Political Quotes

“I respectfully disagree. My amendment is supported by groups on the left and the right and the middle: the NEA, the American Library Association, and the Catholic Conference. Senator McCain started the ball rolling. I give him credit for requiring Internet software. The fact is, that is not comprehensive enough and not locally generated. My amendment says we have to have public notice and a public meeting by the community, involving the library or the school, to develop a comprehensive Internet policy. Blocking software does not deal with chatrooms, e-mails, hacking, and dissemination of minor information over the Internet. It is good as far as it goes, but we need a comprehensive policy that is locally developed with community standards. If they choose not to do that, then they have to buy the software. We require a policy that deals with all of these four things I just mentioned and have public meetings and public notice to get the community involved. One of the big problems with use of the Internet is that parents and community leaders do not know what is going on with this little black box in the library or school. This requires public comment, it requires public notification, and public input in a process that desperately needs to be a public one and community standards need to be set. It is supported by a wide variety of organizations.”