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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: Jim Robinson

If this was true, I'd have been booted quite some time ago.  In fact, I've gone over the line once, suggesting a somewhat draconian solution which SOMEBODY hit abuse on and the Mods deleted it, so I know you know what I've been up to.

God Bless FreeRepublic!

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

361 posted on 02/11/2005 12:38:01 PM PST by End Times Sentinel (I FEEL LIKE I'M IN CRAZYTOWN!!!)
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To: Mr. K

"THIS IS YOUR WEB SITE - YOU CAN DO AS YOU DARN WELL PLEASE!!

- I believe you are correct. Whoever establishes a web site can pretty much do whatever they please in granting memberships or purging those posters they consider to be pests or who hold extreme views. However, there should be some kind of warning given to posters before they unwittingly step over the line.
It's quite easy to become embroiled in an argument with another poster on an issue without even knowing that the site administrator is sitting quietly in the background ready to pull the plug on some comments that he personally finds offensive.
Short of allowing foul language, outright racist statements, crazy lies and libelous statements, I personally think all comments on any topic should be allowed.


362 posted on 02/11/2005 12:38:10 PM PST by finnigan2
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To: Jim Robinson

No wonder they've been soliciting members in FReepmail. I followed the link, clicked on "forums" - there are 5 topics and 6 replies. Whew! Who can keep up?


363 posted on 02/11/2005 12:38:17 PM PST by .38sw
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To: Jim Robinson

Continue To Fight The GOOD Fight, Mr. Jim Robinson!!!!:-)


D2


:-)


364 posted on 02/11/2005 12:38:25 PM PST by Defender2 (Defending Our Bill of Rights, Our Constitution, Our Country and Our Freedom!!!!)
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To: RushCrush
Guess I'm too nuanced for my own good.

*L* .. that's possible

j/k

As for those who have been banned from here .. ever think some of them deserved it?

Having disagreements is one thing .. being out right racist or calling for violence is completely different matter

365 posted on 02/11/2005 12:38:46 PM PST by Mo1 (Question to Liberals .. When did supporting and defending Freedom become a bad thing??)
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To: Jim Robinson

The more I think about this article, I realize what a great thing it is- FR is really getting mention. Becoming a target is not always negative. It means FR is having an effect and others feel threatened.

Batten down the hatches and prepare for battle folks!

(i take no credit for the success of FR)


366 posted on 02/11/2005 12:38:57 PM PST by RushCrush (If it takes a bloodbath, let's get it over with. No more appeasement. - Reagan)
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To: Jim Robinson

Yep there's a huge difference between constructive criticism and constant kavetching. There's also active participation in further the conservative agenda as opposed to just tearing it down with a poor attitude and not contributing anything.


367 posted on 02/11/2005 12:39:35 PM PST by Tempest (Click on my name for a long list of press contacts)
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To: Spiff

rense is an antisemitic version of artbell... and vdare is a motley crew of political malcontents and bigots of all stripes.


368 posted on 02/11/2005 12:39:44 PM PST by cyborg (http://mentalmumblings.blogspot.com/)
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To: Always Right

I think the majority of voters have similiar views on the matter. I think the President realizes that and will push a solution that appeals to that group.


369 posted on 02/11/2005 12:39:57 PM PST by TheDon (The Democratic Party is the party of TREASON)
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To: Jim Robinson

It's Jim's forum and he can do whatevr he wants with it. If we live under his roof, he has every right to make the house rules.


370 posted on 02/11/2005 12:40:11 PM PST by JarheadFromFlorida (Ooorahhhh........Get Some! Semper Fi')
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To: secret garden

"Oh. Since November, I'd forgotten all about him."

He's been a busy traitor, especially in Jan '05



John Kerry's 2005 Mideast "Bash Bush Tour"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1320709/posts

Kerry Criticizes Election Outcome At MLK Day Breakfast

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1322542/posts

Kerry Holding Mideast Talks with Chirac

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1321339/posts

Kerry to meet with French president Jan 14 '05

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1320157/posts

Kerry: Arabs frustrated by U.S. policies

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1321483/posts

KERRY TO AL AZHAR GRAN IMAN:
WASHINGTON COMMITED TERRIBLE MISTAKES IN IRAQ (TRAITOR ALERT!)
Jan 13 05

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1320020/posts

Kerry bashes US policy in meeting w/ leader of foreign group opposed to US
(not ‘71 or ‘85 – Jan 12 05!)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1319451/posts

"Former U.S. presidential candidate Senator John Kerry (D-MA), an election observer,
leaves the office of Mahmoud Abbas, in the West Bank city of Ramallah in this
January 10, 2005 file photo. Middle East countries are frustrated by U.S. policy in
Iraq and feel too little is being done to end violence there, U.S. Senator John Kerry
said on January 12, 2005 on a visit to the region. Kerry repeatedly criticized the
Bush administration's Iraq policy during his failed bid to win the U.S. presidency
from George W. Bush, who led the invasion to topple Saddam Hussein."


371 posted on 02/11/2005 12:40:24 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (The US Senate only has 99 legal Senators, and 1 illegal one. U.S. Constitution Amendment 14 Sec 3)
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To: Jim Robinson
Geez, many are my posts in support of GWB, but four-square against GW's wrongheaded, weak, ill-advised, politically suicidal, craven, immigration policy. If U CAN READ THIS, no one has pulled my account.

If every Freeper who opposed GW's Amnesty scheme had their accounts pulled, this would be a very lonely political forum.

372 posted on 02/11/2005 12:40:25 PM PST by Plutarch
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To: GiveEmDubya
. . .the things said here will reflect on the site as a whole.

BTTT!

373 posted on 02/11/2005 12:40:49 PM PST by KiloLima (January 30, 2005: A date that will live in our hearts and minds . . .)
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To: Jim Robinson
I may be sucking wind here, but haven't VDARE.com and Rense.com been verboten or at least suspect for a number of years now.

I guess I'm just a tool of the administration too.

374 posted on 02/11/2005 12:41:56 PM PST by metesky ("Brethren, leave us go amongst them." Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton - Ward Bond- The Searchers)
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To: MarketR
Also, this so-called "Minuteman Project", was very concerning to me too. While I'm sympathetic to the objectives of getting control of our borders, we have got to work within the system, not outside it. If we ever want to control our borders, we have to apply pressure to our congresspeople, not go "hunting" on the southern border.

I'm not a part of or a supporter of the Minuteman Project. However, I can assure you that the people coming here to call attention to our wide open borders are not going to go "hunting" on the southern border. It is more like a FReep of the border than anything else. The effort is being mischaracterized and blown all out of proportion. From my observation, it is the smearing of the MP and discussion of it that has lead to this recent schism and purging here on FR. I guess leftist allegations carry a lot of weight around here. I guess Jeff Gannon should be scorned here too given the recent witch hunt against him.

375 posted on 02/11/2005 12:42:26 PM PST by Spiff (Don't believe everything you think.)
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Comment #376 Removed by Moderator

To: theDentist
I'm still here as well. I have a FReepmail from AILPAC. They also sent me an e-mail address for a response. They were crying about being purged.

I'm not purged------yet..LOLOL

377 posted on 02/11/2005 12:43:44 PM PST by processing please hold (Islam and Christianity do not mix ----9-11 taught us that)
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To: Bella_Bru

Why do the Jamaicans go back?


378 posted on 02/11/2005 12:43:51 PM PST by Cinnamon Girl (OMGIIHIHOIIC ping list)
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To: Jim Robinson

Let's all not forget about the "planted" hate posts here either. Those are the posts that are planted by trolls looking to give FR a bad name. They "plant" a host post and direct MSM and leftie bloggers to the post and say......"Seeeeeee, we told you these right wingers are haters". A complete setup from the beginning.


379 posted on 02/11/2005 12:43:53 PM PST by JarheadFromFlorida (Ooorahhhh........Get Some! Semper Fi')
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To: Jim Robinson
"Free Republic participants have documented censorship of material from or mention of groups like VDARE.com, Rense.com, American Patrol, Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, 9/11 Families for a Secure America, ETHER ZONE, News with Views, author Frosty Woolridge, Save Our State, the Minuteman Project and others."

I agree with "censoring" this material. People shouldn't be bringing us every piece of DU-style trash that they pick up off the internet. Anybody who wants to see that material can go to the respective websites to see it.

380 posted on 02/11/2005 12:44:05 PM PST by Excuse_My_Bellicosity (Please leave a message after the burp....)
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