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.

[Travis McGee]

I would like you to address post 3066, and tell us why a flagrant non-stop race-baiter like Dane still retains posting priviliges, when Sabertooth, Joe Hadenuf etc etc etc etc etc have all been purged.

[Bikers4Bush]

This....

"This account has been banned or suspended."

[Travis McGee]

I'm not "back." I just slipped into the smokey back room, to put in my 2 cents, because I see my beloved FR going down the drain, sold out to the FROBLs.

[Marine Inspector]

Could you guys make sure Trinity_Tx gets on the ping list.

Thanks.

[Travis McGee]

Thanks.

[freeangel]

Geez, it's about time.

[Mr. Mojo]

She's gone, Trav.

[StoneColdGOP]

Whoops, didn't mean to imply we don't need more shes, but that we didn't need any shes pretending to be hes!

[Marine Inspector]

But for how long.

[Mr. Mojo]

Good question.

[Jim Robinson]

Sabertooth was banned because he is a whining antifreeper. There are several on FR and I allow it till I get fed up. I've had enough of Hadenuf. Dane and others could suddenly find themselves without posting priviliges when and if I get tired of the constant flamewars, but when that day comes there may be a whole lot of posters on both sides gone. You might ask yourself why the other side is still here and posting also. There is no beginning and no end to these wars and no clean hands on either side. I try to ignore it and let them rip each others eyes out until something flares up that I can no longer tolerate.

[Travis McGee]

But did Dane get a quick time out like the FROBLs usually get, or the permaban?

Like those she slandered and race-baited and flame-warred as "Nazi Stormfront Racists" for years and years?

Sabertooth and many other great freepers are permanently banned, having been successfully race-baited into oblivion by Dane and her ilk.

[Travis McGee]

I can make a quick list of the banned and the tolerated. The Bayourods, CJs etc are all still around, after having instigated many freepers into getting banned with their non-stop race-baiting. That's what is sickening, the blatant double standard.

[mamelukesabre]

I don't know of many catholics that go around actively promoting pro-catholic agenda. To most, it's just something they do on sundays.

[Jim Robinson]

Sabertooth's ban had nothing to do with Dane or anyone else. Like everyone that gets banned, he got banned for the contents of his own posts. The "Great Ones" always get permanently banned, don't you know that?

[Mo1]

That's what is sickening, the blatant double standard.

You're still here

[No_Doll_i]

Travis... Bravo!

Glad you brought this to everyone's attention here cause some of us can talk around it all day long and get nowhere.

Frankly if I ever said anything on this forum that warranted banning I would take my licks. I would just like to see the standards applied to everyone. Hmmm, kinda like I would like to see all countries treated the same in regard to immigration. Sadly it ain't happening anywhere it seems.


I appreciate your posts and thank you for saying what a lot of us are thinking.

[Travis McGee]

I basically haven't posted this year until now. In case you haven't noticed.

[Travis McGee]

Okay Jim, I've had my say, got it off my chest.

Thanks.

Now, back to lurk-only mode, for personal reasons.

[Mo1]

I basically haven't posted this year until now. In case you haven't noticed

So you came out of lurk mode to make a list and check it twice?

Yep .. those double standards stink all right

BTW .. about posting this year .. your posting dates tell a different story