In January, the DC Circuit Court struck down the FCC’s so-called “net neutrality” rules as being beyond the scope of the agency’s authority. Undeterred, the FCC in May proposed new rules, tweaked to comport with the court ruling. Now, Barack Obama is inserting himself into the debate. The New York Times reports, “Obama urged the Federal Communications Commission to adopt the strictest set of neutrality rules possible and to treat consumer broadband service as a public utility, similar to telephone or power companies.” Obama declared, “We cannot allow Internet service providers to restrict the best access or to pick winners and losers in the online marketplace for services and ideas.” In other words, he wants to be the one to pick winners and losers. Two things: Obama doesn’t have the authority over the FCC, which is independent, though his bullying may still influence things. And second, his involvement likely poisons the well for debate in Congress on a measure to reach a compromise because he’s clearly aiming to please his leftist base. More…