[GrootheWanderer]

Exactly how does the government get the authority to force banks not to do business with those engaged in legal activities?

[jim_trent]

How long until they apply this to guns owners, gun dealers, gun manufacturers, etc.

[silverleaf]

while forcing private businesses to make wedding cakes and take photography to celebrate any ceremony the customer demands

[E. Pluribus Unum]

They're doing it to the firearms industry as well.

[Hugin]

"Operation Chokepoint is flooding payments companies that provide processing service to those industries with subpoenas, civil investigative demands, and other burdensome and costly legal demands," wrote Jason Oxman, CEO of the Electronic Transactions Association, at The Hill.

See, they're not forcing anybody to do anything. Just making a suggestion they can't refuse.

[Future Snake Eater]

Can you imagine the outraged screaming if Ashcroft had done this?

[sickoflibs]

Interesting, I found this site dedicated to exposing the program:

stopthechoke.com/

[areukiddingme1]

Okay, not a supporter of the porn industry - My choice, but a) I do support freedom and b) Is this badork odumbo’s way of enforcing his “muslim faith.”

Muslim men are not allowed to view porn, right?

[Tupelo]

re: Exactly how does the government get the authority to force banks not to do business with those engaged in legal activities?

They take it. This has been coming since 1900 with an occasional push-back. Now due to the complicity of one party and the timidity of the other, the Federals are damn close to completely subjugating us all.

[SampleMan]

Under "Operation Choke Point," the DOJ and its allies are going after legal but subjectively undesirable business ventures by pressuring banks to terminate their bank accounts or refuse their business.

So now we know why Chase is canceling firearm accounts and refusing to process firearm related credit card purchases.

[SampleMan]

Unless you have the Beast’s name or number on your person, you cannot buy or sell.

[muir_redwoods]

We should open a bank called “Guns and Ho’ses”

[PowderMonkey]

"Exactly how does the government get the authority to force banks not to do business with those engaged in legal activities?"

Bank examiners, tax audits, federal "investigations" of any kind, I could go on, but I'm sure you get the picture. And, it doesn't necessarily have to go after the institution itself. Simply by targeting a few of its key managers, "cooperation" is assured. Instantly. Noticed how many of them have been jumping off buildings and dangling from ropes lately? Blackmail. It's a bitch. And then you die.

[knittnmom]

Interesting. While I have no pity for the payday loan companies, the precept this displays is chilling.

[Lockbox]

An interesting result is that it will be difficult for the IRS to determine the correct taxes for these businesses. If no funds go into a bank and the business only takes cash, well records can be hard to come bye.

Of course if it was my business I would just call it a Gay Bath House, provide a free membership to Obama and Rahm and explain to the bank that our members also like to make Poro Films.

[BobL]

It’s one thing to go after gun-related businesses, but ANOTHER THING ENTIRELY to go after adult businesses.

I have a feeling they’re going to soon regret that approach.

[equaviator]

“DOJ’s ‘Operation Choke Point’ May Be Root of Porn Star Bank Account Closings”

Could it be because the vast majority of pornography depicts heterosexual behavior?

[baddog 219]

Tell me again that we live in a free nation?
Wake up people!

[unixfox]

Keep pushing fellas. CWII is just around the corner.

F U B O!

[Lazamataz]

Exactly how does the government get the authority to force banks not to do business with those engaged in legal activities?

The Feral Government has dispensed with 'authority to act', and simply acts.

[Vince Ferrer]

This is a case of hanging together or we will all hang seperately.