GOP Heads Explode Over Obama’s Net Neutrality Announcement

"Never missing an opportunity to remind America how much he resents Obamacare, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) took to Twitter Monday to lash out against President Barack Obama's net neutrality endorsement by comparing it to the health care law.

Earlier Monday, Obama urged the Federal Communications Commission to "implement the strongest possible rules" to protect a free and open Internet in a video message and written statement.

Cruz, who has openly opposed the FCC's role in modernizing telecommunications laws, responded to the president's statement on Twitter"* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

*Read more here:

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Pastor, Obama, George W. Bush, Net Neutrality & Democrats - The Young Turks 11/10/2014 News & Politics

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The Largest Online News Show in the World. Hosted by Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian. LIVE STREAMING weekdays 6-8pm ET.

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The Young Turks (Winner - Best Political Podcast & Best Political News Site of 2009) were the first original talk show on Sirius satellite radio and the first live, daily webcast on the internet. But that is not the revolution.

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[sageauditore]

Hey TYT trolls, could you mind not filling this video with your crap just this once. This is actually a pretty serious issue and i would like to see some actual discussion over it. If this net neutrality issue fails, everyone loses including you.

[leedaomillz]

I'm willing to bet the corporations will use this to shut down anyone who exposes their crooked corporate ways.

[gmark]

As someone who has a moderate level of conservative views, I'd like to thank everyone like TYT who is defending the internet

[im]

Cable companies are already monopolies in their regions and laws that protect their monopolies should've been broken up long ago

[AegixDrakan]

This just brings me back to the point I've made before:  A truly "free market"  isn't "Free".  Because a handful of companies will get ahead of their competitors eventually, and be able to leverage that advantage against their competition until they can totally overpower and eliminate (or assimilate) their competition.  And then they will be the only game in town and be able to charge whatever they want and oppress any new start-up company that wants to bring new ideas to the field.

It's a sadistic circle.  Either you put chains/rules on the market to keep things fair, or certain companies will overpower the others and put their chains on everyone else and make things decidedly UNfair.

[MrWhataboss]

Cenk is the man. One day I'd like to shake his hand. Can we vote Cenk into office?

[KamikazeXdemon]

If they can pic and choose the speeds for certain websites then streaming as we know it is over.

[TheDraco]

Net Neutrality should definitely should be a thing. Also make bandwidth throttling illegal while they're at it.

[WildwoodClaire]

I, for one, am looking forward to dancing and spitting all over the grave of Time Warner. It provide THE worst customer support on the planet.

[troyg]

As a libertarian, this is the first time I have ever agreed with a TYT video. Due to my career, I also have a detailed understanding of how the internet works, and what the cable companies want to do to change it. I believe the internet is so important to our future that I would actually vote Democrat as a libertarian just to protect the internet as it exists now. On the other hand, crushing taxes and big government will cripple our economy too... tough call.

[ThomasSecrest]

Cenk, your French and honesty is deeply appreciated.

[Martial-Mat]

I understand why net neutrality is beneficial for consumers, but what I don't understand, in a capitalist world, is why providers should be obligated to provide it? It's like saying that McDonalds must give EVERYONE Big Mac meals, even though they only pay for standard burgers. Or am I missing something here?

[GetOutsideYourself]

You know who doesn't have net neutrality?  China.  You know who else?  Iran.  You know who else?  Cuba. 

[eatmorenachos]

Net Neutrality is what we currently have now---just codified into law to keep it that way. Internet Service Providers would have to keep providing equal access to everyone. Without it, an ISP could cut off the internet service or slow it down for one of its critics, a competitor or anyone the CEO has a political disagreement with. An ISP could favor traffic to one political party or politician but not the other. It's the control of information and favoritism that we cannot allow.

ISPs would still be allowed to have different speeds at different rates--like the difference between DSL, cable and a T1 or T3 line, but each DSL customer would have to be treated the same as all other DSL customers (for example) and give them the same, equal access to whatever websites they want to visit.

[skewCZ]

"the Internet should not operate at the speed of government."
Oh, well seeing as this is coming from the guy _who stopped government_, I wholeheartedly agree.

[TheFlashinPulsar]

If roads worked like internet fast lanes. Oh your driving to Taco Bell and not McDonalds? You have to drive 20mph the entire way there.

[tankwfw]

Tiered Network Access (the opposite of net neutrality) would stifle creativity, hurt start-up businesses and even hurt some bigger companies like Netflix, Amazon (Twitch, etc), and Google (Youtube, etc). Let's remember also that the United States has one of the worst broadband infrastructures in the Western/Developed world, and is nothing to write home about in the first place. The idea that cable ISP's want to charge even MORE money for substandard quality connections and impose financial burdens internet content creators is not only absurd, it's disgusting

[kingincrimson]

You're right, Cenk! As a libertarian, I should be for government regulations forbidding voluntary contracts between willing parties. You enlightened me!

[wickedassassin]

Corporations are not subject to its customers, only to its shareholders who want to squeeze more and more profit. When you only have one or two choices for residential Internet service, is this really competition? Remember, giant corporations are merging all the time and inevitably become monopolies. I'm with Obama on this one and he speaks the truth. Think about this, how can you complain to AT&T if they're the only service provider and expect anything to happen with your service and can't switch to anyone else? Enough said.

[JasonWrightArt]

This is a good piece. But I gotta admit the one thing that has frustrated me to no end so far, and that is I would like to hear the economic impact to small businesses mentioned. I am not criticizing this video in particular by the way. I really like it.  I haven't heard what I mentioned on one net neutrality video yet. I have a small art business that is doing bad already, and if something happens to where my site is slowed down, or I am forced to pay more to get my site running better, I am totally screwed. I imagine the cost would be great. Just look at what facebook is now charging to get your content to followers YOU worked hard to get. Its disgusting! I could imagine it might be structured something like that.
 Now imagine that for all the other millions of businesses like mine. We would all have to shut down eventually and thus would not be paying any taxes quarterly because we aren't making money. Even if the net neutrality issue sways our way, which I so hope it does, I feel that these companies will be finding sneaky ways around it.
Id like to know who all the companies, and the respective heads of these companies are who are fighting to take away net neutrality and make every effort to avoid spending any money their way. Might sound silly but i think taking away net neutrality is totally sub human in a way. Man what ever happened to caring about the consumer. Its certainly ok to make money but damn man, do you have to have every single drop out of your consumers.
Im rambling now, Im sorry. But Id really like to see a well thought out piece about the effect it would have on small business. I think a good piece like that would almost be a silver bullet against these monsters.