GOP retracts its criticism of Pelosi

[EV_Ares]

By KASIE HUNT, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Republicans quickly retracted a news release Thursday that accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) of violating copyrights of C-SPAN, the cable channel that televises House and Senate proceedings.

The GOP took Pelosi to task because her new blog used video of this week's Iraq war debate, but then backtracked after learning C-SPAN had no copyright for the footage.

The Republican Study Committee, a group of conservative House members, contended in an afternoon news release that Pelosi's Web log violated copyright and trademark law by pirating "for partisan purposes" clips of members speaking on the House floor.

The clips, hosted by the popular video-sharing Web site YouTube, have C-SPAN's logo visible.

"As of noon today, the speaker had posted at least 16 videos that are copyrighted C-SPAN material from the House floor," according to the release from RSC spokesman Brad Dayspring. He cited an unnamed C-SPAN employee responsible for answering copyright questions from congressional employees.

Not so, said C-SPAN spokeswoman Jennifer Moire. The videos on Pelosi's blog, called The Gavel, came from the House chamber, where the footage is shot by cameras owned by Congress, not C-SPAN.

"That's in the public domain, it's owned by the American people," Moire said.

Dayspring retracted the release two hours after it went out, saying C-SPAN general counsel Bruce Collins had called the committee and said the information from the release was incorrect.

"The bottom line is, we were given contradictory information," Dayspring said in an interview. "We wanted to be clear that we are trying to operate where the facts are."

Pelosi's spokesman, Brendan Daly, said the GOP committee's initial release was "another baseless attack by Republicans."

In the six weeks since Pelosi, D-Calif., has been speaker, she has come under criticism by Republicans over how big a plane the government should provide for her use and over a minimum wage bill that excluded American Samoa from its provisions.

Pelosi said the wage measure will be modified to include Samoa. Republicans charged it was excluded from the bill because of a large tuna cannery there is owned by Del Monte Foods Co., which has its headquarters in Pelosi's San Francisco district.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070216/ap_on_go_co/pelosi_c_span;_ylt=Aq7sEysevnpbpz7.Uosm0kPMWM0F

[Little Wing]

1. idiots

[AlCzervik]

2. shoot first and don't ask questions later.

[tsuki]

21. Don't worry, Lou Dobbs will pick up the story and pump the

h*ll out of it for six days.

[AlCzervik]

22. the original story, not the retraction--of course.

[JuniperLea]

3. They are so inept, even at straw grasping

How pathetic. They are so intent on getting dirt on Dems they will jump the gun and shoot themselves in the foot.

How pathetic is that?!?

Good find! Thanks for posting!

[tridim]

8. The 2008 election is going to be insane!

I say we take advantage of that pathetic gun jumping and make them look even more foolish. Fish in a barrel.

[JuniperLea]

12. Give 'em enough rope

And all that! I agree. They were doomed to begin with, all this stupidity just seals the deal.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

4. Ah what the heck, they'll attack her anyway

[Dr Fate]

5. How dare Pelosi make it easier for Americans to view congressional debates!!!

The nerve of that-that-that...WOMAN!!!!

[TheDebbieDee]

6. "The bottom line is, we were given contradictory information,"

Huh.....the same could be said for all the Iraq pre-war intelligence, too!

[napi21]

13. I don't buy the contradictory info excuse for a second!

The snaged this,spun it to their advantage, and published it! It was all done in hopes that they would NOT be caught! What the hell. If they got caught, all they have to say is someone told us differently!

BS! I believe the people at c-span WAY before I'd believe the Pub partisans!!!!

[Richard Steele]

7. Of course, the FReeptards will continue to spread this lie forever.

Which is why the Repubs -DO- these things in the first place.

[Dr Fate]

9. Except no one will care- it would be lame even if it were true.

All she did was allow more regular old folks to see congressional debates- no biggie either way.

[BuyingThyme]

10. Time for Gore's beard.

[TahitiNut]

11. Emily Litella now works for the Republican Study Committee??

Go figure! I knew they were political necrophiles, but that's just sick.

[Rex]

14. HAHAHAHA! Eat shit and DIE Repukes!

And people still wonder why we are neck deep in Iraq! :rofl:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

15. ROFLMAO!!!!!! Now If That Doesn't Expose Them For The MORANS They Are I Don't Know What Could!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[originalpckelly]

17. This time their attempt to throw shit at Pelosi came back in them right in the face!

:rofl:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

18. Great. Now They'll Complain To Health And Human Services About Her Tossing Feces.

That's all we friggin need...

[Cocoa]

16. here's the release

GOP protecting the "dignity and decorum of the House" :rofl:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Brad Dayspring [phone]

February 15, 2007

Speaker Pelosi's New Blog Violates C-SPAN Copyright/Trademark of House Proceedings
Will the Speaker bring the gavel down on "the Gavel Blog?"

As you may have heard, Speaker Nancy Pelosi launched a new blog entitled "The Gavel." Though we applaud the Speaker's effort to adapt to new technology, the blog violated copyright and trademark law on the very first day.

Not once, not twice, but 16 times?

As of noon today, the Speaker had posted at least 16 videos that are copyrighted
C-SPAN material from the House floor. The RSC spoke with C-SPAN today, who confirmed that these videos violate C-SPAN copyright/trademark of the House proceedings.

Using C-Span for partisan purposes?

In addition to using pirated material, Speaker Pelosi also has used the pirated C-SPAN footage for partisan purposes. The collection of C-SPAN footage used in her "first official blog" is an example and the other pirated C-SPAN trademarked material shows Democrat after Democrat offering their views of the non-binding Democrat resolution on the reinforcement and realignment of American troops in Iraq.

So, what does Speaker Pelosi believe the role of C-SPAN is?

"One of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's first decisions was to deny a request by C-SPAN to be permitted to cover the House floor proceedings with its own cameras. Last month, Pelosi sent a letter to C-SPAN Chairman and CEO Brian Lamb saying she believed "the dignity and decorum" of the House "are best preserved by maintaining the current system of televised proceedings."

(CQ Weekly, January 15, 2007, Page 169)

Is the dignity and decorum of the House preserved by pirating copyrighted C-SPAN material for political purposes?

If not, will the Speaker bring the gavel down on "the Gavel Blog?"

###

Brad Dayspring
Communications Director
Republican Study Committee
[phone]
AIM: BDDACE2
www.house.gov/hensarling/rsc

[w13rd0]

19. What is truly sad...

...is that in this press release, they criticize Pelosi and fabricate outrage, then they go on to explain just how it is that their outrage is fake. "One of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's first decisions was to deny a request by C-SPAN to be permitted to cover the House floor proceedings with its own cameras." - MEANING THE CAMERAS WERE THE PROPERTY OF US CONGRESS, and thus Public Domain. I mean, seriously, are they really that fuckin stupid? That's just bone chillingly moronic.

[calmblueocean]

24. Brilliantly put.

This wasn't a "mistake" or "conflicting information" -- the people running the GOP are Just That Dumb.

[tuvor]

20. Fact-checking: It saves face, and might even...

...keep you out of bogus wars.

[bleever]

23. .

:thumbsup:

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

25. And she's got a big plane, too!!!!!!

Did we mention the plane? It's big!!!

She's evil. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeevil!!!!!!!!!!!



PS: Big plane!!!