Marco Rubio is dropping his Co-Sponsorship of Protect IP

This is great news that Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) is dropping his co-sponsorship of Protect IP Act in the Senate.  We figured that he was not aware of just how bad this bill was and sure enough when he found out from the opposition to the Protect IP Act and SOPA, he is dropping his sponsorship of Protect IP.  That says a lot about the 1st term Senator from Florida, Marco Rubio, and the type of leader he will be in the future.  He was willing to listen and then made an informed decision.  That is totally refreshing.

Now if others would do the same, this Protect IP Act, it could be sent to the trash heap of history along with SOPA. Both have gone way too far and would harm the openness of the internet.  We do not need big brother making the decision on websites and blogs when the current President and Congress cannot even pass a budget.

We believe that anyone sponsoring/co-sponsoring these two bills should be the target of a primary because they did not take the time to do the research of these bills and allowed lobbyists IMHO to dictate the bills.  We all know that the Hollywood lobby could care less about rights of the people who live in Middle America and who are not about to have something like this passed without raising loud voices of concern.  We know at least one Senator listened -- Marco Rubio.

Dear RedState Reader, 

This morning I noted that we should primary Senators and Representatives on the left and right who refuse to back away from SOPA and Protect IP. 

Included in the list of sponsors, unfortunately, was Senator Marco Rubio. I would hate, hate, haaattttteeeee to primary such a great guy. We spent a lot of time, energy, effort, and money getting him elected. But SOPA/Protect IP is that bad. 

Now, I’ve made clear that we wouldn’t do this unless the left was on board too and I’ve only really heard crickets from them. But it was a threat so many of us felt needed to be made to emphasize just how bad this legislation is. 

Today, about an hour ago, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida showed again why he is a real leader and listener within the conservative movement. He is dropping his co-sponsorship of Protect IP. 

I hope other Republicans in the Senate follow his leadership on this issue. and please call Senator Rubio’s office and thank him for his leadership. His number is (202) 224-3041. 

We often fight. We should also often say thanks. 

Sincerely yours,
Erick Erickson
Editor, RedState.com

Senator Rubio posted his reasons for abandoning his co-sponsorship on Face several hours ago and we would hope that more of the co-sponsors would join him with the same decision:

• Senator Marco Rubio

  A Better Way to Fight the Online Theft of American Ideas and Jobs
  By Senator Marco Rubio
  
  In recent weeks, we’ve heard from many Floridians about the anti-Internet piracy bills making their way through Congress. On the Senate side, I have been a co-sponsor of the PROTECT IP Act because I believe it’s important to protect American ingenuity, ideas and jobs from being stolen through Internet piracy, much of it occurring overseas through rogue websites in China. As a senator from Florida, a state with a large presence of artists, creators and businesses connected to the creation of intellectual property, I have a strong interest in stopping online piracy that costs Florida jobs.
  
  However, we must do this while simultaneously promoting an open, dynamic Internet environment that is ripe for innovation and promotes new technologies.
  
  Earlier this year, this bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously and without controversy. Since then, we've heard legitimate concerns about the impact the bill could have on access to the Internet and about a potentially unreasonable expansion of the federal government's power to impact the Internet. Congress should listen and avoid rushing through a bill that could have many unintended consequences.
  
  Therefore, I have decided to withdraw my support for the Protect IP Act. Furthermore, I encourage Senator Reid to abandon his plan to rush the bill to the floor. Instead, we should take more time to address the concerns raised by all sides, and come up with new legislation that addresses Internet piracy while protecting free and open access to the Internet.

We note that Oklahoma's Senators Coburn and Inhofe, Alabama's Senators Shelby and Sessions, Kansas' Senators Roberts and Moran (withdrew as co-sponsor days after signing on), and Texas' Senators Cornyn and Hutchison are not on this list of 40 co-sponsors. That should tell you all you need to know about these two bills -- bad for the American people but great for Hollywood:

S.968

Latest Title: Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011
Sponsor: Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] (introduced 5/12/2011)      Cosponsors (40)
Related Bills: H.R.3261

Sen Alexander, Lamar [TN] - 5/25/2011 (R)
Sen Ayotte, Kelly [NH] - 6/27/2011 (R)
Sen Bennet, Michael F. [CO] - 7/25/2011
Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] - 10/19/2011
Sen Blumenthal, Richard [CT] - 5/12/2011
Sen Blunt, Roy [MO] - 5/23/2011 (R)
Sen Boozman, John [AR] - 6/15/2011 (R)
Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 12/12/2011
Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] - 10/20/2011
Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] - 7/13/2011
Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] - 9/7/2011
Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] - 11/2/2011 (R)
Sen Cochran, Thad [MS] - 6/23/2011 (R)
Sen Coons, Christopher A. [DE] - 5/12/2011
Sen Corker, Bob [TN] - 6/9/2011 (R)
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] - 6/30/2011
Sen Enzi, Michael B. [WY] - 9/7/2011 (R)
Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] - 5/12/2011
Sen Franken, Al [MN] - 5/12/2011
Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] - 5/26/2011
Sen Graham, Lindsey [SC] - 5/12/2011 (R)
Sen Grassley, Chuck [IA] - 5/12/2011 (R)
Sen Hagan, Kay [NC] - 7/5/2011
Sen Hatch, Orrin G. [UT] - 5/12/2011 (R)
Sen Isakson, Johnny [GA] - 11/2/2011 (R)
Sen Johnson, Tim [SD] - 10/3/2011
Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] - 5/12/2011
Sen Kohl, Herb [WI] - 5/12/2011
Sen Landrieu, Mary L. [LA] - 10/17/2011
Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT] - 7/7/2011
Sen McCain, John [AZ] - 7/26/2011 (R)
Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] - 10/31/2011
Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] - 9/23/2011
Sen Risch, James E. [ID] - 11/7/2011 (R)
Sen Rubio, Marco [FL] - 5/26/2011 (R))
Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] - 5/12/2011
Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] - 6/30/2011
Sen Udall, Tom [NM] - 7/7/2011
Sen Vitter, David [LA] - 11/7/2011 (R)
Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] - 5/12/2011
Sen Moran, Jerry [KS] - 6/23/2011(withdrawn - 6/27/2011) (R)