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.
However, I doubt that the DOJ is going to use any prospective registry to prosecute-or deport-convicted criminals and/or potential terrorists.
You obviously didn't read what I said but that is typical.
"There is a lot to like about George Bush, but he is also doing some things which many of us think are simply wrong."
The only reason some people think he doing something wrong is because they don't know what GW does. We need to trust in our President. Anyone that thinks he would do something that was not good for America is being absolutely silly and might want to find another place to vent such ridiculous babble. Perhaps the cooks over at ALIPAC might share your distrustful views.
There is an irrational fear about immigrant groups changing American culture being spoused by the descendants of immigrants who changed American culture upon their arrival, that unlike the immigrants before them, the ones now will change it for the worse.
The whole thing started in 1587 when the colonists at Roanoke became upset at the upstarts new arrivals, and feared that their cultural traits would impact their own.
This may have had something to do with their disappearance.
The only evidence that seemed provable of this contention that illegal immigration and social benefits are connected in a major way that I ever saw was a case in Maine. But it involved Legal immigration.
There is a community of immigrants from a Muslim country that came for the higher outlays in social services that Maine has. It helps them establish their community and the connection is pretty solid.
IMO, on the southern border there are some instances of medical care crossings,but I think that is really only a isolated thing.The vast majority are looking for opportunities. And they are indeed finding them.
Social services come into play because once here for a seasonal job they are stuck and often must find a way to dig in and wait for the jobs to return.
It is our immigration policies and unintended consequences that have created this, for the most part.
It is one of the things that the worker permit is designed to address.
"Now why am I a racist to oppose that while they are not a racist to support it?"
Racism charges have to be omitted from the debate.
This country must control its borders. How is THAT racist? I am not buying the racism charge, because the illegal border crossers are primarily from Mexico.
I don't want an influx from ANY single country.
Even Pat Buchanan-who I evince no particular fondness for-has said that 250,000 people should be allowed to (legally) immigrate into the United States on an annual basis.
I think you are making a lot of gross, unjustified generalizations regarding this topic.
You are missing the point. I've thought this through and the President is correct. People that have come here and worked for years doing jobs YOU won't do should not be punished. I know the word "amnesty" upsets some people, but a guest worker program is the next best thing. These poor people need our help not our abuse.
Yes, I am aware of the case.
Excellent point!
You are absolutely correct. I've been monitoring this thread now since it went up and I have read every post.
Something that strikes me is that about 80% of the posts agree that illegal immigration is a problem...but we are still arguing with each other.
It's like my teenage son and I...we'll argue until the cows come home and realize, in the end, that we were both on the same side of the issue.
It really looks like that's what's happening here.
You could have fooled me, your side on FR is always cowering in the fetal position in the corner, about the power of hillary's obvious pandering.
Oh by the way, I didn't start the blasting of tancredo, the former federal education dept. employee(tom tancredo), started the blasting towards me.
"We stand behind you 100%!"
Ditto!!!!!!!!!!!
You know, there really aren't any pro-illegal types on this thread. If all illegal aliens are given amnesty and every alien that wants to come here is allowed in, then technically they aren't illegal aliens, LOL.
I've provided a helpful link to an episode of "Think Tank", which explored this issue, in-depth.
What happened at Roanoke? I think you have a good point though. It is completely lame that Americans who are of immigrant stock are complaining about people that are doing the same thing their ancestors did.
Yes it is...I've found myself in your shoes 2 or 3 times here...and it takes a long time to get over the hurt, recriminations...if ever.
But I feel as though I have a duty to a cause larger than myself and that FR is the best way I've found so far to pursue that cause.
So, I can enter your house if there are no specific signs saying that I can't Willie?
Is that it?
No, one of the purposes of it is to control the numbers to match available jobs.This is necessary to prevent social disruption and crime as a result. That is what we have now.
After implementation, the numbers would be reduced as a result and that is needed badly.
Double dittos!
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