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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 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.


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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"By taking sides with the open borders lobby, Jim Robinson has taken a position that is at odds with more than 80 percent of the Free Republic community and the majority of conservatives in America. The fact he is using tactics his own users would find unethical to censor articles and silence opposition with banishments and intimidation is of great concern to all of us as Americans. New members of Free Republic and those that are not aware of Robinson’s covert attempts to stifle debate should be warned."

"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."

"Others" referring to sites like stormfront.org, et al.

That's right. I simply do not wish to be associated with these sites. I'm sure that anyone who wishes to associate with these people already knows where to find them. I don't want it on FR.

I also want nothing to do with vigilantism so that rules out the so-called minuteman project. I'm not going to make a big deal out of it, I'll simply continue revoking the posting privileges of those who post from these sites or attempt to promote vigilantism on FR.

Also, there are some posters who are using the illegal immigration issue to insult and or viciously attack other posters on this forum. These people should not be surprised or act innocent when they lose their posting privileges. Continued posting of racism, personal attacks, insults, profanity, etc, will lead to a sudden loss of posting privileges (with or without warning or explanation). Don't bother writing.

Final note: I do NOT support open borders or illegal immigration. Sincerely doubt there are many on this forum who do.

1 posted on 02/11/2005 10:55:41 AM PST by Jim Robinson
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To: Jim Robinson

I haven't been purged yet, and I oppose it vehemently. So either you've not been thorough, or they're full of Hillary-speak.


2 posted on 02/11/2005 10:57:20 AM PST by theDentist (Jerry Springer: PBS for White Trash)
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To: Jim Robinson

I've been quite solidly opposed to illegal immigration... come 'n get me, copper!


3 posted on 02/11/2005 10:57:34 AM PST by thoughtomator (reporting from Cylon-occupied Caprica)
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To: Jim Robinson

Thanks Jim.


4 posted on 02/11/2005 10:57:40 AM PST by JimWforBush
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To: Jim Robinson

Thank the Lord!!!

BTTT!!


5 posted on 02/11/2005 10:57:46 AM PST by MikefromOhio (Ohio State: The 2005 NCAA Football champions....assuming they arent on probation!!!!!)
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To: Jim Robinson

Okay by me...

RD


6 posted on 02/11/2005 10:57:59 AM PST by reagandemocrat
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To: Jim Robinson

Last but not least...

THIS IS YOUR WEB SITE - YOU CAN DO AS YOU DARN WELL PLEASE!!

God Bless you JimRob for this site!


7 posted on 02/11/2005 10:58:00 AM PST by Mr. K (this space for rent)
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To: Jim Robinson

We're behind ya JR . . .


8 posted on 02/11/2005 10:58:04 AM PST by bored at work (Barack Obama . . . Iraq Osama . . . ?)
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< placeholder >


9 posted on 02/11/2005 10:58:14 AM PST by stainlessbanner (Don't mess with old guys wearing overhauls.)
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To: Jim Robinson

Rock on, Jim.


10 posted on 02/11/2005 10:58:20 AM PST by Rutles4Ever (This is my tagline.)
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To: Jim Robinson
Sincerely doubt there are many on this forum who do.

Don't bet money on that.

11 posted on 02/11/2005 10:58:49 AM PST by StoneColdGOP (Warning: Not being an open-borders RINO can be dangerous to your FR health.)
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To: Jim Robinson

Gosh, Jim, I thought we were all Bushbots here. /sarcasm


12 posted on 02/11/2005 10:58:54 AM PST by stylin_geek (Liberalism: comparable to a chicken with its head cut off, but with more spastic motions)
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To: Jim Robinson

Hey, I'm still a member - if I'm still here Jom must be super tolerant.


13 posted on 02/11/2005 10:59:16 AM PST by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorism by visiting johnathangaltfilms.com and jihadwatch.org)
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To: Jim Robinson

We stand behind you 100%!


14 posted on 02/11/2005 10:59:18 AM PST by areafiftyone (The Democrat's Mind: The Hamster's dead but the wheel's still spinning!)
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To: Jim Robinson
free speech is an illusion on FR.com

Free speech isn't even considered on here because this is a PRIVATELY-OWNED site. When will these nimrods understand this?

15 posted on 02/11/2005 11:00:03 AM PST by TheBigB ("Official Keeper of the FR Eye Candy" ~Title bestowed by SirLurkedalot)
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To: theDentist

Have always been tolerant of my opposing views.....don't know where this guy is coming from


16 posted on 02/11/2005 11:00:14 AM PST by traderrob6
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To: Jim Robinson

Oh, good. Jim posted it. I thought I was going to have to read quick before it got zotted :)


17 posted on 02/11/2005 11:00:42 AM PST by prion (Yes, as a matter of fact, I AM the spelling police)
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To: Jim Robinson
Well we do have a large open borders contingent mostly libertarians and Wall Street Journal editoral page backers but there are also many many more like me who are not pro-open borders or amnesty under any name.

So like TheDentist said, they are full of BullClinton.

18 posted on 02/11/2005 11:00:44 AM PST by NeoCaveman (6 Days till CPAC)
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To: theDentist
So either you've not been thorough, or they're full of Hillary-speak.

It is apparent you have a reading/comprehension problem. He didn't say that he supported illegal immigration. He said he opposed it. However, he would not allow posts that call for things like vigilantism or are racist on their face.

Are you saying those are things you support?

19 posted on 02/11/2005 11:01:11 AM PST by Phsstpok ("When you don't know where you are, but you don't care, you're not lost, you're exploring.")
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To: Jim Robinson; Grampa Dave
"Final note: I do NOT support open borders or illegal immigration. Sincerely doubt there are many on this forum who do."

I agree with you 100 percent. We were talking on another thread the other day about trollish behavioral patterns the other day. One of the things that came up were those individuals who do exactly what we're seeing here. They post nasty stuff, get it pulled, and then whine that you're systematically censoring their right to free speech.

Not all who claim to be conservatives really are. Some are just trollish infiltrators, drunk on their own cleverness.

20 posted on 02/11/2005 11:01:15 AM PST by cake_crumb (Leftist Credo: "One Wing to Rule Them all and to the Dark Side Bind Them")
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