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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: All
Ahem......Open borders or not, you all apparently missed the news this morning?

The Senate passed a stricter border security bill and Trent Lott announced that the Bush Amnesty Plan is DOA...hasn't a chance in hell of EVER passing in this Congress.

Just FYI

201 posted on 02/11/2005 11:45:54 AM PST by moondoggie
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To: Jim Robinson

Well this is just a hit piece. I have vehemently opposed the President's immigration plan, and I'm still here.


202 posted on 02/11/2005 11:46:04 AM PST by rintense
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To: nikos1121

Quiet...we can't let the DU'ers find out what the Secret Words are...:)


203 posted on 02/11/2005 11:46:14 AM PST by rlmorel (Teresa Heinz-Kerry, better known as Kerry's "Noisy Two Legged ATM")
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To: Jim Robinson
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.

Well, I'm still here, and I've been quite open about being against benefits for illegals, open borders, amnesty for illegals already in the U.S., the President's signing off on the Campaign Finance Reform Bill....there's probably a few other areas, I imagine. And I've never felt that my opinion on such matters shouldn't be voice. Perhaps that's because I otherwise support President Bush 100%; I just don't have to agree with every single one of his policies.

204 posted on 02/11/2005 11:46:44 AM PST by nicmarlo
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To: BootsOnTheGround

"Bible-thumping, NRA membership owning, middle-aged, right-wing extremist males the left stereotypes us as."

Some of us are bible thumping, middle aged, NRA Membership owning, and female!


205 posted on 02/11/2005 11:46:54 AM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: Jim Robinson

I think the site has done a terrific job of allowing open debate while expecting civility. Thanks.


206 posted on 02/11/2005 11:47:15 AM PST by Richard Kimball (It was a joke. You know, humor. Like the funny kind. Only different.)
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To: Jim Robinson
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.

Uh, maybe I don't understand what this guy is writing, but I happen to be one of the people here who think the President is trying mightily to solve a problem with immigration, and I don't fit into the FR "mainstream". Now, I haven't been BANNED or made to "fall silent". I state my opinion and realize I'm not in agreement with most here on FR.

So this guy, if I understand what he is saying, doesn't know what he is talking about.

The guy also doesn't understand the difference between "free speech" and "personal responsibility". Free Speech is guaranteed by the Constitution, but FR comes under the purview of Mr. Robinson, and he has no legal or constitutional obligation to permit ANYONE to post here. He can boot anyone he wants anytime he wants.

This same guy must think he can just walk in to any tv station in the country and get on the air with his opinion.

207 posted on 02/11/2005 11:47:38 AM PST by Recovering_Democrat (I'm so glad to no longer be associated with the Party of Dependence on Government!)
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To: kesg

Everyone knows that I am against it.
Glad I am still here. ;)


208 posted on 02/11/2005 11:47:51 AM PST by stopem
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To: cake_crumb
Demanding the borders be secured is easy. We all want that. Well, most of us do. How's about some suggestions on how to go about that within logistic sensibility?

Continued and steady enforcement of the existing laws would be a start. That alone would discourage most. It's common knowledge in South America that illegals are ignored - so on they come.

209 posted on 02/11/2005 11:48:02 AM PST by raybbr
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To: Jim Robinson

What makes Gheen think that you would be for "open borders" or illegal immigration? This jerks ASSumes quite a bit.


210 posted on 02/11/2005 11:48:14 AM PST by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
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To: Marine Inspector; hchutch
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.

Well, it works both ways; how do you think it feels from the other side to be called an open border lover? An illegal lover? It appears that that is exactly what we are branded if we don't agree 100 percent with the "regulars." And, of course, the completely dismissive "Bushbot" label, which most seem to believe means not any of us have a single original thought and march in lockstep just because we don't go off halfcocked every single time we disagree with Bush on a policy.

In fact, using the quote of mine to inquest proves it; not the way YOU posted it, of course; it was, in fact, inquest who called ME a liar.

211 posted on 02/11/2005 11:48:48 AM PST by Howlin (It's a great day to be an American -- and a Bush Republican!!!!)
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To: Peach

You know .. this BS is getting very tiresome

They sound like liberals


212 posted on 02/11/2005 11:48:52 AM PST by Mo1 (Question to Liberals .. When did supporting and defending Freedom become a bad thing??)
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To: Eva

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


213 posted on 02/11/2005 11:49:26 AM PST by dcnd9
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To: Ditto
Ditto said: "They simply protected their own property from attack, from native-born Americans, not illegals, whose ancestry likely goes back further than yours or mine. "

And much of what I have heard of the "vigilantism" along our southern border consists of private property owners whose property is continually trashed by uninvited migrants traveling through. If such a property owner needs help to protect their property is that not allowed? How does owning property along the border obligate one to tolerate trespassers?

If such migration is truly illegal, then nobody should criticize those who would use the necessary force to stop it. The people who are crossing at these places are no doubt crossing there because, at least to some extent, the law IS being enforced elsewhere along the border.

214 posted on 02/11/2005 11:49:31 AM PST by William Tell
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To: Jim Robinson

I personally don't think anyone in this Administration OR Congress has the balls to write, sponsor and submit a Bill worthy of Immigration Reform, and I still post on FR.

Thank you Mr. Robinson for the Forum to pst, read and lurk.


215 posted on 02/11/2005 11:50:42 AM PST by BurbankErnie (Borders... Language... Culture)
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To: jwalburg

I agree. I do some online gaming, and by far the most enjoyable group was the one where any profanity or inference of profanity was thrown out with one warning. Even the slightest infraction got people bounced after the first warning. Those who wanted to stay learned, and as a result, people had fun. There was very little disrespect and trash talking, and people policed themselves. There didn't even need to be a moderator, as soon as someone said anything remotely bad, other players would gently warn.


216 posted on 02/11/2005 11:52:14 AM PST by rlmorel (Teresa Heinz-Kerry, better known as Kerry's "Noisy Two Legged ATM")
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To: Recovering_Democrat
but I happen to be one of the people here who think the President is trying mightily to solve a problem with immigration

That's my opinion, too.

217 posted on 02/11/2005 11:52:24 AM PST by Howlin (It's a great day to be an American -- and a Bush Republican!!!!)
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To: Betis70

My family all came from Germany in the years before WWI. One of my great grandfather lied to get into the army so he could fight in that war when he was just 14 years old.


Locally I know several hispanic families who came legally in the years surrounding WWII. Every single one of them that I know is opposed to illegal entrants as well.


218 posted on 02/11/2005 11:52:47 AM PST by cripplecreek (they call me tater.)
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To: Howlin

Hey, we are going to have to put you guys in separate rooms!!!!


219 posted on 02/11/2005 11:53:17 AM PST by rlmorel (Teresa Heinz-Kerry, better known as Kerry's "Noisy Two Legged ATM")
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To: Jim Robinson
What is it about this topic that brings out all the fire breathing wingnuts?

Free Republic is great, but get into the immigration/Latino issues and the drooling idiots here start breathing heavily, shaking their spears, and chanting in unison.
220 posted on 02/11/2005 11:53:37 AM PST by chronic_loser
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