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.

[dennisw]

Look who's looking at us. http://www.clownposse.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2626

[Howlin]

And we've got current FR members, like stonecoldGOP posting the bogus whine story on their own blogs.

Come on; be fair; it does give TLBSHOW something to copy and paste over on LP.

[Bernard Marx]

I know what's honorable and what isn't

I've always believed that breaking the law is dishonorable. The lawbreakers in this instance are those who come illegally, those who hire them illegally, and those who refuse to enforce the law. Does that possibly suggest the solution you seek? If they aren't hired they won't come -- no standing army needed.

I ask this question for the hundredth time: if it's okay to break immigration law, what laws should any of us respect? Otherwise forget the hypocritical lie that this is a nation of laws, not men.

[Howlin]

Ah, "looking at us" is ALL Clowne Possee EVER does.

[Marine Inspector]

Can you find the legal American working in the picture above?

Yes there is one, but only one !

Can you prove that?

[StarCMC]

Spam troll - someone who gets on FR, gathers FReeper names and then tries to get traffic on their site.

[Bella_Bru]

if you ever crawl out of your own deluded speck of the universe and try to look at things with a hint of objectivity, you will find this forum refreshingly open to debate.

The immigration issue is a hot button issue around here that has become emotionally loaded. Your pleasant comments do no more to reverse the trend of ugliness on illegal immigration threads.

[mrsmel]

Is this article possibly from a type that is known as an "agent provacateur"? To sow disruption and dissent amongst the Free Republic conservative community? Mr Robinson, at least you know that this site has become a real force for conservatism when people are taking it seriously enough to seek to spread calumnies against it.They only try to take down what they fear,they dismiss what they don't see as a threat. To paraphrase Jean Hagen(as Lina Lamont)in "Singing In The Rain",that means that "all your good work ain't been in vain for nothin'". Which means, Mr Robinson, keep up the good work,and thanks for this website!

[johnb838]

I heard an open borders apologist on O'Really last night. Same old, same old. At the end he tried to play the "Hey O'Reilly, your name isn't native american, you're an immigrant too" card. It's like, whatever.

[My2Cents]

I'm My2Cents, and I approve your message.

[cake_crumb]

"Usually I think it is the disruptors who post the garbage, for the above reason."

Agreed.

[Howlin]

See #145; somebody is lobbying for you and I to be banned.

[MineralMan]

Well, lots of people seem to want to take on FR, from the MSM to rival "conservative" blogs, so you may be right that there could be a second wave to this.

It's all silliness. FR is about the most stable forum I've ever posted in. I don't always agree with everyone, but we all generally avoid calling each other names or whining about FR on other sites.

How lame these turkeys are!

[investigateworld]

For once we'll have to disagree. The drug cartels in Mexico are going into the remote valleys and mountainous regions and forcing the Mexican Indian populace to grow marijuana and poppies.
That leaves the them option of going into Mexican cities and beg, or head north. The failure of the Mexican gubermint to protect these people might even make them eligible for refugee status.

'
And Jim, remember what Rush says what happens when you lead the pack.

[My2Cents]

have always viewed FR as a civilized and civic responsible discussion board.

You left out *intelligent.*

[John Lenin]

I always stay away from extremists on either side, they do nothing but hurt the cause because people just point them out for the nutcases they are.

[k2blader]

Bump for later browse/comment/amusement. :-)

[cake_crumb]

I like to think we Freepers have style as well as class ;- )

[Reagan Man]

Nice timing on the current FR poll question. LOL

If 68% of FReepers opposed the Bush immigration reform proposal, I'd say its a fair bet, some of those 96.6% of FReepers are being downright disingenuous with their answers.

[Robert Lomax]

Guess where George can shove his amnesty program!