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.

[Howlin]

I hope I can stay this time now that I'm out in the open beneath my article where banning me would further prove my point.

Oh, swell; do you double dare them to ban you?

[William Gheen]

StarCMC:

I posted news from an assortment of sources here since Sept. 16, 2004 without many problems. The reason you list for my zotting is incorrect sir. Let's keep the discussion as factual as possible please.

William

[Dog Gone]

joehadenuf probably went over the deep end

Oh my. Now who is going to regularly remind us how pleasant the weather is in California during the winter?

[Mat_Helm]

.....and finally Mr. Gheen, the zot like lightning does strike twice and usualy the highest point of elevation or the golfer in a thunderstorm. You just cried out: "augh rat farts" one to many times

[Howlin]

That being said, I tried to make it clear in my article that most Freepers do not approve of guest worker and do not approve of Mr. Robinson or his moderators taking people off the site without cause or explanation especially when the majority here agrees with those posters.

You don't speak for the majority of Freepers.

[cake_crumb]

"That sort of flaming behavior, has provided the very blood for the press. Freeper blood."

Nail on the head BUMP!! to your entire post.

[FourtySeven]

Dear Sir:

I took an interest in your website earlier today because I was bored and it seemed like an interesting claim, if not something to be concerned about. To make a long story short, after wading through all the posts made on the message board, it became clear that *only* 10 posters (including yourself) out of the thousands that post here daily have been "purged" (as you word it). As an aside, I think it's important to note that ONE of those 10 was actually a member of the "FROBL", as you so "kindly" refer to some posters here.

So in reality, nine posters. Do you honestly consider that a "purging" along the likes of the pogroms in the USSR under Stalin? (because surely with all your dramatic wording, this IS how you consider this)

I would respectfully submit that you and those who have been banned along with you are blowing this entirely out of proportion. It's hardly a "purging", imo, it sounds more like people who hold in high regard websites like rense.com, white supremacist, and other conspiracy theory/nutjob sites have finally been shown to be the people they are by the (thankfully) larger, more reasonable population here.

Sincerely,

[Spiff]

Vdare often mixes legitimate discussion of immigration issues with putrid, racist bigotry. And I have absolutely no desire to be associated with that trash.

If you say so. I've read articles from VDARE posted to other sites and I've not seen the putrid racist bigotry. If I had, I wouldn't be bewildered by the prohibition on VDARE. Although, prohibiting all posting from an entire website forever is kind of harsh just because they let some questionable stuff sneak through once or twice. Just my opinion...

[vox_freedom]

I am sincerely glad to see that FR has boundaries, rules, and enforcement.
By the way, someone has to be in charge and I can't see anything but positives with the leadership team that you (Jim R) has around here.
Sometimes it takes tough action analogous to breaking up barroom fights or telling folks to move it outside. Personally, I'm enormously grateful to have a place that to a large extent fits with my own views of how things should be on a range of topics. I also find that I learn a helluva lot by reading the articles and threads each day.
Lastly, without rules and certain discriminatory (in the best sense of the word) policies FR would be absolute chaos with no benefits to anyone, especially folks who believe in our cherished liberty, justice, and our God given USA freedoms.

[MeekOneGOP]

I am not a FR troll. I have participated on FR for several years and my last account ALIPAC was banned and all threads were pulled and I did not violate any written rule posted on FR.

Well, you're pretty bold then, coming here to the thread posted by the FreeRepublic.com founder.

You may have only been suspended. Did you ask about that?

[William Gheen]

ElkGroveDan:

I am in full agreement with you that racism has no place on my site, Free Republic, or in the debate about illegal immigration.

I too have worked on several high level campaigns as my paying job is as a consultant to GOP candidates.

The banned posters that my article mentions were not pulled for racist comments. We investigated each one and we did find a poster that was banned for a racist comment, he is not counted in our Freeper body count.

William

[cyborg]

LOL I liked joe but sheesh...a bit too angry.

[writer33]

What are you stifling me Jim? :)

[skeeter]

This topic is interesting - both sides claim to be in total agreement (anti-illegal immigration), yet still hate each other's guts.

Of course, one side will say its all on account of the 'racism', which might make them feel good but is not really true - overt racism gets canned pretty quickly at FR. I guess my side is guilty of some breach of proper debate or other as well, although I'm hard pressed to name it.

Still, I think its interesting that ALL of the bannings are limited to one side of the argument.

[Jackson57]

Hmmm ... I must be missing it. Can someone show me the article where it says Democratic Underground removes posts and bans the users who use common sense and independent thought?

[cake_crumb]

"I hope I can stay this time now that I'm out in the open beneath my article where banning me would further prove my point"

Interestingly enough, you're not the first poster to try THAT one either. If you get obnoxious, you're gonna get zotted, regardless.

[atruelady]

Willie certainly doesn't speak for me. Maybe Richard Gere can speak for him...after all, Gere speaks for the entire world, right?

[LadyPilgrim]

Worms are good. Worms are great. I eat'm by the pound, baked or broiled, fried or fricassied. You can often find me with my mouth upon the ground sucking gently 'til they're up between my teeth!.

YUCK, YUCK, YUCK!!!

SPIT! SPIT! SPEW!!! I can't stand to read that! ;-/ aaagh! ;-)

[wardaddy]

When did they ban Joe Hadenuf?

[William Gheen]

Spacetrucker:

And furthermore if posts about the Minuteman Project are not allowed on Free Republic how about telling someone and perhaps listing that in your rules instead of just banning posters without explanation. Rules are great, if you know what they are.

William Gheen