Head of the Motion Picture Association of America and former Sen. Chris Dodd is threatening President Barack Obama with a boycott of campaign funds over the White House’s opposition to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA), the pending anti-piracy bills that are making their way through the House and Senate.
“Candidly, those who count on . . . 'Hollywood' for support need to understand that this industry is watching very carefully who's going to stand up for them when their job is at stake,” Dodd told Fox News.
“Don't ask me to write a check for you when you think your job is at risk and then don't pay any attention to me when my job is at stake.”
The top Hollywood lobbyist’s warning is significant for the Obama campaign, which has thus far collected more than $4.1 million for the president’s re-election effort, a greater amount than the $3.7 million that was raised in 2008, according to Opensecrets.org.
Dodd also pointed out that the entertainment industry employs a sizable number of people who work behind the scenes and benefit as well from copyright enforcement.
“You can complain and say, well, actors make a lot of money and they don't have to worry about this,” Dodd said. “You tell that to that camera guy, you tell that to that makeup artist, you tell that to that truck driver out there who made, makes a living because they work in this industry.”
Dodd directed a portion of his warning to the Democratic Party, insisting that they do not take the entertainment industry for granted.
"I would caution people — don't make the assumption that because the . . . 'Hollywood community' has been historically supportive of Democrats, which they have, don't make the false assumptions this year that because we did it in years past, we will do it this year," Dodd said.
"These issues before us — this is the only issue that goes right to the heart of this industry."
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