As first reported by Matt Stoller at MyDD, Jim Webb has come out with a strong statement in support of "net neutrality":
The internet represents democracy in action and must be protected. More than perhaps any other medium, the internet provides an open and free marketplace of ideas and speech, as our founding fathers intended in the first amendment to our Constitution. The internet has been open and free since its inception, and it should remain open and free moving forward. Just as importantly, the blogosphere provides strong checks and balances on the corporate media and on governmental power. This is particularly crucial at at time of serious overreach by the executive branch, as we now are experiencing. Finally, there is a fundamental fairness issue at stake here. Given that the internet is increasingly indispensible to educational and career advancement in today's economy, it is essential that we keep it accessible and affordable to all Americans - not just to the wealthiest corporations and citizens. Allowing big telecom companies to provide preferential service to large content providers over the "little guy" is both wrong and undemocratic. For all these reasons, I strongly support net neutrality.
As Matt points out, "Webb is facing George Allen, the Senator on the Commerce Committee who obeyed his telecom lobbyist pals and voted against net neutrality." Net neutrality, stem cells, Iraq, the budget deficit, knowing who the Chairman of the Federal Reserve is (Ben Bernanke), actually caring about your job in the Senate and not being "bored" there...all strong reasons to toss Allen out and vote Webb in this November.
Right now, Webb is only $20,000 away from his $100,000 goal (by the end of Monday) to "contest every county" in Virginia this fall. Please help him do so. Thanks.
Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign. The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not necessarily represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters.