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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: Txsleuth

Sorry, I'm not very good at the PC shit.


1,441 posted on 02/11/2005 8:54:05 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: F16Fighter


So why would Jim ban us, and not them?


1,442 posted on 02/11/2005 8:55:11 PM PST by LauraleeBraswell (Forgive Russia, Ignore Germany, Punish France - Condoleezza Rice)
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To: JCRoberts

At least you proved your mother to be correct.


1,443 posted on 02/11/2005 8:55:18 PM PST by bayourod (Unless we get over 40% of the Hispanic vote in 2008, President Hillary will take all your guns away.)
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To: Marine Inspector

So, you're looking for martyrdom tonight?


1,444 posted on 02/11/2005 8:55:21 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez (Some people see the world as they would want it to be, effective people see the world as it is.)
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To: FITZ; Poohbah

This "open borders type" - as you choose to slander those who seem to disagree with you - never even thought of race. I did note the close proximity of Mexico to the United States, the sheer numbers from that country, and the economic disparities that exist between the two countries.

Qutie frankly, when you misrepresent people's positions, you seem to be trying to PROVOKE something. This is not about using the "race card" - if anything, some folks have used a "race-baiting card" to try to deflect attention from the fact that most - if not all - of the ire is directed solely at Mexico. You'll forgive me if I wonder why.


1,445 posted on 02/11/2005 8:55:23 PM PST by hchutch (A pro-artificial turf, pro-designated hitter baseball fan.)
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To: F16Fighter; Luis Gonzalez

Now, I don't know you guys' history on immigration debate, but unless F16F can back up his assertion with fact, he's the loser.

Can you provide something beyond giggles, F16Fighter?


1,446 posted on 02/11/2005 8:56:24 PM PST by stands2reason (Mark Steyn on GWB: "This is a president who wants to leave his mark on more than a cocktail dress.")
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To: LauraleeBraswell
So why would Jim ban us, and not them?

That is the million dollar question.

1,447 posted on 02/11/2005 8:56:28 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: FITZ

I think a lot of the Muslims that make it over here are from the more educated classes, and the percentage of them here is still far less than in Europe so they have more pressure and education allowing them to become better citizens.

It is a shorter and less costly trip for Muslims to make it to Europe and they make up high percentages now in European countries. It is a shorter and less costly trip for Mexicans to make it to America and therefore those with less education and financial resources can make it here in higher numbers, and they make up a large percentage of our population now putting less and less pressure on them to integrate.

4 out of the 5 top rated TV shows in L.A. this last week were in Spanish.

That same problem is more and more true in Europe, but their unintegrated culture has an entirely different religious tradition and a widely divergent set of cultural beliefs than does our Latino population.


1,448 posted on 02/11/2005 8:58:12 PM PST by patriciaruth (They are all Mike Spanns)
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To: stands2reason
"Can you provide something beyond giggles, F16Fighter?"

No ghe can't, which is why giggles is all he can post.

My stand on the illegal immigration issue is posted on my FR homepage for all to see.

Or you can read it here.

1,449 posted on 02/11/2005 8:58:55 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez (Some people see the world as they would want it to be, effective people see the world as it is.)
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To: hchutch
Haiti is close to the USA --- and why not --- if it's not a racist plan --- open it up equally and fairly to those of any foreign country? If I found Rwandans who would work cheaper than Mexicans, why would I be not allowed to hire them?

The economic disparities between the USA and Mexico is thanks the the same Mexican oligarchy that is pushing this "guest worker" but only for Mexicans plan. To save their corrupt system that makes some extremely rich but keeps most of the population in desperate poverty.

1,450 posted on 02/11/2005 9:00:34 PM PST by FITZ
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To: Jim Robinson

well, I try to be careful, but y'know, I didn't know about those other guys until you mentioned 'em.


1,451 posted on 02/11/2005 9:00:46 PM PST by no-s
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To: Howlin
Nah, because then you'll tell me, "Come back when you've been here ten years!
1,452 posted on 02/11/2005 9:03:32 PM PST by Doohickey ("This is a hard and dirty war, but when it's over, nothing will ever be too difficult again.”)
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To: patriciaruth
I've been called a RINO

Don't feel too bad.

Click here and read post #58

So why don't you just grab a jug of moonshine or white-lightning, or whatever, kick back, take your dentures out, and relax on the deck of your mobile home on the swamp out there in Missouri, and let us Californians settle our own problems.

I resent being accused of wearing dentures.

1,453 posted on 02/11/2005 9:05:23 PM PST by Missouri
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To: hchutch

Thank you for the ping


1,454 posted on 02/11/2005 9:05:52 PM PST by Once-Ler (Beating a dead horse for NeoCon America)
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To: hchutch
and the economic disparities

Social injustice in Mexico is the real driving force behind this massive immigration from that country. Many of the day laborers are NOT finding steady employment, not many employers of illegals value them enough to provide them health care insurance benefits or pay them well enough they can afford their own policy. The Mexican government is writing comic books --- shamefully admitting that is the literacy level it has provided it's citizens --- to encourage them to leave.

1,455 posted on 02/11/2005 9:06:52 PM PST by FITZ
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To: Indy Pendance

Please please tell me those are photoshopped.........


1,456 posted on 02/11/2005 9:07:42 PM PST by k2blader (It is neither compassionate nor conservative to support the expansion of socialism.)
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To: FITZ

LEGAL entry is still less risky and troublesome for people from Haiti than illegal entry is - the journey over water is much harder and riskier. The Coast Guard, I understand has that situation in hand.

The same cannot be said for Mexico. There, the situation is different - illegal has become not-too-risky, and it is also not all that dangerous when compared to an attempt to enter illegally from Haiti, to use your example.

I, personally, find this oligarchy business to be nonsense. It does strike me as odd that again, it is Mexico that has drawn the ire of people. Canada's border with us is about 50% longer - and has more areas with a very low population density. Yet all the fuss and disdain is aimed at Mexico. All the complaints are about Mexico.


1,457 posted on 02/11/2005 9:07:44 PM PST by hchutch (A pro-artificial turf, pro-designated hitter baseball fan.)
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To: Jim Robinson
William Gheen wrote things like, "The management’s answer...has become electronic executions and censorship" and "...free speech is an illusion on FR.com." Gheen's comments are hysterical.

Quote from dict.org, a free dictionary project:
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) :

Hysteria \Hys*te"ri*a\, n. [NL.: cf. F. hyst['e]rie. See Hysteric.] (Med.)
A nervous affection, occurring almost exclusively in women, in which the emotional and reflex excitability is exaggerated, and the will power correspondingly diminished, so that the patient loses control over the emotions, becomes the victim of imaginary sensations, and often falls into paroxism or fits.

Note: The chief symptoms are convulsive, tossing movements of the limbs and head, uncontrollable crying and laughing, and a choking sensation as if a ball were lodged in the throat. The affection presents the most varied symptoms, often simulating those of the gravest diseases, but generally curable by mental treatment alone.

1,458 posted on 02/11/2005 9:08:17 PM PST by familyop
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To: cyborg

What was "wrong" with Alicia Keys?


1,459 posted on 02/11/2005 9:08:33 PM PST by stands2reason (Mark Steyn on GWB: "This is a president who wants to leave his mark on more than a cocktail dress.")
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To: LauraleeBraswell

one's got to be a bit careful on immigration and religious threads -- every word counts. So, you can be against illegal immigration and be hispanic and pro-LEGAL immigration. however, sometimes ppl turn immigration into a racial issue -- it's not -- we WANT skilled immigrants from around the world. Illegal immigrants hurt the system, but legal ones help strengthen the system


1,460 posted on 02/11/2005 9:09:08 PM PST by Cronos (Never forget 9/11)
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