This isn't so much of a case of Google getting a "free pass" as it is a simply a coincidence that they have provided campaign contributions to a politician who happens to support SOPA. I am willing to bet they have made more contributions to other supporters as well.

Did you actually look at the distribution table? The donations occurred on 11 separate occasions in amounts no larger than $2,000 over the past 5+ years.

This is a non-event, and IMHO does not belong on the top of HN.