Hate Speech Finds a Home on the Web

Politicsdaily | 07/13-09 | bonnie goldstein

[omega4179]

I see that racist, hate-filled jerks have been exercising their free speech over at Free Republic, a political blog directed at readers of the hard right wing persuasion.

One of the great advancements in public communication via the World Wide Web's blogosphere should be spirited discussion among disparate voices, but, as I bemoaned recently of the caliber of observations posted below our own Woman Up discussion, much reader commentary is sadly lacking in decorum, civility, and mutual respect. I had not trolled the devotee output on other web logs and was, until recently, only vaguely aware of similar sliminess appearing on ideologically slanted websites. But a post on FR last week (now pulled) that included a picture of adorable 11-year-old Malia Obama, wearing a peace sign T-shirt in Italy while her father attended the G8 summit, generated commentary of such venom and hate that it drew attention from writers on both sides of the ideological spectrum.

Fox News conservative Bill O'Reilly has called out the right-wing website for being "nasty" and "vile." Today leftish and mainstream roundtables are having a meal on it, too. I will refrain from quoting the mean-spirited commentary and take Free Republic editors at their word that they do not "advocate or condone racism, violence, rebellion, secession, or an overthrow of the government" and suggest they also refrain from encouraging or condoning despicable behavior by some of their readers.

[TypeZoNegative]

Seeing how the Obama family lived in the suburbs of Chicago and never tasted ghetto life, it sorta does fall into the category of “stereotypical statement”. It would be like saying that the Bush twins were trailer trash just because they grew up in Texas.

[DustyMoment]

Just another leftist hit piece against FR.

We must be scoring some major points against them.

Oh, and she’s clearly gay, too!!

[popdonnelly]

“They have crossed the line of sanity and truth”

I got a kick out of that one. I have never known leftists and liberals to have a monopoly on either sanity or truth. In any case, who is “Eatshit” to be the one to determine who is sane and truthful?

[bigbob]

Look at the tactic being used.

They pick an atypical example (the comments about Malia Obama were NOT our finest hour on FR) then trump it all out of proportion by referring to "comments so offensive we can't even mention them here". Naturally people are going to form an opinion that is FAR worse than the reality, not that I'm defending what was actually said. But why give the other side the ammunition to unfairly clobber FR with? We know who owns the MSM...

There are four words in red that are hard to avoid every time we make a post:

"Loose lips sink ships."

We each have a right to our own feelings and opinions, but we also need to think twice before publicly posting every thought that enters our head.

[The Big Feed]

Relax. Did any of you really think you were going to be able to criticize Obama and not be called racist? Really? No you didn’t. So don’t act so surprised or feel the need to defend your speech. If and when you ever assert that your race is superior to all others, you’ll know it. And if you do, you need to leave this place...for a job as a Supreme Court justice.

[EnglishOnly]

Hey Lefty: “ Cry me a river all the way to Gov. Palin’s front door!”

[Domandred]

Oh for the love of pete the thread was pulled, unlike the countless threads at DU or DKos that are worse, and actually contain violet threats

[PzLdr]

Eight years? What about the last six months? What about the Palin daughters, and her son? Oh, wait. Their Mom’s a Conservative. Never mind...

[Quickgun]

And I’m 100% positive that if I posted my true feelings, I’d get banned.

[Richard Kimball]

Funny, this same column was up earlier today and was pulled.

[omega4179]

The Admin pulled the link this time, its better not to have tens of thousands of hits for her sophomoric hard left hate blog.

[Natural Law]

I reject the notion that the worst offense in today’s America is racism. Granted racism is bad, but the killing of millions of unborn, bankrupting those fortunate enough to survive the abortion industry, and the willful destruction of the Bill of Rights are far worse.

[armymarinemom]

What about the last six months? Geessh. I never said to skip six months. Oh never mind.

[Quickgun]

Getting closer and closer to CWII. There will be that straw that breaks the camels back.

[mamelukesabre]

THE HORROR!

Keep us posted and let us know when the violet threats turn into fire engine red threats.

[Richard Kimball]

I'll tell you exactly what's going through my head right now:

I'm pretty sure this is what heaven looks like.

I'm pretty sure this is what the economy looks like.

[Swiss]

For some reason while reading that piece I could picture Shelia Broflovski from South Park as the author.

For another strange reason I am thinking of Eric Cartman’s classic song “Kyle’s Mom is a Stupid Bitch”

[Quickgun]

[Gargantua]

Exactly so, old chap. If FreeRepublic wasn't making trouble for Zero somehow or somewhere, there would be no need to come after us. Kinda makes me feel all warm inside... like I'm getting that Chrissy Matthew's "tingle..."

NO!!! NEVER!!! Slap me when I talk like that.

It's possibly even that the Fox Phenomenon is hitting FR. Maybe Jim-Rob has more bloggers enrolled than Move-On and Daily Kooks combined, and it's got them throwing hissy fits. Or...

...they've finally noticed that we're reader-supported (we don't need Soros' billions to keep afloat), and they are terrified by that level of belief in something... the thought horrifies them, so they lash out in fear and anguish.

Yeah, yeah, that's the ticket. Fear, and anguish. ;-/

[PzLdr]

My fault. When I see the phrase “last eight years”, I automatically assume the discussion is about the Bush 43 Presidency. I tend to view what happened to the Palins as outside that timeframe, even though it isn’t. My apologies.