One never knows what to expect from the Consumer Electronics Association’s Gary Shapiro. Last spring, he was caught pointing out that the digital TV emperor wasn’t wearing much (“not everyone really wants free over-the-air broadcasting in their home.”)
Now comes word that he’s challenging a news emperor, CNN’s Lou Dobbs, to a debate on protectionism. “The facts are indisputable—without international trade, our nation would not have the greatest economy in the world,” said Shapiro in a CEA news release. “If we accept messages of fear without acknowledging the facts, we will adopt a defeatist approach that will only hurt our economy and the innovative businesses and talented workers that would otherwise bring more jobs and opportunities to Americans than ever before.”
It’s a publicity stunt of course, but a good one. CEA — which earlier this month launched a new free-trade initiative — has fixed its sights on an important issue. And a Shapiro-Dobbs face-off would be great entertainment to boot. Perhaps not Joe Frazier-Muhammad Ali, but — for policy wonks — pretty close.
No word on whether the debate would be on CNN or ESPN.
Stay tuned.
The Technology Liberation Front is the tech policy blog dedicated to keeping politicians' hands off the 'net and everything else related to technology.