Posted on 05/29/2012 10:01:08 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Memo to Albany Republicans: All things being equal, the First Amendment covers anonymous speech — and it applies to the Internet, too.
Even if that speech doesn’t reflect well on incumbent state legislators.
No, make that especially speech that doesn’t reflect well on incumbent state legislators.
Unhappily, however, GOP lawmakers are pushing a dangerous piece of work — the Internet Protection Act — meant to take a giant step toward banning anonymous comments on Web sites, including nasty words about politicians.
Senate sponsor Tom O’Mara (R-Elmira) pitched it as a cyberbullying bill, but it’s actually a much wider attack on free speech.
The bill requires that blogs, social networks and other sites remove “any comments” by anonymous commenters simply “upon request” from anyone, or else force the commenters to provide real names.
That is, not only are mean words verboten (as the bills’ sponsors would have you believe). Any anonymous posts are subject to censorship. For any reason.
These guys ever hear of free speech?
True, anonymous commenters can be obnoxious trolls. And sponsors say they hope to protect kids from cyberbullies and shield businesses from negative posts by their rivals — not that even those goals should be allowed to trump the First Amendment.
But as Assemblyman Jim Conte (R-LI) made clear, the bill will also ban “mean-spirited and baseless political attacks that . . . falsely tarnish the opponent’s reputation by using the anonymity of the Web.”
Forget the First Amendment — these guys are looking out for No. 1.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Our founders knew the baseness of power hungry creeps. It’s why they wrote the bill of rights. The GOP is wrong on this issue - Tea Party need to scream about it...
Comments not first screened by The Ministry of Truth will be reported.
Anytime a slimy politician uses the word 'protection' they aren't talking about YOUR protection!
I think the politicians KNOW this is unconsitutional.
they are just passing a law until a judge strikes it down. Essentially shut the rubes up during an election and then some judge will make it unconstitutional. by thin it will be too late
Here's the handy form to report evildoers:
https://my.barackobama.com/page/s/report-an-attack?source=em12_20120526_sc_tt'
if passed I think the SCOTUS would find it unconstitutional faster than you can say Client Number 9...
I am sure that, in the spirit of consistency, they will amend this bill to include a prohibition on voice votes(i.e.anonymous votes) in the legislature
Sure
The rest of the article :
It’s bad enough that a single member of the Senate is backing this dangerous proposition. It’s downright horrifying that half of Republicans in the Assembly are sponsors.
The GOP is supposed to be a counterbalance to Albany’s baser instincts.
With bills like these, who needs ’em?
Have you noticed that bullying, and now cyber-bullying, has become de facto justification for almost anything; including censorship?
it is incumbent in every politician to become a power hungry tyrant when they become incumbents...
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HALF of Pubbies in Albany are co-sponsoring?? Seriously, what is wrong with these people?! What exactly is the point of voting R in NY when you get this kind of BS?
Any barrier to freedom of speach is an assault on what it means to be an American. It is an insult to those who fought for this country past and present.
This kind of crap by a handful of statists is one of the reasons so many people are reluctant to identify themselves as Republicans. (Having worked with them professionally Eastern GOP types are an entirely different animal as far as I'm concerned anyway.)
Not surprised at all that so many Pubbies go along with this.
You don’t think McCain was itching to bring back the Fairness Doctrine every time Limbaugh unloaded on him?
RE: HALF of Pubbies in Albany are co-sponsoring??
As a New Yorker myself, I can tell you that it has come to a point where there isn’t much difference between a Republicn or Democrat in the Empire State.
Liberalism is the creed, all we really have are different degrees of liberalism. That’s why I never registered with the Republican party at all.
Awhile back, someone here posted a huge list of actual reports (from Twitter, maybe?). Most were hilarious, like:
I want to report my next door neighbor. He looks just like Karl Rove.
I want to report my dog Duke. He barks angrily every time the President appears on TV.
I am not afraid to post my address
I’ll just do what Michelle Malkin did when Obama started his enemies reporting web site... she sent in her entire column
I am not afraid to post my address
I’ll just do what Michelle Malkin did when Obama started his enemies reporting web site... she sent in her entire column
I know this is difficult to believe, but I recently heard a guy refer to Dear Coach Obama using a vulgar term for a region of the gastrointestinal tract.
Super glue duct tape to their mouths. Staple protest cards to their bodies.
...freedom is slavery ...
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