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.
Good post. Agree completely.
I don't think there is anyone on this site that seriously supports illegal immigration and "open borders". However, some seem to think taking a different view about how to solve the problem means that we're for "open borders".
You call me an open borders advocate or a illegal alien lover and you'll get the same responses.
The problem is a small group of people who have allowed themselves to become overly obsessed with anything to do with immigration. They feel that anyone who doesn't agree with their position is supporting "open borders". They have yet to offer any proof such as posts we've made or the like.
These same ones are the "anti-immigration" members that have been banned, mostly I believe for personal attacks and makings comment about their preferred method (as JR said "vigilantism") for controlling the border.
I certainly can understand your problem with stormfront, but I don't see their connection to these other sites and people that you list. Are you saying that Minuteman Project or American Patrol are somehow racist or neonazi in nature!? I'm sorry Jim, but I think that you're wrong on this one. It's your site, of course, and you can do what you want. But your unfairly banning people for posting legitimate articles from good authors which make valid points. It is no different from other sites banning posts from Free Republic because of the racist, neo nazi whackos they like to pretend post here.
For example, what SPECIFICALLY is wrong with:
American Patrol?
Rense.com?
Minuteman Project?
VDARE?
ALIPAC?
Frosty Wooldridge?
Save Our State?
9/11 Families for a Secure America?
Ether Zone?
News with Views?
Admittedly, I'm not very familiar with many of these websites or groups, but from what I've seen they're not a bunch of nazi racist militia freaks. Somewhat controversial or radical at times, but so is Free Republic.
I believe you made a mistake in banishing some good people and in prohibiting posts from certain websites. Oh well. I've never seen anyone change your mind on these kinds of things once you've made up your mind. But when California truly becomes Mexifornia and your home state is overrun and reduced to a third world hell hole (some California refugees who have moved into my area say it already has), I hope you rest well knowing what little you did about the massive illegal immigration problem that threatens our way of life here in America. All you had to do was be a little more fair about who posts what from where instead of tarring everything with such a broad brush.
The other side on this issue wins because you're too afraid to let material be posted from what THEY consider to be questionable websites. And when those "fringe" websites are prohibited, then what wasn't quite so "fringe" before is then considered to be on the fringe and you start prohibiting that. And so on. Before you know it you've been pressured into a mold that someone other than yourself desires you and your once independent website to be. Then, what would the point be? You can consciously or unconsciously try to appease your detractors, but they will never be appeased and will continue to attack and to put pressure on you to conform. Ultimately, it will lead to the defeat of your conservative goals.
But, as I said, it's your website. You can neuter it all you want. It will still be the best damned conservative forum on the web, it just won't be doing what it could in regards to our intolerable border security problems having ducked its head in the sand.
"Which member are you talking about?"
There is no need to impeach Hanoi Kerry from the US Senate
He is there illegally!
Kerry was an illegal candidate
and is an illegal US Senator per
US Constitution 14th Amendment Section 3
Hanoi Kerry was still a USNR officer while he:
gave false hearsay testimony to Congress
negotiated with the enemy
helped the US lose a war
abetted in the deaths of millions
created a hostile environment for all servicemen
Hanoi Kerry Timeline of a traitor
includes FBI files
http://www.archive-news.net/Kerry/JK_timeline.html
U.S. Constitution Amendment XIV
Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States,
shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.
But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.amendmentxiv.html
Gosh, maybe I should feel insulted---I didn't get any Freepmail invitation to another website. Did you?
I guess we are not worthy!
Close the borders, recall the ambassador to that sordid state, south of our border, known as Mexico!
Shame on you! All Good Conservatives should be willing to incite other people into taking the law into their own hands for whatever their cause. .
"Continued posting of racism, personal attacks, insults, profanity, etc, will lead to a sudden loss of posting privileges (with or without warning or explanation). Don't bother writing." Isn't this explained on the home page?? Amazing DU doesn't have the same guidelines / rules / diligence?
I too believe the borders need to be tightened up /shut down / closed ASAP for a matter of national security. I say can the current worker immigration practice until a very secure worker program is in place.
Well you're more open to the thought then I am
I don't even what to think about .. discuss or face it
Am I close minded ??
I suppose so ;0)
LOL!
When clinton is hated by the ACLU for her (True) conservative stance!
Well, I certainly do not support shooting people, but I DO support a great big wall.
Kinda like what Israel is doing.
Neither have I. And while my participation on such threads has dwindled -- mostly because I have nothing new to add to the discussion -- I have seen one heated thread after another, with the same usual suspects going at it again and again.
This whole business of censorship on FR is crap.
I also want nothing to do with vigilantism so that rules out the so-called minuteman project.
The project has promised to cooperate with the Border Patrol and keep all of its activities legal. This, by definition, is not vigilanteism.
That said, I feel that JackelopeBreeder was a valuable asset to this forum, and was one of the most civil participants on either side of the issue. Perhaps he could be reinstated under the condition that he does not discuss the Minuteman Project?
That is what he said, but what he's done is banned a bunch of good Freepers and prohibited posts from some good websites - sites that are not racist or vigilante and freepers who didn't post racist or vigilante stuff. He's using a very broad brush to tar a bunch of stuff.
Oh. Since November, I'd forgotten all about him.
The long-standing posting guidelines for this site are clear and simple. It's unfortunate that some people violate them, but I'm glad you took the time to reaffirm the philosophy and policies of Free Republic.
Ah, no. :-)
Interesting. I've complained plenty about G.W. Bush's illegal immigration policies and nobody has banned me or purged my posts.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.