SF CHRON ON FR: FReep This -- How The Right Wing Is Making Itself Heard

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | January 30, 2003 | Joyce Slaton

[L.N. Smithee]

Something strange happened during the 2000 Gore-Bush election fiasco you may have missed.

CNN, which was running 24-hour special election coverage, hosted a program with conservative columnist Bob Novak shortly after the disputed election results were returned. Novak was adamant that Al Gore should quit trying to steal the election and concede. To bolster his point, he brought up the results of CNN.com's public-opinion poll "Should Al Gore concede?" Poll results showed that a full 89 percent of the thousands of people who had visited CNN.com and voted had agreed -- Gore should give up the ghost.

[Junior]

But had the American people really spoken? Or was this poll FReeped?

Are not FReepers Americans?  If so, then the American people have spoken.

Still, it's incidents like this that show a certain scary side of the FReepers. Though Taylor and Thompson both emphatically affirmed that they do not support posting of private information to Free Republic, making harassing phone calls or engaging in other illegal activities, the fact that such activities have occurred is alarming.

But killing cops in the name of The Revolution is alright, because it was done by dedicated socialists aimed at bringing down the corrupt fascist imperialist running dogs of capitalism.

 

[Glenn]

It's just the lunatic fringe I worry about.

That's simple paranoia. Seek counseling.

We're the guys who left the tip for that waitress in Upstate NY after Clinton stiffed her, remember? We've chipped in dimes and dollars for good causes when they arise. We're active in the political process. The "lunatic fringe" doesn't hang out here for long. It's just no fun for them.

[leadpenny]

You, and we, must be doing something right. At least we're getting under their skin.

[laredo44]

Were they concerned I would misrepresent their views because they feel the media has a liberal bias?

No, they were certain you would "misrepresent their views." How long has "Sixty Minutes" been on the air? Each episode re-inforces that certainty. If you feel tarred with the same brush it is because the liberal media has earned it.

Still, it's incidents like this that show a certain scary side of the FReepers.

And just how many columns did you, Ms. Slayton, devote to the gentleman from Philadelphia who was actually beaten up by union thugs for holding an anti-Clinton sign during a Democratic rally? Try learning the difference between being scared of being beaten and being beaten.

Or would you prefer something more benign? Contrast for us the differences in the liberal press between the coverage of a policical as where the word "Democrats" moved around the screen and, with stop action, not the naked eye, mind you, had just the "rats" part on the screen with the anti-Bush ad showing chains behind a pickup truck and references to the James Byrd murder

[metesky]

Meany!

Up early or up late?

[ppaul]

Though many may not know about them, FReepers are members of a small but growing and vocal right-wing movement who are making a name for themselves.

LOL!
We're here. We drink beer. And we ain't gonna disappear!

[PJ-Comix]

Though many may not know about them, FReepers are members of a small but growing and vocal right-wing movement who are making a name for themselves.

And how many liberal groups does the SF Chronicle describe as "left-wing?" You always know where a news outlet is coming from when they use that "right-wing" pejorative. BTW, San Francisco is FULL of LEFT-WING groups but I bet that is a description that the Chronicle rarely uses.

[PJ-Comix]

FReeping takes its name from its birthplace, Free Republic, a heavily trafficked right-wing Web site founded by a Fresno Republican in 1996, and its conservative forums get thousands and thousands of posts a day from people sharing news and opinions of interest to right-leaning citizens.

There she goes again with that "right-wing" description. Two times in two consecutive paragraphs. Ms. Slaton is really laying it on thick. I would love to know just how many times Ms. Slaton uses the term "left-wing" as a political description. Methinks the answer lies somewhere between nil and none.

[ppaul]

I have no doubt most FReepers are honest, law-abiding people.

Like hell she has no doubts.

[PJ-Comix]

The FReepers often accomplish their aims with tactics familiar to their left-leaning counterparts...

Ms Slaton just couldn't bring herself to actually write "left-wing." Instead it is just the mild "left-leaning" instead "left-wing" to balance her "right-wing" description. Yeah, and I guess those wacky anti-war demonstrators we recently saw on TV were merely "left-leaning" instead of "left-wing," a description that Ms Slaton obviously has an aversion to. However, she loves tossing out "right-wing" at every opportunity.

[PJ-Comix]

Anyway, Kershner says, SF Gate's polls are for entertainment value only.

BINGO! And Freeping UNSCIENTIFIC online polls is entertaining.

[Fraulein]

Again, look at how she characterizes the "left-leaning" activists:

"FReepers often accomplish their aims with tactics familiar to their left-leaning counterparts -- peaceful demonstrations with signs and speakers, as well as phone calls, letters and e-mails..."

[FenianOfEire]

I worry about the lunatic fringe of the left, i.e. Communists, Fascists, Eco-Terrorists, the Hard core Greens, and there sometimes allies the anarchists...of course they won't be slapped by an article in this rag.

[PJ-Comix]

David Allen, founder and moderator of major liberal forum Democratic Underground, a popular site many think of as Free Republic's most direct ideologically opposite rival, agrees.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

So the Free Republic is "right-wing" but the FAR LEFT (just check out that site) Democratic Underground is MERELY "liberal." Excuse me, Ms Slaton, but your bias is showing.....and it isn't a pretty sight.

[RightOnline]

""Chuy's was a truly nasty incident," says David Allen. "And it's not typical of that group, but it does speak to a level of tolerance for violent speech on the right that I don't think is appropriate."

Bulls**t, Allen. Your own Web site is positively notorious for having the most vile, hate-filled, spittle-spewing, degenerate posters on the Internet, bar none. I've seen things on DU that are just beyond the pale; simply beyond belief. For you to cluck your tongue and shake your pin head at us here on FR is sheer hypocrisy.

[PJ-Comix]

"Everyone knows Internet polls are unreliable. I don't bother voting in Internet polls myself -- I think it's the least consequential thing we do...."

That's true. Freeping unscientific online polls is pretty much of a sideshow here. I never go on the FR salivating over which polls to Freep. The main thing on the FR is analysis of news stories and articles.....such as this ridiculous article making a Federal case of the relatively inconsequential act of Freeping silly polls.

[ovrtaxt]

Just check this sentence out: "There's definitely a sort of hardcore wackjob segment of FReepers," agrees William Rivers Pitt. "Most of them are decent human beings, but there's a violent underbelly. Speech is tolerated there that wouldn't be elsewhere."

Include me in! I'm part of the hardcore whack job! The violent under belly! The vast right wing conspiracy! I tolerate intolerable speech!

Speech like "cut taxes, incarcerate criminals, support conceal-carry laws, stop abortion, close the borders, destroy terrorism.... and force loser football fans who destroy property to make restitution!" I guess this includes me out of the 'decent human being' class.

[E.G.C.]

Here are my thoughts on the subject.

This article is just one more example of the enemy elements that we are dealing with. I think it's quite obvious these elements have absolutely no use whatsoever for the concept of free speech for dissenting political viewpoints.

When these elements talk about how we think "we're the govemrent" well, B.S. and C.F. For far too long we've allowed the Democrats and their favored groups to receive special and favorable treatment over everybody else for the last several years.

Now with the Republicans in control in Washington those day are over and they're bitching and whining about it. Well, they can go ahead and bitch and whine all they want but

WE CONSERVATIVES AND CHRISITANS ARE NOW GOING TO ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE BULLIED OR INTIMITADED INTO SILENCE ANY LONGER!!!!!!

The days of the Democrat party and their favored special interest groups are over. It's time for them to accept this reality and grow up.

CONSERVATIVES AND CHRISTIANS ARE NOT GOING TO BE SILENCED ANY LONGER!!!!!!
Regards.

[PJ-Comix]

Still, it's incidents like this that show a certain scary side of the FReepers.

Pretty wide brush Ms Slaton paints with there. The fact is the Chuy's incident (pulled before I even saw it) was the result of ONE Freeper who was promptly banned. BTW, Ms Slaton might be interested to know that one of the Democratic Underground MODERATORS, Indiana Green, once actually called for dispensing "Revolutionary Justice" to "right-wingers" (i.e. conservatives and anyone else not far left) if the DUmmy Types ever take power. Why don't you ask the "left-leaning" (we musn't ever call them "left-wing") Indiana Green about that post that HE made?

[PJ-Comix]

"And it's not typical of that group, but it does speak to a level of tolerance for violent speech on the right that I don't think is appropriate. I've gotten threatening phone calls from FReepers actually threatening me harm, and that's shocking."

Hey David! Have you ever read your own forum? It has TONS of violent speech. And that post by your own MODERATOR, Indiana Green, calling for "Revolutionary Justice" for those the far left (which definitely describes your site) opposes is only one of MANY.