Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Muzzled by MoveOn
Michelle Malkin ^ | October 3, 2007 | Michelle Malkin

Posted on 10/03/2007 9:22:11 AM PDT by 3AngelaD

MoveOn.org, the left-wing extremists who bashed the commander of American forces in Iraq as a traitor, should get out of the political kitchen. The George Soros-funded hitmen can’t stand even a bit of heat from Mom-and-Pop retailers who tried selling T-shirts and mugs on the Internet critical of the “General Betray Us” smear ads against Gen. David Petraeus.

I heard from one of the independent T-shirt sellers targeted by MoveOn.org last week. The seller is a lifelong Democrat and member of the military. Incensed by the attack on Gen. Petraeus, the retailer opened up a shop at online store CafePress. The homemade designs at the PoliStew Cafe (www.cafepress.com/polistew) were stark and simple: “Move Away from Move On!” “MoveOn.org NoFriend to Dems.” ...

For daring to raise a voice and raise some money for the troops (all proceeds from the sale of his items go to the National Military Family Association charity), this T-shirt seller earned the wrath of MoveOn.org’s lawyers. MoveOn.org chief operating officer Carrie Olson brought down the sledgehammer. She sent a cease-and-desist letter to CafePress demanding that PoliStew Cafe’s items and other anti-MoveOn.org merchandise be removed from the store....

...We also request that you give us contact information for the company / person who posted the items. This content has certainly NOT been authorized by anyone at MoveOn.org, nor anyone affiliated with MoveOn.”

Acceptable speech to MoveOn.org: Likening President Bush to Adolf Hitler, as they did in 2004. Unacceptable speech: Little old mugs and hoodie sweatshirts gently satirizing the thin-skinned, left-wing mafia.

The pretextual copyright infringement claims are downright laughable. This isn’t about protecting MoveOn.org’s property rights. It’s about shutting up citizens who don’t have the deep pockets to defend themselves against frivolous claims by bullies in progressive clothing. Sane liberals should be ashamed at such free speech-squelching efforts. As Los Angeles Times blogger Jon Healey, the only other mainstream journalist to cover the crackdown, notes:

“Trademark law doesn’t confer monopoly rights over all uses of a registered phrase or symbol, however, and it wasn’t created simply to protect the trademark owner’s interests. Instead, it’s designed to protect consumers against being misled or confused about brands....And most, if not all, of the items targeted by MoveOn were clearly designed to razz it, not to trick buyers into thinking they were the group’s products.”

CafePress refused to give in on several of the items. But the speech-chilling message is clear: Parody MoveOn.org and they’ll threaten to hunt you down and sue you....

Edward Padgett, a Los Angeles blogger who spread the word about MoveOn’s attempt to silence critics, laments:..I guess to MoveOn, the First Amendment is only for the rich.”

Dissent-silencing tactics approved, apparently, by the MoveOn.org Democrats who are too busy bashing Rush Limbaugh to notice the gagging of ordinary citizens on their own side of the political aisle. Welcome to George Soros’s America.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: fairnessdoctine; fundedbysoros; moveon; soros

1 posted on 10/03/2007 9:22:13 AM PDT by 3AngelaD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: 3AngelaD

Is it possible that the big money on the left is in the pockets of those who would persue ideological goals, while big money on the right is in the pockets of those who would persue having more money in their pockets?

I am asking, I am not sure, but this did occur to me reading this article.


2 posted on 10/03/2007 9:36:42 AM PDT by brownsfan (America has "jumped the shark")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: brownsfan

Spell Check is your FRiend ;-)


3 posted on 10/03/2007 9:49:28 AM PDT by rfp1234 (Nothing is better than eternal happiness. A ham sandwich is better than nothing. Therefore...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 3AngelaD

It appears to me the GOP is benefitting from the political tin ear being demonstrated by moveon.org and that ilk.


4 posted on 10/03/2007 9:51:31 AM PDT by Badeye (Whining again, huh, willie?....(chuckle))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: brownsfan

George $oro$ pursues BOTH a whacko ideology AND billions of $$$ to line his bottomless pockets.


5 posted on 10/03/2007 9:52:51 AM PDT by rfp1234 (Nothing is better than eternal happiness. A ham sandwich is better than nothing. Therefore...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 3AngelaD

Parody & Satire still OKAY?
http://www.cafepress.com/phonypatriots.175529075


6 posted on 10/03/2007 9:56:41 AM PDT by davidlachnicht ("IF WE'RE ALL TO BE TARGETS, THEN WE ALL MUST BE SOLDIERS.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rfp1234

“Spell Check is your FRiend ;-)”

Gee, I bet you can find double posts as well?
Do you happen to know if “;-)” is proper punctuation to end a sentence? Does “;-)” replace the period? Is spell check a proper noun deserving of capitalization? These are critical bits of information!


7 posted on 10/03/2007 9:58:31 AM PDT by brownsfan (America has "jumped the shark")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: brownsfan

Not necessarily... see http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/3776

Excerpt:
According to papers filed with the SEC, in the fourth quarter of 2006 Soros purchased nearly 2 million shares of ... hold your breath ... Halliburton. The Halliburton shares reportedly went for an average purchase price of $31.30 a share. That puts Soros’ total investment in Halliburton at around $62.6 million, or about 2 percent of his total portfolio.


8 posted on 10/03/2007 10:02:41 AM PDT by USMCPOP (Father of LCpl. Karl Linn, KIA 1/26/2005 Al Haqlaniyah, Iraq)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 3AngelaD
Let's fight fire with fire....I'd call this Christian Organization who defends many at N/C and win. Jay Sekulow, http://www.aclj.org
9 posted on 10/03/2007 10:06:39 AM PDT by shield (A wise man's heart is at his RIGHT hand;but a fool's heart at his LEFT. Ecc 10:2)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 3AngelaD
The left is always for any speech but free speech. The hypocrisy is just mind blowing.
10 posted on 10/03/2007 10:22:51 AM PDT by mainestategop
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: brownsfan

Modern Liberals: People who wish to do good (for themselves primarily) with your money.

Modern Conservatives: People who want everyone do to good with their own money.


11 posted on 10/03/2007 10:23:21 AM PDT by ricmc2175
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ricmc2175

“Modern Liberals: People who wish to do good (for themselves primarily) with your money.

Modern Conservatives: People who want everyone do to good with their own money.”

Alright, I don’t want to paint myself into a corner where I’m defending libs. But, what of Soros? I know he wants to control my money, but currently, he’s spending his money to accomplish his goals. Is there an analog for him on the right?


12 posted on 10/03/2007 11:58:47 AM PDT by brownsfan (America has "jumped the shark")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: 3AngelaD

Free Speech for Party members only comrade.


13 posted on 10/03/2007 12:04:18 PM PDT by Jimmy Valentine's brother (Democrat, a synonym for Traitor)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rfp1234

Soros wants to be in control of everybody. He wants to be the Kingmaker. Let Hillary or Obama be the King. He’ll shoot for being the puppet master.


14 posted on 10/03/2007 1:05:23 PM PDT by Clock King (Bring the noise!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Clock King

How about EVERYONE getting involved and making millions of tee shirts, and coffee mugs and let them sue all of us? :) Make it so they can’t possibly afford to BOTHER any more?


15 posted on 10/03/2007 2:27:01 PM PDT by Rick.Donaldson (http://realitycheck.blogsome.com - and yes, yes, I'm a "FredHead". Fred Thompson for Prez.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson