Replies

"Given that the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and petitioning of the government, citizen Websites like FreeRepublic.com should be exempt from FEC regulation"

"Any effort by the government to force the disclosure of posters’ identities to meet some draconian federal regulation would have a chilling effect on free speech, especially if that speech involved advocating for or against political candidates."

"How will those statements be reconciled to the inevitable question that people get banned for particular political views around here? The right of Free Speech on this message board belongs solely the owner of the website. Everything else is under his grace."

The first amendment protects our right to free speech, free assembly, etc., but it does not prohibit owners the right to control the use and content of their own web sites or the direction of their organizations.

For example, FR is rallying in support of our president and the war effort. Free Republic chapters in scores of cities all around the country joined us in this effort and held rallies in support of our common causes. The first amendment does not require that we allow our opponents equal access to our rallies or our forums. Persons or groups who oppose the war or our president and or any other cause we are supporting are not guaranteed the right to heckle, disrupt, or even state their opinions on our web site. They can and do have their own sites to state their opinions or promote their causes per the first amendment.

The same holds true in supporting or opposing other issues or candidates. The government simply does not have the constitutional authority to control or disrupt our political activities or to make demands of disclosure of private information.

I think I've got it now. The internet is the "old town" news board and FR and other sites are what is tacked up on the board. You control the content of what you tack up. If someone doesn't like it they have the right to hang their opinion beside yours but not tamper with it.

" The government simply does not have the constitutional authority to control or disrupt our political activities or to make demands of disclosure of private information."

Well said, Jim. The Constitution lists many rights of human beings, but lists only those things that governments are allowed to do.