[patrickk]

Two words: Special Interests.

He's probably only getting one side of the story, as the anti-piracy lobby has the money, power and influence to be able to bend the ear of those high up enough to make a difference. Spend enough time listening to one side of the debate, and you have the VP eventually making dumb comments like the Tiffany's quote.

Richard Stallman probably would probably not clear White House security checks (joke)