Congressman Smith Takes a Stand

House member Chris Smith (R-NJ) is calling on hearings into the announcement by Google to aid the communist nations suppression of its citizens basic human rights:

The decision by Chris Smith, a Republican congressman from New Jersey who chairs a House subcommittee on Human Rights, to call for a February 16 hearing to examine the operating procedures of US internet companies in China, represents the first signs of what could become a serious backlash against Google and other internet companies in Washington that are perceived as capitulating to the Chinese government.

Mr Smith on Wednesday accused Google of “collaborating .. with persecutors” who imprison and torture Chinese citizens “in the service of truth”.

“It is astounding that Google, whose corporate philosophy is ‘don’t be evil’ would enable evil by cooperating with China’s censorship policies just to make a buck,” he said.

Aside from the populist rhetoric, Rep. Smith has a great point. It figures that a Republican would be the one to make something of this issue.

Maybe NJ has some politicians with ethics.