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.

[Spiff]

The true hypocrisy is best illustrated by those who continuously insist on calling owners management, and then to boot, continue to patronize a place they find distasteful and below their standards. It's a sorry sight to see you lower yourself from some sort of relevance to poodle pant scuff snipping. Do you eat at restaurants whose food and service you find to be below standards? Do you stay in a movie theater and watch a bad movie? Move along...

Unsatisfied with the extent of the recent purges, Gonzelez attempts to bully those who were not purged into leaving voluntarily. Hey, Luis, you never answered the question offered earlier. Are you a Mod?

[Spiff]

While it is true that everyone has opinions, not all opinions hold the same weight.

And because you don't live on the border and see what is going on daily, that would make your opinions about border security carry how much weight?

[P_A_I]

The President's current policies on the border are based upon his irrational fear of angering potential Hispanic voters and some weird pandering to Vincente Fox.

It is as if Fox has something he's holding over Bush, but I can't figure out what it is.

Spiff


__________________________________



It's the political reality that Mexico will blow up in revolution unless the USA gives them the safety valve of a relatively open border.

We should close the border and let the Mexican people throw out Fox & the ruling junta. -- But that is deemed politically unwise by -our- ruling junta.

Eventually, regardless of what we do, the situation in Mexico will explode. We should get prepared, and then let it happen.

[Cultural Jihad]

The true hypocrisy is best illustrated by those who continuously insist on calling owners management, and then to boot, continue to patronize a place they find distasteful and below their standards.

. . .

Move along...

Don't hold your breath waiting. Freeloaders who scowl at their benefactors feel they have some sort of entitlement.

[Cultural Jihad]

We should get prepared, and then let it happen.

And when the Communists rise to power in DF, the anti-immigrants here will be most pleased, eh?

[Squire Eaton]

There are many sides to every question from the far right to the left and everything in between. What I resent is anybody who takes it upon himself to decide that a majority of "conservatives", "FR members", or whoever take one position or the other with no factual information to back up their statement. I surely do not want that person to tell me how I feel about any given issue. There should be room enough on this web site for all to discuss issues and give his or her opinion without including the opinions of others just to make it seem he/she is in the main stream of an issue.

Squire Eaton

[djf]

Most certainly true. And I understand where you are coming from in that respect.

But I am very, very uneasy with the idea that because president Bush is successful in some of his endeavors, that that gets turned into a kind of "I'm gonna support him right or wrong" type attitude.

And I see that happening.

[roaddog727]

Agreed.

However there willalways be those who are frictionally unemployed in deed of work. This is not a good labor pool from which to draw, but it is available.

MAny small business operate thus. In fact, many rather large franchises (McDonalds, BK, Wendy's, Taco Bell......etc.) operate thusly as well.

[bayourod]

Wee, isn't that nice.

[HighFlier]

Your positions appear reasonable to me Luis.

I do believe the lower end jobs would be filled by people who need the work. We are not too proud. I have a brother who was unemployed for a while and he delivered newspapers. Now he makes some fairly big bucks at what he used to do.

In fact, my brothers and I have done jobs like janitor, construction, garbage collection, and waiter in the past. Now we are in jobs completely unrelated to any of those (with much higher incomes too), but I have nothing against getting dirty to earn money, neither do most Americans.

It is my contention that illegal immigration is a net loser for America. The costs far outweigh the benefits. It will be far less expensive in the long run to put a halt to illegal immigration and to deport those here, than it is to allow illegal immigration and the up to 20 million illegals to remain.

And the expense I refer to is not just monetary, but cultural and political.

[F16Fighter]

"WOW!

That made a difference [in comparing illegal Mexicans with Italian immigrants]!

They had green cards!

ROTFLMAO!!!"

One's legal, the other's CRIMINAL.

Of course YOU wouldn't see any difference, lol.

And btw, have you heard of a place called ELLIS ISLAND?

Or an immigration procedure called SPONSORSHIP"??

Everyone BUT apparently Mexicans are subject to even the most rudimentary immigration laws established by these United States.

Luis, you are you either ignorant beyond belief, or just plum loco.

[inquest]

What I resent is anybody who takes it upon himself to decide that a majority of "conservatives", "FR members", or whoever take one position or the other with no factual information to back up their statement.

I agree. For example, we have at least one freeper here who wastes no opportunity to tar all those here who take great exception to Bush's plan as racists. He's able to get away with it because for the most part, he doesn't direct his smears towards individual posters. But unfounded accusations like that are just as poisonous to rational debate whether they're directed toward anyone specifically or not.

[Doohickey]

Your mention of McDonald's reminded me of this story

[Cultural Jihad]

But unfounded accusations like that are just as poisonous to rational debate whether they're directed toward anyone specifically or not.

Ah, yes. Them FROBLs are like that, doncha know?

[P_A_I]

Eventually, regardless of what we do, the situation in Mexico will explode. We should get prepared, and then let it happen.

And when the Communists rise to power in DF, the anti-immigrants here will be most pleased, eh?

Commies in DF? Can you translate?
And, what does an anti-immigration stance have to do with my post on the reality of the coming Mexican revolution?

[inquest]

If you insist.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

RE: They made a choice and now they have to live with it [the consequence]. Yes it's harsh, but it's true.

Yes they chose to come here ILLEGALLY. They came to get jobs, create businesses, buy homes, have families in many cases. We are talking about those of course, not temporary workers and for sure not actual criminals here for no good. I mention this for the benefit of anyone else who may be reading this.

There is no question in my mind that for years our business and government did the old wink, wink nudge, nudge thing when talking about enforcement. Word spread around the world.

This may be a stretch but Section 274 of the Immigration and Nationality Act makes it a federal crime to encourage an illegal alien to reside illegally in the United States including specifically encouragement for the purpose of commercial advantage or financial gain.

In my mind business and government are more to blame for the ILLEGAL immigration than the ILLEGAL immigrants who accepted the "invitation."

IMO like it or not these business and government pukes made a commitment that our Nation is obligated to honor in some form.

I say acknowledge the otherwise law-abiding ILLEGAL immigrants presence in a manner similar to what the courts have established, permanently residing under the color of law (PRUCOL). Announce to the world that the party is over. We will enforce our laws from now on. Use an effective date that will prevent a flood of new party goers.

I still believe that we don't need shiny new laws that will be promptly ignored for the purpose of commercial advantage or financial gain by the same business and government pukes. "Hee, hee, hee. You can't touch me I got friends in high places."

[Cultural Jihad]

And, what does an anti-immigration stance have to do with my post on the reality of the coming Mexican revolution?

Because revolutions are often violent, and people tend to want to flee violence just as they like to flee hunger and want. If the goal is to smartly reform immigration, then go with President Bush. If the goal is to do something, anything, then go with Hillary.

[ApesForEvolution]

This mess made possible by the GOP...the Stupid Party.

[ApesForEvolution]

Luis, you are you either ignorant beyond belief, or just plum loco.

<<<

Try the "Left Wing Enemy Within the GOP"...