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

[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.

[82Marine89]

[patriciaruth]

It would be easier for me to do this if I were a paragon of virtue, but I am disturbed by good people gunning for each other.

[MarineBrat]

My status has been elevated from pinger of the Viking Kitties to Indoctrinated Flying monkey! hahaha!

I sense a new entry into the lexicon bible!

-Cheeta

[Howlin]

I'm asking this in all sincerity: are you Ruth Carter?

[Willie Green]

Thanks for the poll. It tells volumes.
Amen!!!

But uh-oh.... why don't the numbers add up to 100%????

[patriciaruth]

I'm funny about loyalty.

Once I admit someone to my inner circle I stick by them, thickheaded or thin.

[Fred Nerks]

asgardshill needs more paper?

[Howlin]

Looks like you just did.

[freeangel]

It was about illegal immigration--I swear it was up about thirty min. ago and now it's gone.

[patriciaruth]

Who is Ruth Carter?

Did you ask me this a couple years ago? The question has a familiar ring to it.

[Coop]

I had been feeling kinda left out since being removed from JohnnyZ's troll list, so I'm proud to have been given this new honor.

"I'd like to thank my wife, and especially my parents for raising me..."

[Spiff]

What about in posts here, or do you think anything should go?

Not a stretch here: Any posts in which someone intentionally hurts, insults, attacks or detracts from another person primarily upon the basis of their race would be considered a racist post.

[Dog Gone]

We should probably stop giving those complimentary wedgies on the way out the door. ;)

NOOOOOOO!

ROFL

[Howlin]

he banned me several times because I wasn't the candidate they supported.

I've never seen such a thing done on this site; Jim leans over backwards to support ANY and all conservative candidtes.

He's obviously leaving a LOT out.

[Missouri]

joehadenuf probably went over the deep end

I was there on Joe's last thread a week ago. Howlin pulled the race card and some of us objected. Joe's says he called her a leftist and then the thread got pulled and Joe got banned.

[mhking]

The morons don't realize that you simply don't go into the BatCave, take a leak on the floor, and expect Batman to not notice.

 

Double-barrelled Mega-PING! to both lists! If you want on, FReepmail me!

[b4its2late]

[dr_pat]

I think you're a riot!!!

Talk to the kitty, nic.

  FUNNY!?! You think I am FUNNY!?!

[dzzrtrock]

either way, it is a masterpiece! (bows before the creator of the rant-of-all-rants)

[Howlin]

No, I did not.