Prediction: Finger-in-the-wind candidates suddenly opposed to SOPA after today

[pilby]

I posted this earlier today on Facebook. Any other opinions on my prediction?

GOP candidates' positions on SOPA/PIPA:

Romney: has avoided expressing an opinion publicly, even when directly asked

Gingrich: has not expressed an opinion publicly

Santorum: when asked on 1/5, said he didn't know enough about the bill itself, but went on to argue in strong terms that the internet *must* be regulated, that freedom *must* be limited and that rights are never absolute.

Paul: has consistently and vociferously fought against it; quit campaigning in SC today to go back to DC in order to argue and vote against it.

Expect this issue to come up in the next debate, and expect the finger-in-the-wind candidates to finally come around to expressing disapproval of SOPA/PIPA now that there is a major groundswell of opposition to it.

 

[bbartlog]

I hope they support it. That would force Erick Erickson's hand. Romney, however, being a master of caution and evasion, may well be able to avoid taking a stand for some time yet.

 

[kathy88]

I hope they support it. That would force Erick Erickson's hand. Romney, however, being a master of caution and evasion, may well be able to avoid taking a stand for some time yet.

He's managed to not directly answer any debate questions thusfar, avoiding this will be cake.

 

[pilby]

He's managed to not directly answer any debate questions thusfar, avoiding this will be cake.

He answered at least one very quickly and directly and it chilled me to the bone:

EBANS: Governor Romney, when President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law, he enacted a provision allowing him to indefinitely detain American citizens in U.S. military custody ... [W]ould you have signed the National Defense Act as written?

ROMNEY: Yes, I would have. ...
And I recognize, I recognize that in a setting where they are enemy combatants and on our own soil, that could possibly be abused. There are a lot of things I think this president does wrong, lots of them, but I don't think he is going to abuse this power and I that if I were president I would not abuse this power. And I can also tell you that in my view you have to choose people who you believe have sufficient character not to abuse the power of the presidency and to make sure that we do not violate our constitutional principles.

 

[ShaneEnochs]

I posted this earlier today on Facebook. Any other opinions on my prediction?

Personally, I think "vociferously" is an incredibly fun word to say.

 

[pilby]

So... did I nail this one or what?

 

[noneedtoaggress]

I'm actually surprised Rick managed to slide by with his answer tonight.

 

[Kregisen]

Yup, although with the huge backlash and millions of petition signatures it's not exactly a bold prediction to say politicians will say whatever the voters wanna hear, but you were correct. It was interesting that Santorum was still mildly for it even when talking about it.

 

[pilby]

It was interesting that Santorum was still mildly for it even when talking about it.

I know. He went off on his usual rant about how freedom has to be limited and things have to be regulated, just like he does every single time freedom & liberty are brought up.

He just doesn't seem to be able to think about freedom without instantly jumping to all the ways he wants to limit it.

 

[JJ2]

I know. He went off on his usual rant about how freedom has to be limited and things have to be regulated, just like he does every single time freedom & liberty are brought up.

He just doesn't seem to be able to think about freedom without instantly jumping to all the ways he wants to limit it.

Absolutely. It reminds me of the legalistic religious cult I grew up in. No wonder he disgusts me so much.