Some time ago I got myself all wound up at a web cartoonist panel about net neutrality. What got me in a tizzy was the fact that no one in the room other than me seemed to have an opinion on the matter.

Net neutrality is (basically) the state in which it's just as easy to go to one website as another. This means that it is just as easy for someone to go to my site as it is to go to GE's. There are several reasons why those who could afford it, would be willing to pay extra for a tiered internet, but the fear is that once the internet class war starts it would be quickly abused by those on top. The more bandwith your comics use the more worried you should be (I'm looking at you Flash gurus).

But those of us who would be on the lower tiers may have just scored a victory: The Obama nomination. Obama's victory over Hillary Clinton was in no small part to blogging and user uploaded content on sites like YouTube. If the internet wasn't in it's current state Obama's supporters couldn't have rallied because we would no doubt be getting our news from the corporate outlets that ruled out Obama at the beginning of the race.

Because Obama was able to dominate fund raising through the internet, the Democratic Party has announced:

As we move toward the general election, the Democratic Party has to be the Party of ordinary Americans, not Washington lobbyists and special interests. So, as of this morning, if you're a federal lobbyist, or if you control political action committee donations, we won't be accepting your contribution.

Though I have no delusion that this will eliminate corruption, I do think the Democrats will find them selves in a compromising position the next time Net Neutrality is threatened. By making this declaration Democrats have anointed protectors of Net Neutrality the most powerful lobbying body, because the primary source of their income has also become their primary source of criticism.