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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 Presidents 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 managements 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 Bushs 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 Presidents 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: Jim Robinson
Final note: I do NOT support open borders or illegal immigration. Sincerely doubt there are many on this forum who do. I sure don't support it
61
posted on
02/11/2005 11:09:55 AM PST
by
clamper1797
(This Vietnam Vet ain't Fonda Kerry)
To: Jim Robinson
62
posted on
02/11/2005 11:10:00 AM PST
by
Fiddlstix
(This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
To: PaulaB
To: Jim Robinson
For the record: I voted for Bush-Cheney twice, still have the "B-C '04" sticker on my car, and support their agenda 98%. The 2% I don't support is the "guest worker" program UNTIL our borders are secured and immigration laws are enforced. After that, those wanting a guest worker visa can line up at the border and get one, legally, like I did for my better half.
My take is that FR is for individuals and their opinions, not the agenda advancement of organized groups (Right or Left). Maybe I'm wrong.
64
posted on
02/11/2005 11:10:14 AM PST
by
DTogo
(U.S. out of the U.N. & U.N out of the U.S.)
To: Jim Robinson
Yes, thank you Jim.
Your candor and honesty is refreshing, and is a small part of what sets this forum head and shoulders above the likes of the DU crowd.
65
posted on
02/11/2005 11:10:17 AM PST
by
liberty_lvr
(Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.)
To: Jim Robinson
Thanks. I'm with you 100% on this one. And no, I don't support illegal immigration or wide open borders, either.
66
posted on
02/11/2005 11:10:31 AM PST
by
kesg
To: Dog Gone
Don't like it? Don't read it.
67
posted on
02/11/2005 11:10:36 AM PST
by
StoneColdGOP
(Warning: Not being an open-borders RINO can be dangerous to your FR health.)
To: RepublicanReptile
To: StoneColdGOP
"Warning: Not being an open-borders RINO can be dangerous to your FR health"Are you the author of this rant?
69
posted on
02/11/2005 11:11:16 AM PST
by
cake_crumb
(Leftist Credo: "One Wing to Rule Them all and to the Dark Side Bind Them")
To: Darksheare
It's not just you. I think we are on troll threat level alpha lately.
70
posted on
02/11/2005 11:11:48 AM PST
by
retrokitten
(By Grabthar's hammer, by the sons of Worvan, you shall be avenged.)
To: cake_crumb
71
posted on
02/11/2005 11:12:14 AM PST
by
StoneColdGOP
(Warning: Not being an open-borders RINO can be dangerous to your FR health.)
To: Jim Robinson; Pride in the USA
Jim, you've been more than tolerant of the debate about illegal immigration. It's apparent that the majority of FReepers, including myself, are deeply concerned about border security and have expressed their concerns without consequence. But, the idjits who continally hijack unrelated threads and spew racism, vigilantism and thinly veiled hatred of the Bush administration are an embarrassment. I fully support your decision to zot those that fit into the latter category.
72
posted on
02/11/2005 11:12:22 AM PST
by
lonevoice
(Vast Right Wing Pajama Party)
To: Jim Robinson
I love this quote "documented censorship"...Aha! Now they've gone and done it- they've caught you in the act!
Wondering if the writer of this article bothered to read the introduction to Free Republic- where he would have learned this site is not a free-for-all...
73
posted on
02/11/2005 11:12:26 AM PST
by
SE Mom
(God Bless our troops.)
Many posters get too emotional with this issue. It's either 100% or nothing for them.
When some posters suggest a compromise in order to move the ball forward, they are accused of all kind of nasty names.
Our immigration laws need revamping, our border security is broken. I hope that we can come up with a way to address this issue without the usual flame wars and Bush bashing from the unappeasable posters.
To: Mr. K
THIS IS YOUR WEB SITE - YOU CAN DO AS YOU DARN WELL PLEASE!! You're d@mn right!
75
posted on
02/11/2005 11:13:34 AM PST
by
balrog666
(A myth by any other name is still inane.)
To: Jim Robinson
Just a note of sarcasm, but what does an "electronic execution" look like?
If you're Catholic, does the Pope and Vatican have a doctrine guiding such actions?
Are there "human rights" violations or organizations that protest such "electronic executions"?
Do you see the ghosts of those you "electronically execute"?
And again, if you're Catholic, is it permissible to mention this act during the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Or, is it a requirement before receiving Holy Communion?
Sarcasm off.
Serious on: Even if we should call our brother "stupid" or "imbecile" we will be held in judgment, as said by Jesus. We conservatives will have to turn up the decency level if we are to maintain a moral high ground.
Good luck zot-snipering. I've always wanted to sign up under a different name and pretend to flame like a liberal just to see all those Viking Kitty pictures. But then again, I'm weird like that. Sometimes, people think that I'm on drugs...but I don't even know what pot smells like.
76
posted on
02/11/2005 11:14:03 AM PST
by
SaltyJoe
("Social Justice" begins with the unborn child.)
To: Jim Robinson
Sounds like a nut. rense.com? baaaahahahahaa!
77
posted on
02/11/2005 11:14:05 AM PST
by
Kokojmudd
(Today's Liberal is Tomorrow's Prospective Flying Saucer Abductee)
To: Jim Robinson
Thanks for the explanation Jim. The flaming here on FR has been getting a bit overwhelming as of late.
Also, this so-called "Minuteman Project", was very concerning to me too. While I'm sympathetic to the objectives of getting control of our borders, we have got to work within the system, not outside it. If we ever want to control our borders, we have to apply pressure to our congresspeople, not go "hunting" on the southern border.
78
posted on
02/11/2005 11:14:06 AM PST
by
MarketR
("We are pioneers of the world; the advance-guard, sent on through the wilderness of untried things")
To: Jim Robinson
Final note: I do NOT support open borders or illegal immigration. Sincerely doubt there are many on this forum who do. the ones that do though weish to paint those against open borders as Bush bashing racists.
79
posted on
02/11/2005 11:14:07 AM PST
by
Bella_Bru
(You're about as funny as a case sensitive search engine.)
To: Jim Robinson
And not everyone is from Arizona or California or Texas where illegals are overrunning and abusing the system. I live in Indiana, all I see are immigrant workers doing their job. Picking fruit up in Michigan, busing tables, hanging drywall, masonry work, lawn and gardening work. I don't see all that many, and the few I do see are doing jobs it is difficult to fill otherwise. I am not for open borders, but it's clearly not the number 1 problem in my book.
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