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.
If this was true, I'd have been booted quite some time ago. In fact, I've gone over the line once, suggesting a somewhat draconian solution which SOMEBODY hit abuse on and the Mods deleted it, so I know you know what I've been up to.
God Bless FreeRepublic!
Owl_Eagle
”Guns Before Butter.”
"THIS IS YOUR WEB SITE - YOU CAN DO AS YOU DARN WELL PLEASE!!
- I believe you are correct. Whoever establishes a web site can pretty much do whatever they please in granting memberships or purging those posters they consider to be pests or who hold extreme views. However, there should be some kind of warning given to posters before they unwittingly step over the line.
It's quite easy to become embroiled in an argument with another poster on an issue without even knowing that the site administrator is sitting quietly in the background ready to pull the plug on some comments that he personally finds offensive.
Short of allowing foul language, outright racist statements, crazy lies and libelous statements, I personally think all comments on any topic should be allowed.
No wonder they've been soliciting members in FReepmail. I followed the link, clicked on "forums" - there are 5 topics and 6 replies. Whew! Who can keep up?
Continue To Fight The GOOD Fight, Mr. Jim Robinson!!!!:-)
D2
:-)
*L* .. that's possible
j/k
As for those who have been banned from here .. ever think some of them deserved it?
Having disagreements is one thing .. being out right racist or calling for violence is completely different matter
The more I think about this article, I realize what a great thing it is- FR is really getting mention. Becoming a target is not always negative. It means FR is having an effect and others feel threatened.
Batten down the hatches and prepare for battle folks!
(i take no credit for the success of FR)
Yep there's a huge difference between constructive criticism and constant kavetching. There's also active participation in further the conservative agenda as opposed to just tearing it down with a poor attitude and not contributing anything.
rense is an antisemitic version of artbell... and vdare is a motley crew of political malcontents and bigots of all stripes.
I think the majority of voters have similiar views on the matter. I think the President realizes that and will push a solution that appeals to that group.
It's Jim's forum and he can do whatevr he wants with it. If we live under his roof, he has every right to make the house rules.
"Oh. Since November, I'd forgotten all about him."
He's been a busy traitor, especially in Jan '05
John Kerry's 2005 Mideast "Bash Bush Tour"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1320709/posts
Kerry Criticizes Election Outcome At MLK Day Breakfast
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1322542/posts
Kerry Holding Mideast Talks with Chirac
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1321339/posts
Kerry to meet with French president Jan 14 '05
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1320157/posts
Kerry: Arabs frustrated by U.S. policies
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1321483/posts
KERRY TO AL AZHAR GRAN IMAN:
WASHINGTON COMMITED TERRIBLE MISTAKES IN IRAQ (TRAITOR ALERT!)
Jan 13 05
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1320020/posts
Kerry bashes US policy in meeting w/ leader of foreign group opposed to US
(not ‘71 or ‘85 – Jan 12 05!)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1319451/posts
"Former U.S. presidential candidate Senator John Kerry (D-MA), an election observer,
leaves the office of Mahmoud Abbas, in the West Bank city of Ramallah in this
January 10, 2005 file photo. Middle East countries are frustrated by U.S. policy in
Iraq and feel too little is being done to end violence there, U.S. Senator John Kerry
said on January 12, 2005 on a visit to the region. Kerry repeatedly criticized the
Bush administration's Iraq policy during his failed bid to win the U.S. presidency
from George W. Bush, who led the invasion to topple Saddam Hussein."
If every Freeper who opposed GW's Amnesty scheme had their accounts pulled, this would be a very lonely political forum.
BTTT!
I guess I'm just a tool of the administration too.
I'm not a part of or a supporter of the Minuteman Project. However, I can assure you that the people coming here to call attention to our wide open borders are not going to go "hunting" on the southern border. It is more like a FReep of the border than anything else. The effort is being mischaracterized and blown all out of proportion. From my observation, it is the smearing of the MP and discussion of it that has lead to this recent schism and purging here on FR. I guess leftist allegations carry a lot of weight around here. I guess Jeff Gannon should be scorned here too given the recent witch hunt against him.
I'm not purged------yet..LOLOL
Why do the Jamaicans go back?
Let's all not forget about the "planted" hate posts here either. Those are the posts that are planted by trolls looking to give FR a bad name. They "plant" a host post and direct MSM and leftie bloggers to the post and say......"Seeeeeee, we told you these right wingers are haters". A complete setup from the beginning.
I agree with "censoring" this material. People shouldn't be bringing us every piece of DU-style trash that they pick up off the internet. Anybody who wants to see that material can go to the respective websites to see it.
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