Larry Schweikart: FreeRepublic.com – the First Web Warrior Site [correction at 158, 193]

DB Daily Update ^ | Larry Schweikart

[EyesOfTX]

Guest Piece by America’s History Teacher, Larry Schweikart Today, with a host of conservative websites producing exceptional; content that the Hoax News media refuses to cover, including uncoverdc.com, Breitbart, TheLibertyDaily, Hot Air, and others, it is useful to remember that at one time there was really only one such site. When conservatives had not been vocal, let alone active, www.freerepublic.com (http://www.freerepublic.com) became both the mouthpiece and the gathering place for activism for conservatives.

It’s hard today, with the hundreds of on-line news and commentary sites, to imagine a time when there were few opposition voices to the liberal media. CNN had been founded in 1980 as a cable-based alternative to the “big three” of ABC, NBC, and CBS, and two years later the Washington Times was founded as a conservative alternative to the Washington Post, New York Times, and the only slightly less political USAToday founded that same year. And I do not mean to imply that CNN was “conservative,” only that it was the first to even attempt to challenge the big three.

In 1988, Rush Limbaugh launched his hugely successful national radio show. And that was it: for several years, conservatives had the Washington Times and Rush. Not until 1995 did the DrudgeReport, considered conservative-leaning at the time, appear and make a splash with revelations about Monica Lewinsky’s dress that eventually provoked the impeachment of Bill Clinton.

VDO.AI But already another force was building. Jim Robinson, a California-based software developer who specialized in writing accounting software for fruit growers), had been active on the early Prodigy bulletin boards. At the time Prodigy operated much as today’s Twitter, with a certain word limit before a person had to start a new paragraph and link to it. As Robinson noted, Prodigy was not only clumsy but expensive and he found himself spending a great deal of money just to post on Prodigy every month. “Instead of posting,” Robinson mulled, “maybe I should start my own bulletin board.” He began developing software for a conservative bulletin board in 1995.

A registered Democrat (as was his wife), Robinson “didn’t pay much attention to politics before [Bill] Clinton.” Or, as he put it, “Clinton got to me.” Robinson, a pro-life Christian conservative, was especially put off by Clinton’s private immorality. To solve the Prodigy problem, Jim’s son John—also a software developer—urged him to get his own server. John thought the new internet had great promise.

The original FreeRepublic.com had an html-code foundation, didn’t have a data base, and Jim had to create his own internal search engine. He, John, and a “Freeper” known as Doughty One (Jim’s business partner) launched Free Republic in 1996, just as Clinton was getting re-elected amidst scandal. At first, Jim did virtually all of the posting of articles (while still working a full-time job with his company). Within a few months, the site had 1,000 users, and by the end of 1997, 4,000.

Freepers could post articles from all other sites—Drudge was an early favorite—but also could make comments on the new, which was frequently more informative than the news itself. Soon, Robinson was spending so much time on Free Republic “I didn’t have time to do my own software work.” At that time, he had a company called Software Solutions that had gone public under the name Protosource Corporation, and which was grossing between $2 million and $3 million a year.

At that point, Robinson admitted, “I found out I was the world’s worst manager. The worst,” he added for emphasis. The company had ballooned up with a marketing department, an internet company, a computer training company and so on. The board of directors fired Jim from his own company. But he was allowed a year on his contract and complimentary hosting on the company’s web server. Then the company discovered Robinson’s Free Republic was eating up all of its bandwidth, and Jim was forced off. He started Electronic Orchard as the hosting site for FreeRepublic.com.

By then Free Republic had taken off, first by bringing along many of the older Prodigy posters, but also gaining a new audience of Clinton critics. One of the early Freepers was Lucianne Goldberg, who would become a confidant to Linda Tripp in the Clinton impeachment saga (and mother to neverTrumper Jonah Goldberg). Lucianne left early. As Jim saw it, “She just wanted to form her own website to copy FR.” Not only were anonymous posters present, but soon it became clear that Mark Levin (screen name “holdonnow”), and Sean Hannity were at least lurking, if not posting, on the board. As was Rush Limbaugh’s Bo Snerdly.

As the site grew with unfettered commentary (as Jim originally preferred it), posters could say anything about anyone and ruffled both Hannity’s and Rush’s feathers at some point. Eventually, Rush was attracted back; Hannity, not. At one time, Peggy Noonan, Matt Drudge, and Ann Coulter were all too happy to appear in public with Freepers at events. The Weekly Standard, in a spoof job application to be on Special Counsel Kenneth Starr’s staff in which one of the questions for an applicant was “What is your Freeper handle?”

Without knowing it, Jim Robinson had trained a new generation of internet activists in the person of Andrew Breitbart. Under the screen name “Andrew”—and no one knew who he was at the time—Breitbart lurked and posted on FR. But most important of all, he soaked up the structure and promise of internet-based activism.

The site was completely free-wheeling and on the honor system. As Jim noted, anyone could post under any name, and people frequently posting as “Jim Robinson” were entirely frauds. Anyone could pretend to be anyone. It wasn’t until 1998 that John wrote new software that clamped down on the fraud. Long-time Freeper Kristinn Taylor, who came to FR in 1998, recalled it was “like being home among friends. Conservatives at that time were isolated.”

From 1996 to 1998, the site not only gained posters but fostered activism as Freepers began to make personal connections. This led to perhaps the first real wave of conservative activism since the Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) in the early 1960s. Prior to this, conservatives were polite, nice, non-confrontational. Much of this approach stemmed from Ronald Reagan’s good-natured style of using humor to overcome and deflect liberal critics. But the fact was that the vast majority of people lacked Reagan’s genius and simply ceding ground to liberals only made them more bold. Jim Robinson understood that.

Freeper activism had a stellar early moment in 1998 on Halloween, which was the eve of the House’s Clinton impeachment vote. It went four hours covered by the media, and long-time California, then Washington-based Freeper Kristinn Taylor (“Kristinn”) recalled that it was a key moment in the new conservative activism. “FR did live threads,” Taylor noted, “in innovating and using the internet for activism. “Probably the most active chapter was the California group” that included Connie Hair (now chief of staff to Louis Gohmert) and “Navy Vet” (Roger Hunter).

Indeed, the Clinton administration began to monitor FR threads, as later would the Bush White House and even the United States Supreme Court. Certainly liberal trolls frequented the site. In the early years, when Jim was not around to moderate, liberals would spam the site. When Jim, who has lost both legs and suffers from muscular dystrophy (“I type with one finger,” he joked), left California for the 1998 Halloween rally in D.C., the site was spammed by liberals with pictures of Fox journalist’s Brit Hime’s son, Alexander “Sandy” Hume, who died in February 1998. Jim appointed a number of moderators to share the load and to cover when he was gone.

Among the most notable examples of FR’s success and activism, after 9/11, Kristinn noted that FreeRepublic.com organized a massive campaign of supporting morale of the troops, especially combating the hateful efforts of the anti-war group Code Pink that was assailing wounded veterans at Walter Reed. Freepers made regular appearances at Walter Reed to support the wounded vets. “We were told by both the vets and their families,” Taylor noted, “how much our support helped them.” One notoriouis Freeper, “Doctor Raoul” (Raoul Deming, now deceased) would put on a devil costume and appear at Hillary Clinton booksignings. Soon, other Freepers copied him, all donning devil suits. Clinton found herself harassed and unnerved at every event.

Taylor and Robinson both pointed out that Freepers played a key role in the Clinton impeachment, constantly sending materials to the conservative House members and working closely with the House Impeachment managers. One of the key House Managers, Congressman Bob Barr, said impeachment couldn’t have happened without Free Republic. On the day of the House impeachment vote, Free Republic took out a full page ad in the Washington Times. It was a picture of George Washington with a tear trickling down his face and the question, “How Would He Vote?” At the bottom, the ad thanked all of the 13 House Impeachment Managers by name.

But probably the best-known incident in Freeperdom was the 2004 “Bush National Guard” letter expose known as “Rathergate.” On September 8, 2004, at the height of President George W. Bush’s reelection campaign, Dan Rather had gone on national television with allegations that Bush had ignored direct orders from a superior, had been gronded from flying due to “failure to perform” up to standards, and that his superior had been pressured to give Bush higher marks.

Free Republic was holding a live thread on the broadcast when a Georgia lawyer whose handle was “Buckhead” noticed that the font on the documents was wrong, and instantly knew the typewriter and typography did not exist at the time. The papers Rather touted were forgeries. Soon the “mainstream” media picked up the Buckhead/Freeper allegations and the documents were debunked. Rather looked like a political operative or a fool—and later sued CBS/Viacom for making him a “scapegoat,” but it was clear to Americans—thanks to Free Republic—that Rather had lied.

Not long after Rathergate, though, FreeRepublic began to diminish as a force. This was to be expected. Copycats appeared everywhere and siphoned off Freepers who had their own ambitions or who had an axe to grind with Robinson. There were regular purges at FR, as well. As Kristinn noted, Jim never took advertising, and thus the site was limited to what could be raised by regular “Freepathons.” Also, he said, “Every primary was a bloodbath,” with different groups claiming ideological purity.

Robinson always came around, despite his own preferences, to support the GOP nominee—even Mitt Romney in 2012, who was far from Jim’s preferred candidate. “I never set out to purge anyone,” Robinson said. “I always said if you want to do a different site, be my guest.” The Romney people left, “or maybe I helped them out [the door},” he joked. “Why do I want people to come in [to FreeRepublic] and bash people?” he asked.

Free Republic is still around, and Freepers are as cantankerous as ever. If it doesn’t have the same political presence it had 15 years ago, it’s warrants every modern conservative’s appreciation. Without FR, it’s doubtful that the modern conservative movement would be nearly what it has become.

Larry Schweikart is the co-author of the New York Times #1 bestseller, A Patriot’s History of the United States and the author of Reagan: The American President. He is also the founder of the Wild World of History website that features a full US and World History curriculum complete with student guides, teacher guides, tests, and video lectures.

[lightman]

Began lurking almost as soon as I first got internet service (dial-up!) 20 years ago; mostly thanks to carriage_hill posting links.

Took the plunge about 4 years later and registered an account.

Thanks for the lesson on FR’s early history.

[refreshed]

That was neat. I lurked for a little while and then joined in 2000. I’ve seen a lot here. Thanks for the memories. Still my first source for commentary when something big happens. I used to be a LOT more active back in the day, but now mostly lurk.

[2nd amendment mama]

This brings back a lot of great memories! I started lurking in 1999 and officially joined in June 2002 (wow - where did that 18 years go). Fondly remember protesting in front of Joe Lieberman’s house in Hartford, CT with RaceBannon and some other great CT FReepers. Those were the good old days. Certainly don’t miss CT though.

[bitt]

Within hours of the release of pictures of the Boston Bombers, FReepers had identified the white hat worn by the Joker, and the backpack of Speedbump

[TruthWillWin]

Recent tweet by Dan Rather and reply to his tweet:

As a fact checker, where do you begin? I am being serious. I really don’t know where one starts.— Dan Rather (@DanRather) August 28, 2020

How about starting with "Buckhead" (wonder if anyone knows who that is?) Here is a hint:https://t.co/CeaPWvF0ks— Truth Wins (@BaldEagle1964) August 29, 2020

How about starting with "Buckhead" (wonder if anyone knows who that is?) Here is a hint:https://t.co/CeaPWvF0ks— Truth Wins (@BaldEagle1964) August 29, 2020

Fact Checker? Have you ever found the illusive Lucy Ramirez?— Truth Wins (@BaldEagle1964) August 29, 2020

[Boardwalk]

I clearly remember posting “he just ran over his brother to get away.” I was in Boston. Got the day off the next day as the town was closed down sheltering in place.

[boatbums]

I am still SO very proud of Free Republic!

Going on 15 years as a supporter here and I hope to see many more. Great job Jim and John and all Freepers who make this place so special!

[TribalPrincess2U]

That’s a great way to do it.

[stylin19a]

LS...nicely done.
I “think” I came here via Drudge.
I became FR “aware” when I heard people screaming @ the VP residence for Gore to get out of Cheney’s house. Glad I stuck around...

thanks again.

[The Mayor]

BTTT, great article and of course the best site on the internet!

[dakine]

Dang..! This/us have a History...

[Forgiven_Sinner]

Bookmarked. I didn’t know the Free Republic history before 1998, when I started lurking. (I joined in 2000)

I knew we had Luciene Goldberg, but I didn’t know about the other celebrities.

I remember Prairiedog and her documented evidence of Clinton malfeasance.

I also remember the 9/11 live thread, the longest one ever. I think it got over 13,000 posts.

[Spunky]

"Free Republic took out a full page ad in the Washington Times. It was a picture of George Washington with a tear trickling down his face and the question, “How Would He Vote?” At the bottom, the ad thanked all of the 13 House Impeachment Managers by name."

I still have that copy of the Washington Times thanks to Angelwood who so graciously took the time to get them and send them to any Freeper who requested it.

[Spunky]

He forgot to mention Tony Snow and Barbara Olsen were Freepers.

Why does it seem that to many of the good die young?

[Spunky]

“Mr Confettiman” I followed him as he posted his battle with the Glioblastoma Cancer he had. My husbands brother had that so I knew what the outcome was going to be. :-(

[Trillian]

I wish I could find that particular pic, but all the links are broken. I found this other one that's pretty funny too.

[BatGuano]

It wasn’t Elton John.

[TianaHighrider]

Thank you for this post.

Also, a SUPER BIG THANK YOU to our wonderful Freeper Family, extras to Freeper Daddy JR, and all you do!

[flaglady47]

Class of 98 reporting in for duty. Can’t believe my political addiction to FR has lasted for 22 years. Wowser. If I gathered all of the Comments I have made on this website over the years, it would fill a whole book. I get a bit long winded upon occasion, lol. So many brilliant and witty Freepers, and so many politically astute observations are made here every day.

I have to get on FR daily to get my fix. Thank you LS for this blast from the past, and thank you Jim Robinson for creating this invaluable conservative site so long ago; still going strong lo these many years.

[luvie]

Excellent work you’ve done and I enjoy your posts on Twitter.