Posted on 05/07/2015 2:46:35 PM PDT by Kaslin
A significant number of Americans seem to no longer understand our constitution, our system of government or the structure of our legal system. The outcry over crowdfunding support for litigants is a good example.
When Memories Pizza in Walkerton, Indiana, was forced to shut down because of threats, supporters rallied to help them, raising over $800,000 on a GoFundMe fundraising page that had been set up for that purpose.
The left went ballistic. It wasn't enough that the owners of the misbegotten restaurant had been given a public flogging for an opinion the press had solicited (as opposed to an actual incident of discrimination). Social media lit up with condemnation of anyone who would dare provide financial support for those whom our self-appointed elites had deemed deserving of public opprobrium and -- apparently -- bankruptcy.
So when Christian bakers Aaron and Melissa Klein were forced out of business and fined $135,000 for refusing to make a cake for a lesbian wedding, the next target was clear.
Sure enough, after a GoFundMe site was set up to help the Kleins defray their legal expenses, the thought police went into action. Under pressure, GoFundMe quickly shut down the site that had raised over $110,000 for the Kleins. It also shut down a site created to help Arlene's Flowers, another company whose owner, Barronelle Stutzman, has faced civil fines for refusing to provide services to same-sex marriage ceremonies, citing her religious faith.
Most recently, the site shut down fundraising efforts to help the families of Baltimore police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray.
The company issued a statement saying that they had changed their policy, which now bans any fundraising campaigns "in defense of formal charges or claims of heinous crimes, violent, hateful, sexual or discriminatory acts." Competitor site IndieGoGo soon followed suit.
Here's the magic formula: Make a claim of a "hateful" act (easy enough; every policy disagreement is "hate" these days), use social media and litigation to threaten and financially devastate your target, and then prevent any financial support from reaching them.
Of the examples I've mentioned, only the Baltimore police officers were actually charged with a crime. The Kleins and Stutzman are facing civil penalties. The O'Connors were never charged with anything. Even so, it is worth remembering a few essential points about our legal system:
First, every criminal defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Second, everyone -- and I do mean everyone -- is entitled to a defense in a criminal case. Young college students accused of terrorist attacks are entitled to a defense. Police officers charged with homicide are entitled to a defense. Drug dealers, men accused of sexual assault and hedge fund managers charged with fraud are entitled to a defense.
And yes, Christian bakers, florists and pizza makers are entitled to present their defenses in civil cases as well.
Third, judges make mistakes, and laws get overturned. In countless cases -- both criminal and civil -- decisions are reversed on appeal. In other words, just because someone is accused of wrongdoing or even found liable (or guilty) at trial doesn't mean that they won't be exonerated later.
Most notably (and this shouldn't be news to the "income inequality" Jeremiahs), many people who find themselves embroiled in litigation -- whether criminal or civil -- do not have the money to defend themselves. Should litigants therefore lose their legal rights? Should their families be left destitute? Why should others be precluded from assisting with legal defense expenses?
These actions are not merely intended to silence the defendants; they are designed to silence an unpopular viewpoint. The argument has been made that GoFundMe is a private company and can choose how and with whom to do business. Absolutely true. (Although apparently other businesses are not accorded those same rights.) But GoFundMe's business model entails taking a percentage of the donations raised. So just as they can decide not to allow support for beleaguered Christian businesses or police officers, so, too, can consumers decide not to support any of the other causes that are promoted there.
It's a shame. GoFundMe has raised over $1 billion in just four years, including nearly $1 million for Boston Marathon bombing victim Jeff Bauman and over $200,000 for Natalie Dubose, whose bakery was severely damaged during the riots in Ferguson, Missouri, last summer. There are innumerable other instances where GoFundMe has made a difference in the lives of those impacted by hardship, and like millions of others, I've contributed. But on balance, I would prefer to support a company with the courage to stand up for all Americans' legal rights. Even when that's not popular.
It sounds like GoFundMe is a leftist stooge.
So GoFU..Yourself gets to discriminate in who they want as customers but Christians cant.
Geez...someone form a conservative GoFuneMe how hard can it be. People got donations long before this stupid thing existed anyway.
I bought a pizza to be delivered to fire dept. They are doing crazy business she told me and running out of food every few nights :)
Rather interesting suggestion considering the Left does it’s best to get funding entities to deny Conservative causes utilization of such entities.
Sounds like all conservatives should go to other competing sites to set up and fund worthwhile causes and see if GoFundMe changes its ways or gets a major bottom line penalty.
And as a further slap to the leftards and freaks, the Pizzerias and Florists and Bakeries should become tourist spots known as the places that were the first shots in the war against the Oxymoron insanity known as gay marriage.
I worked with many gay guys in graphics, few were sane. One guy would sing Dancing Queen while doing pirouettes around the office. Of a renowned investment bank.
The first time he did I said out loud “What the f...” lol
In 2012 a web design/hosting/fundraising company called NationBuilder, often used by liberals (including Hillary Clinton) for political campaigns, was raked over the coals by the left for taking Republicans as clients.
How difficult is to offer a similar site that doesn’t discriminate?
There is no free speech. This is one way they punish normal people for what they think.
It's not discrimination when the left does it, it is social justice.
Must be another site to go to or set up or something. People donated to causes before this pos site existed.
Why should funding collectors who are used to support businesses that are under fire for discriminating not be able themselves to discriminate on whatever basis they wish? Is this a free country or what?
(Actually, I guess it is no longer a "free country.")
Doesn’t GoFundMe policy go against the grain of liberal “net neutrality,” particularly since the “laws” that Christians broke were arguably nothing more than unconstitutional, Christian-hating “laws” of the left?
Wanna bet a conservative gofundme runs into difficulties with Obama’s IRS?
yeah, no doubt. that smug pos at IRS will cause trouble. Lerner Luther is already retired and living large
Thinking of a name. Go_Get_Funded? Would bug irritate the lefties because it sounds similar to go fund me. haha
How does it work? like a bank account? Do you need a lawyer to start something like that?
I got it. Call it Go Fund Yourself..:)
I don’t know. But I know we need to get some kind of conservative equivalent. I’m surprised someone hasn’t done it yet.
I respect Samaritan’s Purse starting to step up for Aaron and Melissa Klein, the former owners of the Sweet Cakes by Melissa bakery.
They need to do it for ALL these persecuted Christians, and other Christian groups should start doing the same.
So...can conservatives create a site to help others?
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