That's Earl Blumenauer, who represents Oregon's 3rd congressional district, which encompasses the east side of Portland (where I live): http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:0oD5oF4... (link to Google cache since Wikipeida is down of course)
I say this mostly facetiously, but being represented by Mr. Blumenauer and Ron Wyden in the Senate almost makes me feel left out of the protest -- I can't really write an angry letter to my representatives because they're both on the right side of this issue!
EDIT: Thanks all for the prodding. I just sent a note to both Blumenauer and Wyden and thanked them for their stance on this issue.
Contact them and tell that you're a voter in their area, and you are damn proud of what they are doing. After all, they took a risk, and if they think no-one noticed it then they are unlikely to do it again.
One should criticise when politicians do things you don't like, but complement them when they do something you approve of.
They're starting to see "internet people" as a significant voting block.
To solidify the deal, I suggest all who can vote, do so at the next opportunity. The long term gains for rewarding this "internet aware" behavior will be massive for us all.
I saw a presentation at RailsConf two years ago where they took it to the next level. It was the Spanish Internet Party. If they got members in parlament, you could actually vote yourself online, and the MP would just vote based on the constituent votes. You could even delegate your voting power to causes you care about (for example, the EFF or PETA) so that you could have your views represented without having to spend hours or days researching every single issue.
> They're starting to see "internet people" as a significant voting block.
I'd say "they've started" more than "they're starting", I remember having seen a few AMAs and campaign presence on reddit in the last 6 months or so, mostly by kind-of-internet-aligned challengers.
On the other hand, if the current efforts fail it may significantly set this trend back.
Still, it's pretty great being able to witness a transition of this magnitude (if it succeeds). We truly live in interesting times.
I was just watching Blumenauer on C-SPAN (deficit debates) - out of the 10 or so people I saw speak over the past hour, he was the sane one. (My own rep. was an embarrassment.) Same district Sen. Wyden came from, too. Apparently, Oregon's third district knows how to elect competent people.
I'm pretty sure most members of Congress blacked out their sites today whether they meant to or not. My friends working in the Senate tell me that today's been a pretty long day for them.
It's a great statement, but it does make me laugh a little to think that on a day when everyone is being urged to contact their senators... he has blacked out his contact details.
No need to call him as he's already on side, of course. But still.
From http://projects.propublica.org/sopa/ , it looks like the PIPA majority in Senate is still huge: 41-13. Unless it can get to something 30-24 today, it's a done deal. Here's hope that PIPA will never make it through the House.
I'm happy that he opposes SOPA, and happy that he darkened his site. But isn't it gratuitous for a congressman to act like some internet activist when he possesses REAL influence on the law in Washington?
Rather than blacking out his site, I'd love to see one of his staffers post activities that the congressman is engaged in to convince his peers to block or vote against measures like SOPA.
How much can one representative do? I think you're overstating his power. He is one of 435, and while he does have influence over the law in the fact that he can vote against it, I don't think one representative has the power to completely block a bill if he doesn't have people standing behind him.
The best way to get other representatives to stand behind him is 1. passionate appeals on the House floor and 2. getting voters to make their voice heard.
[+] [-] jsdalton|14 years ago|reply
I say this mostly facetiously, but being represented by Mr. Blumenauer and Ron Wyden in the Senate almost makes me feel left out of the protest -- I can't really write an angry letter to my representatives because they're both on the right side of this issue!
EDIT: Thanks all for the prodding. I just sent a note to both Blumenauer and Wyden and thanked them for their stance on this issue.
[+] [-] rmc|14 years ago|reply
One should criticise when politicians do things you don't like, but complement them when they do something you approve of.
[+] [-] timjahn|14 years ago|reply
We can't only draw attention to their negative actions, right?
[+] [-] wlievens|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] PaulHoule|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mbrubeck|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] brador|14 years ago|reply
To solidify the deal, I suggest all who can vote, do so at the next opportunity. The long term gains for rewarding this "internet aware" behavior will be massive for us all.
[+] [-] kgo|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] masklinn|14 years ago|reply
I'd say "they've started" more than "they're starting", I remember having seen a few AMAs and campaign presence on reddit in the last 6 months or so, mostly by kind-of-internet-aligned challengers.
On the other hand, if the current efforts fail it may significantly set this trend back.
Still, it's pretty great being able to witness a transition of this magnitude (if it succeeds). We truly live in interesting times.
[+] [-] LearnYouALisp|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] srl|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] zecho|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] untog|14 years ago|reply
No need to call him as he's already on side, of course. But still.
[+] [-] Anechoic|14 years ago|reply
His DC and OR phone numbers are still shown on the site (at the bottom in case you didn't scroll down far enough)
[+] [-] jdp23|14 years ago|reply
He's also blacked out http://www.earlblumenauer.com
[+] [-] eurleif|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] duvander|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] toyg|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|14 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] ayu|14 years ago|reply
This guy needs to be invited to come hang out with us in the Valley.
[+] [-] user911302966|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] digvan|14 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] ldayley|14 years ago|reply
Rather than blacking out his site, I'd love to see one of his staffers post activities that the congressman is engaged in to convince his peers to block or vote against measures like SOPA.
[+] [-] freehunter|14 years ago|reply
The best way to get other representatives to stand behind him is 1. passionate appeals on the House floor and 2. getting voters to make their voice heard.
[+] [-] djackson|14 years ago|reply
[+] [-] click170|14 years ago|reply
Baby steps. This week, get them to oppose SOPA/PIPA, next week, get them to be more transparent.