit.ly/38uggx

1redcent 3 months ago on Wordpress

The government shut down radio stations, in the past, made others change their programing, so why do you believe that it couldn't/wouldn't do the same thing with the net ? And don't even try, again, to tell me that the Constitution would prevent such a thing from happening; it has yet to do such a thing, vis-a-vis "THE FREEDOM DOCTRINE" and radio.

1redcent 3 months ago on Wordpress

The exact opposite of what you claim is true.

The FCC can and does tell radio and T.V. stations what to do. The government forced a change in how T.V. programs were broadcast this year, or have you already forgotten all about that?

The misnamed "NET NEUTRALITY" thing, in the hands of the FCC WILL be tryannical; not "benevolent", as you keep trying to claim, with ... See all content Hide content

Lowrider1 3 months ago on Twitter

OBAMA BACKTRACKING ON NET NEUTRALLITY... http://bit.ly/2MBYYE #TWEETCONGRESS #TCOT

1redcent 3 months ago on Wordpress

In recent American history, the Constitution has NOT kept a president from doing unconstitutional stuff at all!

Need a recent example? During Clinton's first term in office he got both Houses to push through not only the BIGGEST tax Bill, ever, but it was RETROACTIVE. That is UNCONSTITUTION !

GlumPanda 3 months ago on Wordpress

I just read through the ENTIRE Cato policy analysis (36 pages!) and I have to recommend it to anyone in search of a well reasoned and technical argument against the FCC getting involved in the issue of net neutrality. I will have to save the other link for later. XD

Big Government » Blog Archive » Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality? 3 months ago on Wordpress

[...] the original post: Big Government » Blog Archive » Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality? News, [...]

darchbo1 3 months ago on Twitter

#Obama Back-Tracking on #NetNeutrality? http://bit.ly/4iInsB #SusanCrawford #larrysummers #JuliusGenachowski #CliffStearns

Tweet_Hub 3 months ago on Twitter

Big Government » Blog Archive » Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality? http://url4.eu/hhY3

Tweet_Center 3 months ago on Twitter

Big Government » Blog Archive » Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality? http://url4.eu/hhY0

PowerMarketers 3 months ago on Twitter

Big Government » Blog Archive » Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality? http://url4.eu/hhXx

jstanley54 3 months ago on Twitter

Big Government » Blog Archive » Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality? http://url4.eu/hhXu

marcjudd 3 months ago on Twitter

@kstraine More radicals, another resignation. http://bit.ly/A2gTw

Dave Rooney 3 months ago on Wordpress

"to the people through their elected representatives is the equivalent of giving control of your police force to the Mafia or Al Capone."

Mr. Guest. Allow me to quote you. Our "elected representatives"…ROFL.

"Conservatives: Don't Fall For The Trap." Okay. Are you asking me to choose which trap? Someone handpicked by this administration is ... See all content Hide content

JWN 3 months ago on Wordpress

Much of the internet is controlled by corporations now. History shows that irresponsible corporations are generally easy to control. 1) Loss of business by unhappy customers and 2) bad press that will lead to loss of business.

The trap being laid here is the straw-man argument that net neutrality is about corporations controlling speech.

JWN 3 months ago on Wordpress

From http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/faq/faq...

Your correct that the Fed is not an agency. As the US central bank is is not owned by anyone but is an "independent entity within the government". It "derives its authority from the U.S. Congress" It is "subject to oversight by Congress" Granted, the actual operation of the Fed justifies the current questions ... See all content Hide content

JWN 3 months ago on Wordpress

McCain-Feingold regulations on political contributions do interfere with political speech, all speech and not just conservative speech. However, McCain-Feingold was in response to the perceived corruption that political contributions engendered. Net neutrality is government interference in communications medium disguised as protections of free speech. Until there is evidence that internet speech is ... See all content Hide content

boblatta 3 months ago on Twitter

Interesting post from @biggovt: Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality? http://is.gd/4Opoj Less (gov''t) is always more! #TechGOP #tcot

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Giving private interests control of the Internet as opposed to the people through their elected representatives is the equivalent of giving control of your police force to the Mafia or Al Capone. Conservatives: Don't Fall For The Trap. Support Net Neutrality.

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Another step towards total control and socialism. Censorship is next, anything that is anti-liberal or anti-Obama will never see the light of day. They are slowly eroding the very foundation of this country with the ultimate goal of the United States becoming a subserviant member of the global community. Stand up and let your voice be heard now and in 2010. We cannot afford to be complacent, vote these ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

I just got offered my own show on a Conservative Talk Radio AM station. I need other Influential GenX Conservatives as guest speakers. Please tell them to visit my site and email me for details. I will be on 4 times a month, once a week, for 1 hour. Hopefully it goes well and I can get a Conservative message to more of my Generation. http://www.myfreepress.net

3 months ago on Intensedebate

deef1923 3 months ago on Twitter

Big Government » Blog Archive » Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality?: http://bit.ly/1jkImm via @addthis

3 months ago on Intensedebate

I meant to say who isn;t prevented by the first amendment from shutting down websites. The government can't do anything about shutting down Conservative websites b/c of the first amendment. Comcast can however because they are not subject to the first amendment. Those(well not everyone of course) who say net neutrality is a bad thing want to IMPOSE TYRANNY and ensure that the first amendment will ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

You mean the private enterprise WHO ISN'T BOUND BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO SHUT DOWN WEBSITES UNLIKE THE GOVERNMENT. DO YOU WANT PRO-ABORTION, PRO-GAY MARRIAGE ABE FOXMAN CONTROLLING THE INTERNET???? The government is ELECTABLE. Yes they are incompetent many times. Yes we know that there are probably people who are employed by the government who haven't showered in 30 years. We know these ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Net Neutrality in a nutshell: carriers doesn't censor information. Why would anybody be against it?

United_TShirts 3 months ago on Twitter

News Update: #tcot Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality? - Is the Obama administration worried about the political... http://ow.ly/15ZKhT

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Nice try zippy. I'll take a private enterprise or an assortment of private enterprises over a government determination of who hears what, where.

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Speakijng of net neutrality, and things internet: http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/... Madame Pelosi lied. She broke her pledge to put the Health Care Bill on the net. Lied again.........

HukiBuki 3 months ago on Twitter

biggovt bama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality?:Is the Obama administration worried about the political ramifications o.. http://bit.ly/4DpU38

VOL360 3 months ago on Twitter

Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality?: Is the Obama administration worried about the political ra.. http://tinyurl.com/yzxwcnu -VOL360.com-

3 months ago on Intensedebate

IDIOTS Net Neutrality isn't a government take over. It's keeping things as they are so first amendment protection control isn't ceded by the government to private entities just like control of the quantity of money was ceded from the government to the PRIVATE federal reserve in 1913. If Net Neutrality is done away with you willl see the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) banning all sorts ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Wake Up america! Obama isn't going to stop until we make him. He and his friends like George the nazi Sorros are out to destory America and you with it. Net neutrality is nothing more than a another power grab by Obama to try and control what we hear and say. He doesn't want Fox or anyone else telling us the truth. He can't gte reelected if we know what he's doing and he knows it ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Barak Obama,his czarist administration and the freak show democrats in congress are responsible for taking a bad but fixable economic situation and using it to blaze a path of destruction through this country. The real Pravda{not the American Lame Street Media}in Russia is comparing Obama's economic policies to the policies of the Soviet Union before it's collapse.And I never thought a communist ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Net neutrality is a socialist play for control of the Internet. See the following: http://www.heartland.org/custom/semod_policybot/p... http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=9775

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Does anyone else hear Eddie Murphy's voice saying "Goonie Goo Goo", in their heads when they see Michelle Obama on T.V., or is it just me?

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Quite frankly, if FOX cut off the cameras, and quit reporting on him, it would newter him, and make him irrelevant.

912Cyounger 3 months ago on Twitter

Big Government Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality? - Is the Obama administration worried about the political ram... http://ow.ly/15ZJ8J

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Obama knows exactly what is in this set of regulations, and so does Annita V Dunn and all his other little lackeys, I will believe it when I see pigs fly, they just haven't bought off enough special interest groups with exclusions and phoney promises. Just like health care they will try to re-tool or slip in a watered down version that can be ginned up into something more serious as they need it. ... See all content Hide content

3 months ago on Intensedebate

We are ALL spending wayyyy to much time on this liar - in - chief. We have been wasting mental time that could be utilized for more productive objectives in maintaining American values. Let's just neutralize him financially by taking away the pursestrings (the House). We can deal with this sorry POS and his WOOKIE wife in 2012. Take the House in 2010... Simply cut him off at the knees... What ... See all content Hide content

biggovt 3 months ago on Twitter

Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality?: Is the Obama administration worried about the political ramifications o.. http://bit.ly/4DpU38

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Interesting. Is it too much to hope that it might also create more inspection of appointments during confirmation hearings?

3 months ago on Intensedebate

All cronies with no values

3 months ago on Intensedebate

If Obama pushes this mess through, every single Congress Critter who votes for it, will lose their seat ! Even if he somehow does it on his own, Americans will still wreck havoc on Dems. If they refuse to believe that Americans are angry now/make fun of us, they ain't seen nothin' yet, should Obama follow through with this and the damned "FAIRNESS DOCTRINE" on radio and T.V. !

BreitbartBigGov 3 months ago on Twitter

Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality?: Is the Obama administration worried about the political ram.. http://digg.com/u1FnCv #tcot #tlot

3 months ago on Intensedebate

IN other news, The American Medical Association and AARP endorsed health care reform .legislation drafted by top House Democrats With a public option. http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/05/health.car...

3 months ago on Intensedebate

Obama Convention Delegates to Administer "Net Neutrality" Rules http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/10/obama-convent...

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DRIPusa 3 months ago on Twitter

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#tcot #ocra #tlot

Erudite_Enigma 3 months ago on Twitter

Obama Back-Tracking on Net Neutrality?: Is the Obama administration worried about the political ramifications o.. http://bit.ly/4DpU38

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