Sen. Al Franken claimed Monday that big corporations are “hoping to destroy” the Internet and issued a call to arms to several hundred tech-savvy South by Southwest attendees to preserve net neutrality.
“I came here to warn you, the party may be over,” Franken said. “They’re coming after the Internet hoping to destroy the very thing that makes it such an important [medium] for independent artists and entrepreneurs: its openness and freedom.”
If there’s anything artists and entrepreneurs have to fear, it’s the heavy hand of government. But this next bit is just plain weird:
Franken finished up his half-hour speech by imploring the crowd to preserve net neutrality to avoid a future in which they’re “stuck listening to the Black Eyed Peas and reminiscing about the days before you had to sell out to make it.”
To which I add succinctly: Huh?
Wayda go, Minnesoda.
“reminiscing about the days before you had to sell out to make it” … this from a guy who gave up a career as a second-rate comedian to run for Congress.
Not to mention, if people like him keep this up, nobody will be “making it” whether they sell out or not.