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FREE REPUBLIC'S PRAGMATISM: HOPE AND CONSERVATISM DON'T MIX
Ether Zone ^ | 11/26/02 | Paul Fallavollita

Posted on 11/26/2002 7:18:46 AM PST by jasonalvarez

Chronicles magazine’s December 2002 issue features a piece by Sean Scallon in its Cultural Revolutions section discussing the evolution of Free Republic, billed as "the largest conservative-oriented website in the world." Scallon heralds the closure of cyberspace as a frontier of freedom, citing as his evidence the degeneration of Free Republic into a discussion forum beset by heavy-handed moderators who compulsively censor out any posted material deemed detrimental to the GOP Establishment’s reign in conservative circles. Scallon notes that as Free Republic grew in popularity, size, and cost, "it was only natural for...site administrators to want to look good for prospective donors." The question naturally arises: why would conservatives regularly donate to a website with a Stalinesque reputation for sanitizing their members’ commentary?

Many readers of Scallon’s piece will be surprised to learn that the operation of the Free Republic website requires an estimated $240,000 in donations annually from readers. The Freepers donate that kind of money because they really are convinced and excited (read: deluded) that they are "piece of the action." They really believe that their online (and off-line) advocacy and organizing efforts are effecting political change. They like the idea that they are "part of the system" and on the side of a winning majority now that the GOP has re-taken the Senate and Bush sits in the Oval Office. To swipe a phrase from Jesse Jackson, it "keeps hope alive." And hope is the archetypal political opiate, rendering populations docile and leaving them unwilling to decisively act to change their circumstances. The Freepers feel as though they’re connected and influential, but they don’t seem to realize that this is largely an illusion. The GOP’s hierarchy already has its marching orders, independent of the input of the GOP grassroots. The GOP’s top brass merely pretends that it cares about the "regular folk" at Free Republic. The GOP is always glad to take their money and their votes, though, and is equally happy to use Free Republic as a distribution node for official party "talking points."

Some alert Freepers, however, sense that the GOP they work so hard to support is not very responsive to the conservative agenda. Many Freepers are concerned about the immigration problem in this country, for example, yet the consensus of the average posters is that they have to "wait" and not push the GOP so hard on this issue because they feel constrained by what they call "practical politics." They worry that they will be cast as "too extreme" on certain issues, so they are content to water down their positions so that they can maintain a veneer of relevance and influence—influence that they never had to begin with in the places that matter.

Free Republic’s existence is a symbol of the continuing captivity and betrayal of the conservative base of the GOP. The widespread appeasement and accommodation of the GOP’s hierarchy by these "conservatives" guarantees there never will be any decisive pro-conservative change within the party, since the party is permanently assured that its conservative base, ever fearful of the bogeyman of a Gore-style presidency, will never abandon it. In a sense, the "mainstream" conservatives are as captive an electorate as the Blacks in the Democratic Party. Just as the Blacks are under-served and taken for granted by the Democrats, so too are the conservatives jilted by the Republicans. True conservatives are kept in the basement, and are not allowed to speak at GOP national conventions anymore. Yet, these sycophantic conservatives shuffle around the plantation of "Massa GOP" hoping a bone will occasionally be thrown their way, looking as broken and pathetic as Pavlov’s famed dogs. Cries of "tax cuts" take the place of the ringing of bells for these piddling dogs. The Freepers believe they live in an era of conservative victory, but fail to grasp that the price of that victory was the gradual transmutation of conservatism itself into a variant of the same liberalism that movement had long been fighting. The day enough Freeper types realize this terrible situation, and stage a revolt against their masters, is the day conservatism has a chance again in America.

This tactic of "mainstream conservatism" supposedly "overcoming" its liberal enemy by adopting the ideological attributes of liberalism is not confined merely to internal matters of political strategy. The same attitude, essentially defeatist, emerges in the context of more important issues, including the future demographic composition of the nation itself. For example, one Freeper exclaimed that he had no problem with fifty percent of the population of the United States becoming Latino, if only the Latinos immigrated legally to the United States. In essence, that particular Freeper believes America should handle the current "immivasion" from Mexico by turning the United States into Mexico.

Sadly, that poster is not alone in his willingness to allow the GOP to import a new electorate for itself and new cheap laborers for its corporate constituency—hitting two Mexicans with one taco, so to speak. On the other hand, Free Republic’s rabidly pro-Zionist administrators would not take kindly to a poster suggesting that they had no problem with Palestinians becoming fifty percent of the Israeli population (with citizen-status). Indeed, judging from one member’s post, Freepers who plan to counter-demonstrate at future anti-war protests intend to wave Israeli flags rather than American. And I’d thought the Freepers were arguing that war against Iraq was in the name of America’s interests. Such are the quirks of Free Republic, and the priorities of the "mainstream" conservatism it represents are radically askew.

Scallon is right. Free Republic is a large institution, and as with most organs of the Establishment, it is also ideologically bankrupt. In a sense, there is an element of fraud at work as well, since Free Republic’s methodology and approach cannot possibly deliver what it promises: conservative political change. The frontier of freedom in cyberspace isn’t yet totally closed, though—Scallon could have listed additional alternative forum websites where paleoconservatives and Constitutionalists can gather and discuss the issues, such as Ether Zone (obviously) and Original Dissent. The Freepers are oblivious to the fact that they are the tail, not the dog. Their Reaganite mantra of sunny optimism they always point toward, and always out of context, functions as an effective tool of political control.

"Published originally at EtherZone.com : republication allowed with this notice and hyperlink intact."

Mail this article to a friend(s) in two clicks!

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Paul Fallavollita holds an M.A. in political science from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Paul is a regular columnist for Ether Zone.

Paul Fallavollita can be reached at pfallavollita@aol.com

Published in the December 3, 2002 issue of Ether Zone. Copyright © 1997 - 2002 Ether Zone.

We invite your comments on this article in our forum!


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Free Republic; Front Page News
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To: KLT
Glad you are finally larnin'
101 posted on 11/26/2002 12:32:46 PM PST by sauropod
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To: wayoverontheright
Oh yes...my friend you have that right....I believe this ignoramus who wrote this article is either in complete denial or is brain dead...Not sure which one...BTW...I'll bet this is his organization:


102 posted on 11/26/2002 12:37:34 PM PST by KLT
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To: The Old Hoosier
I have no problem w/ letting Mexicans in the country legally as long as they assimilate.

We have a big problem in the SW. Ever hear of La Raza and MECHa?

Why is not wanting our country to balkanize racist? 'Pod

103 posted on 11/26/2002 12:39:03 PM PST by sauropod
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To: sauropod
YES I AM...YOU ARE ALWAYS RIGHT? Sorry I forgot to turn the phone on..Am I forgiven, Oh great one...LOL
104 posted on 11/26/2002 12:41:25 PM PST by KLT
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To: KLT
50 lashes with a wet burrito!
105 posted on 11/26/2002 12:43:04 PM PST by sauropod
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To: sauropod
The problem 'pod is that there is a large contingent here on the Forum that do nothing but equate LA RAZA with anything hispanic. It makes as much sense as equating anything caucasian with the Klan. Their purpose is to cloud the issue by linking anything having to do with immigration to these jackals and anyone disagreeing with them as being unpatriotic.

LA RAZA started out as a cultural organization created to help and support not only hispanics but their cultural identity, particularly in the west and southwest. It has been hijacked by militant liberal/socialist extremists and are afforded aid, comfort and cover from the liberal media and particularly liberal educational institutions.

That being said, groups who hold positions like LA RAZA (as the KKK) should be run out of town.

106 posted on 11/26/2002 12:52:06 PM PST by Bob J
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To: wayoverontheright
I don't get why this author picked on us.....Pick on DU they're much nastier, and there's so much more to pick on...am I wrong about that?
107 posted on 11/26/2002 12:52:27 PM PST by KLT
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To: Bob J
I understand. I also understand that fairly recently at a (soccer?) event they either booed the US Anthem, sang their own, or hoisted Mexico's flag. Memory fails me here exactly.

There is a significant Aztlan Hispanic sentiment. That is what I am against.

108 posted on 11/26/2002 12:56:38 PM PST by sauropod
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To: sauropod
50 lashes with a wet burrito!

OMG..you know I can't eat Mexican....

109 posted on 11/26/2002 12:59:44 PM PST by KLT
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To: jasonalvarez
The Freepers donate that kind of money because they really are convinced and excited (read: deluded) that they are "piece of the action." They really believe that their online (and off-line) advocacy and organizing efforts are effecting political change.

No, it's because we enjoy reading the latest news and being able to discuss that news with others, and donate so that the website doesn't shut down. The advocacy is a by-product of this discussion, but not the primary function of the site. The author is clueless.

110 posted on 11/26/2002 1:03:14 PM PST by Republican Wildcat
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To: sauropod
And exactly why orgs like LA RAZA and AZTLAN should be opposed. But their defeat will not be at caucasian conservatives hands, it will have to come from within the hispanic community and that is the reason we should be supporting a conservative ascendancy there.
111 posted on 11/26/2002 1:14:19 PM PST by Bob J
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To: Bob J
Precisely. As well as promoting assimilation.
112 posted on 11/26/2002 1:15:03 PM PST by sauropod
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To: KLT
The whiners are upset that the doers are getting something accomplished. Pay no attention, nothing to see here, move along.
113 posted on 11/26/2002 1:15:27 PM PST by Bob J
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To: sauropod
You're not getting the point.
114 posted on 11/26/2002 1:24:36 PM PST by The Old Hoosier
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To: KLT
"used to be more Conservative I think"

Perhaps they're simply antidisestablishmentarianists......or not...MUD

115 posted on 11/26/2002 1:24:38 PM PST by Mudboy Slim
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To: The Old Hoosier
I will cogitate and re-read. Perhaps i will pick it up then.

Cheers. 'Pod

116 posted on 11/26/2002 1:27:37 PM PST by sauropod
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To: KLT
I don't get why this author picked on us.....Pick on DU they're much nastier, and there's so much more to pick on...am I wrong about that?

Yes, there's more to pick on there,but I believe we were targeted because we just acquired the power he covets, DU obviously wasn't a factor in this past election. As a matter of fact, for the first time in recent history, neither was the main-stream media. The swing vote just quit buying their lies.IMHO.

117 posted on 11/26/2002 1:28:17 PM PST by wayoverontheright
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To: sauropod
My point is, he's at least a moron, and maybe a racist, if he thinks that quote--which is obviously just someone making a rhetorical point to show that opposition to illegal immigration is notracist--is evidence FR has lost its edge. What does he want, a push for an all-white USA?

To write a drawn out, way-too-long-to-say-way-too-little article making this stupid argument is just way, way over the line.

118 posted on 11/26/2002 1:30:36 PM PST by The Old Hoosier
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To: jasonalvarez
The Freepers donate that kind of money because they really are convinced and excited (read: deluded) that they are "piece of the action." They really believe that their online (and off-line) advocacy and organizing efforts are effecting political change.

Actually, I participate in this web site because it's fun. I send money because I use so much bandwidth.

119 posted on 11/26/2002 1:30:37 PM PST by xm177e2
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To: sauropod
Approaching hispanics with a plan of organized immigration with an emphasis on the law, citizenship and assimilation, is a winner for conservatives. The problem with hispanics and conservatives is that the press only shows the "ship them back, build a wall, get a gun" crowd and that is the image they have of us. No wonder too many think all conservatives are racists.

I have previously proposed here on the Forum, an organized, legal, "guest worker to citizen" program that includes;

a. Organized locations and facilities along the border for processing with fees of say $1000 that would normally go to the coyote
b. Fingerprinting
c. Photo
d. Medical screening
e. Temporary guest worker ID and SS#
f. Criminal background check
g. Mandatory filing of annual tax statements showing gainful employment and paid taxes
h. Mandatory English and citizenship classes
i. Mandatory auto insurance if they have a temporary guest worker drivers license

After five years, these guest workers, who have proven they are hard working, tax paying non criminals, can be given the option of filing for expedited citizenship.

Of course, I was called a liberal, a DU plant and roundly excoriated as unpatriotic. I think Sabretooth was the only one to admit my opinions had any merit.

120 posted on 11/26/2002 1:31:33 PM PST by Bob J
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