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.
"Free Republic participants have documented censorship of material from or mention of groups like VDARE.com, Rense.com, American Patrol, Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, 9/11 Families for a Secure America, ETHER ZONE, News with Views, author Frosty Woolridge, Save Our State, the Minuteman Project and others."--William Gheen
"Others" referring to sites like stormfront.org, et al.
That's right. I simply do not wish to be associated with these sites."--Jim Robinson
Whether it was intented or not sir, you have made a rather direct implication that these sites are associated with Storm Front ie racism. If you have no evidence of an association between these groups and racism, perhaps you could make that clear for readers. I have researched this issue to the best of my ability with some great amount of time. I see on other forums that you have offended these groups by asserting they are associated with Storm Front. Perhaps things could settle down a bit if you could clear this up.
Free Republic's credibility is very important to Conservatives that applaud efforts to expose the chicanery of the left. The success of Freepers outing Dan Rather takes things to a new level. I think it is important to clearly communicate the facts as to preserve the things that many people value about Free Republic.
I have to say, you are a man of tremendous patients. Thanks for the great website and the opportunity to express my opinion.
I think you're reaching. I've provided the links. Read them.
I am not reaching. Your own comments place the above referenced list of organizations right next to Storm Front. From the posts evidenced in this thread and on other forums it is clear that people have interpreted your claim as an association between these groups and Stormfront.
What links are you referring to? Perhaps I missed something?
Perhaps you did:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/1341266/replies?c=2948
You're kidding right? What fun would the Southern threads be without the NJ neo-cons calling us Southrons inbred toothless racist traitors?
So Vdare.com, Rense.com, American Patrol, Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, 9/11 Families for a Secure America, ETHER ZONE, News with Views, author Frosty Woolridge, Save Our State were all banned with Minuteman because users of the Storm Front website arbitrarily decided to discuss Minuteman?
I do not visit Stormfront, but I've been told they discuss a wide range of issues. What is the best way for Freepers to stay out of trouble and at the same time avoid visiting Storm Front to determine what they support or discuss?
Far be it from me to spoil anyone's fun... just thought I'd throw an idea out there, in case anyone was listening:)
No. Vdare.com, Rense.com, ETHER ZONE, News with Views, and author Frosty Woolridge have been banned for a long time. ALIPAC was recently banned. Don't know about the others.
By the way, it wasn't arbitrary discussion. The stormfronters were in Ranch Rescue and now Minuteman up to their eyeballs. It's a groundfloor kind of thing.
Well since illegal immigration is an important topic ot 95% of Freepers and 68% of Freepers disagree with the President's immigration stance, this kind of problem on Free Repulic could get worse.
ALIPAC and Team America PAC are raising money for campaigns on this issue and American Patrol is collecting news about illegal immigration. Save Our State is organizing rallies that many Freepers have decided to attend while Save Our License is rushing to gather signatures for a ballot initiative. Frost Woolridge, VDARE, World News Daily and News with Views are all writing stories about illegal immigration. Since these groups and others are so active on the issue and this issue is so popular you will have a continued problem with Freepers violating what you want to see on your site.
Would you consider making a list for people to see all of the material, authors, and websites, and groups that are prohibited on Free Republic? Or should members continue to learn by seeing what threads get pulled or which posters get banned?
Sam Francis, Woolridge, VDARE, Newswithviews, ETHERZONE, ALIPAC, Minuteman Project, et al, are not welcome on FR. If you guys are going to allow the stormfront people at your rallies, you will not be welcome on FR either. I'd advise you to read the links and find out who is volunteering and promoting your rallies and for what purposes. Free Republic will not be involved with any group that willingly rubs shoulders with stormfronters.
" Free Republic will not be involved with any group that willingly rubs shoulders with stormfronters."
What reasonable measures can a website or event planner take to prevent Stormfront from linking in or attending? What evidence is there that any of these groups you have mentioned are "willingly (rubbing) shoulders with stormfronters"? Are there not links from Stormfront pointed at Free Republic? What measures do you take Mr. Robinson to assure that Freepers are not also members of Stormfront?
I can see the connection you are trying to make. What I don't see is any reasonable way that any group could avoid arbitrarily being labeled as an associate of Storm Front under these conditions. The same could be said about Free Republic if they have a link to this site and a discussion about participating here. I'm not trying to be difficult Mr. Robinson and I truly appreciate you taking time to respond, but there appears to be a problem here.
Storm Front linking to a site or talking about a group or event does not mean that the target of their attention is "rubbing elbows with Storm Front" or associated with racists or racists philosophies.
I don't know about you, but we ban then when they show up here.
And again, they are not just "links." Read them.
I think Jim had enough of Joehadenuf
And how do you know when they are here? They pop in and say "Howdy Jim, I'm with Storm Front"? White Nationalists get excited about tax cuts and restrictions on abortion too but I certainly would not link the rest of the groups that support those issues with Storm Front just because they approve.
You have given the impression to your readers that a large portion of the organizations that are working on the illegal immigration issue are associated with racists and your characterization is most unfair. If put to the same test for other issues and groups would create a very big list.
The most unfortunate result of this posturing is that it resembles the tactics of the left. We have police officers, teachers, and health care workers out there that are worried sick by the impacts of illegal immigration. They are also afraid to speak out. Yes, here in the land of the free and the nation of free speech good people are afraid to express themselves because someone will call them a racist with little or no evidence of such. Such accusations, even if unwarranted can cost people their jobs and community status.
You have done the very same thing in this situation Mr. Robinson in IMHO. On top of that, what in the world does Stormfront have to do with all of the Freepers you banned last week?
Hear Hear.
What in the world makes you think he owes you that explanation?
They usually expose themselves soon enough.
I didn't say it had anything to do with them.
Who are you and why are you here?
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