The poster child for everything that's wrong about American politics is back in the news again. Much like JP Morgan's CEO Jamie Dimon, former Democratic Senator Chris Dodd never knows when to shut his mouth. In this case, it's a good thing because Chris Dodd has once again helped bring SOPA and the MPAA's bad policies back into public view. And Dodd, incredibly, claimed that President Obama is working behind the scenes to do everything Dodd wants on SOPA.
TechDirt:
Ah, Chris Dodd. It seems like every time he opens his mouth, he makes things worse. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, he responds to a series of questions about SOPA by trying to tiptoe around the issue, but basically admits that there are backroom conversations going on between a small number of people, and that "between now and sometime next year," Hollywood and the tech industry will "come to an understanding." He's asked specifically if there are conversations going on now, and if the White House is pressuring folks to come to such "an understanding."President Obama is using his good relationships to do "exactly" what Chris Dodd, number one paid SOPA lobbyist, is talking about? Really?
THR: Are there conversations going on now?
Dodd: I'm confident that's the case, but I'm not going to go into more detail because obviously if I do, it becomes counterproductive.
THR: Did you feel personally blindsided by Obama over SOPA?
Dodd: I'm not going to revisit the events of last winter. I'll only say to you that I'm confident he's using his good relationships in both communities to do exactly what you and I have been talking about.
We need people to continue speaking out against the excesses of the MPAA and the corporate world. Consumers are supposed to be an important part of the US economy, so Washington needs to wake up and start treating consumers with the respect they deserve. This should not be a one way street.
