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Not so ‘Free Republic’: The Shot Heard Around the Net
The Conservative Voice ^ | Feb 11, 2005 | by William Gheen, President, Americans for Legal Immigration PAC

Posted on 02/11/2005 10:55:36 AM PST by Jim Robinson

The shot heard around the Internet has been fired on FreeRepublic.com The owner Jim Robinson and his moderators have launched a sniper style purge against members that disagree with the President’s ‘guest worker’ amnesty or support more control of illegal immigration. Free Republic is an amazing tool for those looking for a good debate and news from around the country.

The problem for the administration of the site is that their creation is allowing the participants to learn that the Bush immigration record and plans are shockingly out of line with the views of most conservatives. The management’s answer to this conflict between the majority of conservatives and the influence of the White House on their Web site has become electronic executions and censorship.

Members and readers of Free Republic would be surprised to know that many members of their community have fallen silent on the discussions about illegal immigration lately because free speech is an illusion on FR.com. They are silent because they have been banned from the Web site without warning, cause, or explanation in most cases. For weeks the moderators have been suspending and banning new members that chimed in quickly on the immigration debates.

Now this trend has broadened as the first groups of long-term users were suspended or banned this past week. Although Robinson and his staff removed many members of the Free Republic community in the first few days of the purge, those that religiously support President Bush’s immigration plan, open borders and approve of public benefits for illegal aliens remain on the forum. Those that were banned were the members that wanted more done to control illegal immigration and a strict observance to the President’s Oath of Office.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: 1912election; aliens; alipac; amnesty; blc; callthewaaaambulance; crybaby; desperatedemocrats; dreamact; fr; freerepublic; howtogetbanned; illegals; immigration; immigrationplan; liars; lovejimfr; minuteman; minutemen; openborders; purge; respectjimshouse; tawbbos; whatahornetsnest; whiners; williamgheen
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To: Howlin
Yep!

Thanks. :^)


761 posted on 02/11/2005 2:37:41 PM PST by MeekOneGOP (There is only one GOOD 'RAT: one that has been voted OUT of POWER !! Straight ticket GOP!)
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To: Jim Robinson
ping ~ just checkin' :^>

Re: Bush's stand on immigration; Most folks are watching as his left hand moves, but it's his right hand that's doing the deed. I helped elect W as my chief, and we won. I'm stickin' with the president.

762 posted on 02/11/2005 2:38:50 PM PST by 68 grunt (3/1 India, 3rd, 68-69, 0311)
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To: Marine Inspector
"Take away the welfare and the free jobs and enact a viable guest worker program and illegal immigration will drop to a very manageable situation."

So, you and I are in complete agreement on the solution.

763 posted on 02/11/2005 2:39:16 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez (Some people see the world as they would want it to be, effective people see the world as it is.)
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To: Petronski
you speak for cyborg?????

then when will we see you over on the WBTS threads?????

cyborg is one of my favorite freepers.

free dixie NOW,sw

764 posted on 02/11/2005 2:39:18 PM PST by stand watie (being a damnyankee is no better than being a racist. it is a LEARNED prejudice against dixie.)
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To: 4woodenboats
The illegal immigration threads are no worse or better than the abortion threads, the evolution threads, or the euthanasia threads. Opinions are like...well you know.

The poster whom you were posting to is a bit angry/over the top. I am aware of this. That anger comes from someone who lives on 'the front line' so to speak. L.A., one of the main illegal immigration centers. We have all but put out a welcome and information desk for them.

And sometimes it seems like instead of holding a pol's feet to the fire over an issue, we want to handle them with velvet gloves, because they have an R next to their name. And that's where all the anger and emotion on this issue comes from, and from that poster in particular.

Considering the poster's adversarial tone, I cannot imagine a more congenial approach, but am always open to suggestion.

That's nice.

765 posted on 02/11/2005 2:40:42 PM PST by Bella_Bru (You're about as funny as a case sensitive search engine.)
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To: BJClinton

Nopardons is a good cyber friend.


766 posted on 02/11/2005 2:40:43 PM PST by processing please hold (Islam and Christianity do not mix ----9-11 taught us that)
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To: Txsleuth
I think the dems know that FR has gotten quite a reputation now, so they may see this as a good place to try to subvert the forum

As you suggest, this is the reason we see so many trolls here.

767 posted on 02/11/2005 2:40:49 PM PST by My2Cents ("Friends stab you from the front." -- Oscar Wilde)
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To: johnb838
I've never gotten more than a stern "knock it off" from the Mods. When they talk, I listen. Simple as that.

From what I understand, few if any of those recently purged were afforded that courtesy. Most have no idea why they were banned and there is no appeal.

768 posted on 02/11/2005 2:41:06 PM PST by Spiff (Don't believe everything you think.)
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To: theDentist; Jim Robinson
I haven't been purged yet, and I oppose it vehemently. So either you've not been thorough, or they're full of Hillary-speak.

Hey! Can I be purged too?? < / sarcasm >

769 posted on 02/11/2005 2:41:24 PM PST by sionnsar († trad-anglican.faithweb.com † || Iran Azadi || US Foreign Service blog: diplomadic.blogspot.com)
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To: Jim Robinson

How about another poll about the President's plan versus Sensenbrenner's? : )


770 posted on 02/11/2005 2:41:40 PM PST by Politicalmom (Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.")
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To: 68 grunt; Jim Robinson

I'm stickin' with the president...and with JR.

JR, I haven't taken the time to read the whole thread. Whatever you decide is fine by me. You've brought us where we are today...may as well tag along awhile longer. It's been quite a ride!


771 posted on 02/11/2005 2:41:51 PM PST by Timeout (Dems are suffering from a severe case of Potus Envy. There is no known cure.)
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To: yarddog

My name is spelled with a "z" at the end...and I've been banned from FR many times for my posts.

Perhaps, you missed my banishments, but I'll make sure to mail you an announcement next time it happens.


772 posted on 02/11/2005 2:42:12 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez (Some people see the world as they would want it to be, effective people see the world as it is.)
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To: Howlin
I suspect you often feel you have gotten the best of people in arguments.

I personally think making little snide comments, and yucking it up with others about other people is rude.

I guess I have been guilty of attacking people sometimes but never do I congratulate myself on how smart I am.

773 posted on 02/11/2005 2:42:50 PM PST by yarddog
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To: BJClinton

It just got extremely heated and everyone ended up calling everyone else names.

I don't think anyone should have been banned, but quite a few needed some time outs.


774 posted on 02/11/2005 2:42:56 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: Spiff
From what I understand, few if any of those recently purged were afforded that courtesy. Most have no idea why they were banned and there is no appeal.

Most had probably been warned before or were found to have been previously banned. (I assume that if you're banned once and come back without permission you will be banned again as soon as you're discovered.)

775 posted on 02/11/2005 2:43:04 PM PST by COEXERJ145
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To: BJClinton

nopardons is a moderate on La Migra....not open borders nor sealed ...a pragmatist.

I'm betting it's not over immigration.


776 posted on 02/11/2005 2:43:57 PM PST by wardaddy (I don't think Muslims are good for America....just a gut instinct thing.)
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To: johnb838

Troublemaker.

: )


777 posted on 02/11/2005 2:44:02 PM PST by Politicalmom (Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.")
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To: Modernman

Some were banned, some were given a time out and some got off scott free.


778 posted on 02/11/2005 2:44:14 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: LowOiL

Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

www.ice.gov


779 posted on 02/11/2005 2:44:58 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: Howlin
I'm always amazed at people who hate it here, but post just so they can copy and paste stuff onto THEIR web sites.

Aye. What really cracks me up is that they go to all the trouble of creating an identity and posting their latest scream about how we won't let them scream, then scream that they might get kicked off for screaming too loud!

780 posted on 02/11/2005 2:45:21 PM PST by 4woodenboats (I see Dead People - and they voted in Seattle!! Rossi 3peat in 2005!)
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