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.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

News to me.

Congratulations on becoming a media celebrity (again) !!

[cripplecreek]

I dissagree with the president on this one but have yet to be purged. Should I prepare my opus?

[finnman69]

I see lots of frepers opposed to amnesty here. Noone is getting 'purged' unless they break the rules some other way.

[Seth Monroe]

Bush is just trying to lock in the Hispanic voting block. It's all a show and the Republicans are set to defeat anything he proposes on Illegal (slave labor) Amnesty.

Relax.

Thanks to Jim for keeping the ignorant racist sites off of here.

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

Great site and you do a very good job at maintaining it. Thank you.

Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Thanks for all that you do, this is still the greatest forum on the net.

Regards,Axel.

[OldFriend]

Some folks think every day it's silly thread day.

This is your place, keep it as clean as you wish!

[RogueIsland]

Considering that I have expressed opposition to such Bushbot sacred cows as unrestricted free-trade, amnesty for illegal aliens, and offshoring, and am still here posting, I have no idea what this guy is talking about.

[blues_guitarist]

Well said!

[meema]

Well said, JR.

I'm vehemently against open borders and illegals, and I'm very much still here.

[jwalburg]

I like the policy. Keeps FR respectable.

[OXENinFLA]

Ping..........

[redgolum]

LOL I thought that too.

I have been pretty vocal on some issues. But in the end it is JR's site, and we are guests. I am not to worried about no "free speech".

[maui_hawaii]

bump

[stylin_geek]

As an FYI, I was responding to someone who said, "This happens all the time. They will ban anybody that expresses ideas that don't fit with how they think a conservative should think."

I posted the following at the site where this article came from:

Are you talking about Free Republic or Democratic Underground?

Just as an FYI, I post at FR all the time, and am completely against open borders. It gets discussed frequently.

Whoever wrote this obviously has talked only to those with an axe to grind, rather than try and contact Jim Robinson and hear his side of the story.

I'm not sure if I should label this story ridiculous, stupid, or ridiculously stupid.

[StarCMC]

I saw the post earlier that was pulled ~ looked like sour grapes to me.

Rock on Jim! And thanks!

[Darksheare]

Is it me, or are the trolls upset about the election, being zotted, the Inauguration, Dan Rather's public embarrassment, and life in general so they''ll take their frustrations out on us?

[MineralMan]

Jim,

Thanks for opening a thread yourself on this thing. It deserves an open discussion.

[nikos1121]

I don't know if anyone has received these, but in the past 24 hours, I've received private emails telling me that our private replies are being screened and also about FRs "intolerance towards anyone voicing dissent against Bush's immigration policy."

I must admit I was dumbfounded as I've noticed lively discussions on this topic in the past. Now I know what is fact from fantasy.

Could you please reassure us on the allegation of our private replies being screened. As for me, I think 99% is innocent, so I can't imagine what anyone would be looking for.

nick

PS--Oh and BTW, I thank you, too, for providing this opportunity for us to speak our minds.

[newheart]

You posted the guy's article. Living proof that you will allow no opposing opinions on FR.

Keep up the good work.