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.

[dljordan]

"Also, there are some posters who are using the illegal immigration issue to insult and or viciously attack other posters on this forum."

From what I've seen most of the insults are coming from the pro-illegal members. To be fair I've seen some anti's come unglued after repeated attacks by the same pro-illegal members that haunt every immigration thread as soon as it appears. It seems as if there is a concerted effort by the pro's to stifle any anti sentiment on the site.

[Marine Inspector]

You call me an open borders advocate or a illegal alien lover and you'll get the same responses.

If I attack you personally and you do the same, we should both be punished, not just one of us.

That's my point.

While I am guilty of personal attacks, I try my best not to attack a poster personally, but like everyone, I am human and get emotional.

The one thing that gets me more then anything is those that like to label me racists, because I'm against illegal immigration and you know who I am speaking of.

[Marine Inspector]

It seems as if there is a concerted effort by the pro's to stifle any anti sentiment on the site.

I agree.

[dcnd9]

Can post your support for F.R. here:
http://www.theconservativevoice.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2872&com_id=3710&com_rootid=3710&com_mode=flat&com_order=0#comment3710

[trisham]

Jim Robinson has taken a position that is at odds with more than 80 percent of the Free Republic community

****************

Was there a poll I missed? I love it when people create their own statistics.

[Danae]

Hmmn, looks like the freaks are attacking yet again. thanks for sticking up for us Jim!

[rlmorel]

Heheh...LETS ZOT JIM'S THREAD! BWAAAAAHAAAAAAHAAA!

[Betis70]

>>No one cares if people come here... just do it legally.

Half my grandparents came here from Mexico legally (the other 1/2 from Ireland a generation before them). My sis-in-law went through the immigration process legally (prior to becoming my sis-in-law)--it still burns my bacon to know the hoops she had to jump through to get here, while someone who went through NO hoops thinks they should get the same green card.

The more immigrants, the better.

Just keep the illegal ones out (and no new Bracero program either).

[MeekOneGOP]

bump!!

[MineralMan]

This making sense stuff has just got to stop. I mean it! [grin]

[dljordan]

" Free speech isn't even considered on here because this is a PRIVATELY-OWNED site. When will these nimrods understand this?"

Supported by contributions.

[melbell]

"Websites like this are privately owned. It's like being in someone's house. They get to make the rules. Simple as that."

You were supposed to take off your shoes on the porch, BTW. ;)

[Iron Eagle]

I haven't been purged yet -- and I oppose the Bush plan. I speak, write, appear on TV against it -- and will continue to do so.

Jim makes a great point, however, and that is that those who cannot have intelligent discussion on this issue, or who use this platform to espouse ideas born out of hatred, racism, or discrimination, have no place posting here.

I don't agree with all the limitations on Free Republic, but I abide by them because it is the rules. It's not my ball park. And, for those who actually read and comprehend the rules, there is nothing Free about Free Republic. It is not an open forum for people to post what they want on any subject. If that were the case, I suppose we would call it Anarchy Republic.

To the extent you, Jim, support Bush's amnesty plan -- I'd be delighted to tell you why I think you are dead wrong on that issue. And, I am someone who opposes illegal immigration, but has called for increasing legal immigration.

I spoke at a forum Arlington Virginia on giving instate tuition to illegal aliens this past week -- and while it is true that 80% of Americans, and probably 99% of Freepers oppose illegal immigration, one would be surprised how many do not. Many believe that social justice requires it, and that U.S. Citizens subsidize it.

[nikos1121]

"Uh, if there were were 1,000,000 coming every day, the population of the U.S. would double in 10 months -- except that Mexico would be completely empty in less than 4 months."

Hannity and O'Reilly have both said this the past couple days. I wish we had some concrete information on this. I mean, I am sure that there are sociologists that have been tracking this for years and who can tell us the impact it's having on us here.

O' Reilly never hesitates to make his point on this esp if there is some illegal alien who's been arrested on the national stage for some crime. The other night he said something like 40% of illegal aliens here commit felonies.

nikos

[RightWhale]

there are 1,000,000 yes 1,000,000 illegals come across the border each day from Mexico

Hitler overran Ukraine with only 3 million. You would think there would be more stuff happening with a million a day coming across the Rio Grande.

[rlmorel]

Well put. Agreed.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

I wouldn't have your job for nothing.

Thanks for all you and yours do.

Keep taking nourishment at regular intervals and don't forget to breathe.

God Bless

[Madeleine Ward]

I'm just trying to form my opinions on immigration, so I've been reading everything.

What is the objection to the Minute Men? What is the difference between their intention and that of your local Neighborhood Crime Watch, other than it covers a larger area and the project focuses on one crime: illegal entry into this country.

[Darkwolf377]

I'm barefoot.

Oh...wait a minute...

(Runs to put on something, anything...)

spritz of Lysol...

[Eva]

Thanks for posting this article and exposing the lies. It seems that FreeRepublic is taking heat from many directions. This article is an obvious attempt to gain readers at the expense of FreeRepublic.