Conservative Backlash Against Net Neutrality in the U.S.

[Batwings 12,957]

After President Obama publicly delcared his support of net neutrality, a violent stream of conservative backlash has erupted, beginning with a public denouncement made by Republican senator Ted Cruz.

 

Sen. Ted Cruz seems to loathe net neutrality as much as he detests Obamacare. In a tweet on Monday, the Texas Republican compared government regulation of the Internet to the controversial health-care law:

 

"'Net Neutrality' is Obamacare for the Internet; the Internet should not operate at the speed of government."

 

His comment on Twitter follows President Barack Obama's net neutrality proposal to the Federal Communications Commission where he asked that the Internet be reclassified as a utility service. The FCC is currently considering regulations on Internet service providers that would prevent them from slowing down and speeding up content, among other rules.

 

The senator's office referred CNBC to Ted Cruz's Facebook account where net neutrality was described as "the biggest regulatory threat to the Internet."

 

"It puts the government in charge of determining Internet pricing, terms of service, and what types of products and services can be delivered, leading to fewer choices, fewer opportunities, and higher prices for consumers," the Facebook post said.

 

(Source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/102170163)

 

Many conservatives have openly supported Cruz's stance, while others have been quick to criticize the senator's seeming lack of understanding on the matter, such as Senator Al Franken.

 

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) responded on Sunday to a Washington Post op-ed in which Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) wrote that net neutrality is "Obamacare for the Internet."

 

Franken said Cruz “doesn’t understand†what net neutrality is.

 

“He has it completely wrong and he just doesn't understand what this issue is,†Franken told Candy Crowley on CNN’s “State of the Union.â€

 

Franken is a longtime proponent of net neutrality, or the idea that all traffic on the Internet should be treated equally. The Federal Communications Commission is in the process of revising rules around the concept, and major Internet providers have pushed for Internet "fast lanes" that let them charge websites extra for faster loading times. On Monday, President Barack Obama called on the FCC to “implement the strongest possible rules to protect net neutrality.â€

 

Writing in the Washington Post on Thursday, Cruz called net neutrality policy “Obamacare for the Internet,†arguing that “it would put the government in charge of determining Internet pricing, terms of service and what types of products and services can be delivered.â€

 

But as Franken explained, net neutrality isn’t a new government program, like the health care exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act. On the contrary, “we have had net neutrality the entire history of the Internet.â€

 

“When [Cruz] says this is the Obamacare, Obamacare was a government program that fixed something, that changed things,†Franken said. “This is about reclassifying something so it stays the same. This would keep things exactly the same that they've been.â€

 

(Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/16/al-franken-ted-cruz_n_6167086.html)

 

Whereas most people seemed to support net neutrality before President Obama made his public announcement, the issue, unfortunately, now seems to have become a partisan debate with conservatives opposed and liberals in support.

 

 

 

 

[Azor Ahai 18,861]

Republicans again making a mess.

[Princess Die 1,864]

He needs to just stay on the short bus.

[Stuff 5]

What a dumb ass. 

[Redstreak 6,653]

But see, Republicans were FOR net neutrality UNTIL President Obama made such public statements like in the OP. Republicans are not here for us, they're here to fight Obama on every single issue even if they agree with it.

[Batwings 12,957]

But see, Republicans were FOR net neutrality UNTIL President Obama made such public statements like in the OP. Republicans are not here for us, they're here to fight Obama on every single issue even if they agree with it.

 

What terrifies me is the large number of people who are drinking the proverbial Kool-Aid. All over social media, I've seen massive amounts of conservative vitriol against net neutrality from people who don't even understand the basic concept. They think of it only as "MORE GOVERNMENT REGULATION!!!" and "OBAMA TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE INTERNET!!!" I've even seen a number of comments that read, "Well, if Obama is for it, then I'm against it!" Seeing our nation become celebratory of willful ignorance is so disheartening.

[Morphine Prince 109,664]

Ted Cruz is an embarassment to my state

[MahoganySnitch 67]

 

Obama should endorse water. Suddenly turning on faucets in conservative homes is letting Obama in. When will the government stop?!!1

 

IN all seriousness, this is a hoot. Opposing something just because Obama supports it is...very playground-politics, tbh. Like, not going down the slide because your nemesis Jason did so a minute earlier.

 

It's so sad   

[ItsTommyBitch 12,640]

Okay, this will not stand

 

 

We can NOT afford to have republicans against Net-Neutrality, its way too freaking important

 

These guys and their uninformed opinions can literally take several seats