Not so ‘Free Republic’: The Shot Heard Around the Net

The Conservative Voice ^ | Feb 11, 2005 | by William Gheen, President, Americans for Legal Immigration PAC

[Jim Robinson]

The shot heard around the Internet has been fired on FreeRepublic.com The owner Jim Robinson and his moderators have launched a sniper style purge against members that disagree with the President’s ‘guest worker’ amnesty or support more control of illegal immigration. Free Republic is an amazing tool for those looking for a good debate and news from around the country.

The problem for the administration of the site is that their creation is allowing the participants to learn that the Bush immigration record and plans are shockingly out of line with the views of most conservatives. The management’s answer to this conflict between the majority of conservatives and the influence of the White House on their Web site has become electronic executions and censorship.

Members and readers of Free Republic would be surprised to know that many members of their community have fallen silent on the discussions about illegal immigration lately because free speech is an illusion on FR.com. They are silent because they have been banned from the Web site without warning, cause, or explanation in most cases. For weeks the moderators have been suspending and banning new members that chimed in quickly on the immigration debates.

Now this trend has broadened as the first groups of long-term users were suspended or banned this past week. Although Robinson and his staff removed many members of the Free Republic community in the first few days of the purge, those that religiously support President Bush’s immigration plan, open borders and approve of public benefits for illegal aliens remain on the forum. Those that were banned were the members that wanted more done to control illegal immigration and a strict observance to the President’s Oath of Office.

[Jim Robinson]

"By taking sides with the open borders lobby, Jim Robinson has taken a position that is at odds with more than 80 percent of the Free Republic community and the majority of conservatives in America. The fact he is using tactics his own users would find unethical to censor articles and silence opposition with banishments and intimidation is of great concern to all of us as Americans. New members of Free Republic and those that are not aware of Robinson’s covert attempts to stifle debate should be warned."

"Free Republic participants have documented censorship of material from or mention of groups like VDARE.com, Rense.com, American Patrol, Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, 9/11 Families for a Secure America, ETHER ZONE, News with Views, author Frosty Woolridge, Save Our State, the Minuteman Project and others."

"Others" referring to sites like stormfront.org, et al.

That's right. I simply do not wish to be associated with these sites. I'm sure that anyone who wishes to associate with these people already knows where to find them. I don't want it on FR.

I also want nothing to do with vigilantism so that rules out the so-called minuteman project. I'm not going to make a big deal out of it, I'll simply continue revoking the posting privileges of those who post from these sites or attempt to promote vigilantism on FR.

Also, there are some posters who are using the illegal immigration issue to insult and or viciously attack other posters on this forum. These people should not be surprised or act innocent when they lose their posting privileges. Continued posting of racism, personal attacks, insults, profanity, etc, will lead to a sudden loss of posting privileges (with or without warning or explanation). Don't bother writing.

Final note: I do NOT support open borders or illegal immigration. Sincerely doubt there are many on this forum who do.

[theDentist]

I haven't been purged yet, and I oppose it vehemently. So either you've not been thorough, or they're full of Hillary-speak.

[thoughtomator]

I've been quite solidly opposed to illegal immigration... come 'n get me, copper!

[JimWforBush]

Thanks Jim.

[MikefromOhio]

Thank the Lord!!!

BTTT!!

[reagandemocrat]

Okay by me...

RD

[Mr. K]

Last but not least...

THIS IS YOUR WEB SITE - YOU CAN DO AS YOU DARN WELL PLEASE!!

God Bless you JimRob for this site!

[bored at work]

We're behind ya JR . . .

[stainlessbanner]

< placeholder >

[Rutles4Ever]

Rock on, Jim.

[StoneColdGOP]

Sincerely doubt there are many on this forum who do.

Don't bet money on that.

[stylin_geek]

Gosh, Jim, I thought we were all Bushbots here. /sarcasm

[Destro]

Hey, I'm still a member - if I'm still here Jom must be super tolerant.

[areafiftyone]

We stand behind you 100%!

[TheBigB]

free speech is an illusion on FR.com

Free speech isn't even considered on here because this is a PRIVATELY-OWNED site. When will these nimrods understand this?

[traderrob6]

Have always been tolerant of my opposing views.....don't know where this guy is coming from

[prion]

Oh, good. Jim posted it. I thought I was going to have to read quick before it got zotted :)

[NeoCaveman]

Well we do have a large open borders contingent mostly libertarians and Wall Street Journal editoral page backers but there are also many many more like me who are not pro-open borders or amnesty under any name.

So like TheDentist said, they are full of BullClinton.

[Phsstpok]

So either you've not been thorough, or they're full of Hillary-speak.

It is apparent you have a reading/comprehension problem. He didn't say that he supported illegal immigration. He said he opposed it. However, he would not allow posts that call for things like vigilantism or are racist on their face.

Are you saying those are things you support?

[cake_crumb]

"Final note: I do NOT support open borders or illegal immigration. Sincerely doubt there are many on this forum who do."

I agree with you 100 percent. We were talking on another thread the other day about trollish behavioral patterns the other day. One of the things that came up were those individuals who do exactly what we're seeing here. They post nasty stuff, get it pulled, and then whine that you're systematically censoring their right to free speech.

Not all who claim to be conservatives really are. Some are just trollish infiltrators, drunk on their own cleverness.

[thoughtomator]

Between the two of you, living proof of FR's tolerance!

[freedomson]

I'm gonna turn myself in.

I have commited thoughtcrimes.

[mnehring]

Jim
I don't see what this author is seeing. This subject is treated like other subjects that split our base, a lot of hot and heavy debate. Just because we aren't in lockstep with each other doesn't prove any sort of sniper censorship. Sounds like someone feels if they are disagreed with they are being oppressed-repressed or some other pressed.

[Darkwolf377]

Websites like this are privately owned. It's like being in someone's house. They get to make the rules. Simple as that.

[lnbchip]

Jim,

I have promoted Free Republic to all my friends as the premier news source on the web for conservatives. The main reason that I give urging them to join is that all the discussions of current events, etc. are extrememly intelligent and well thought out. Thank you for keeping it that way. Your moderators and yourself have done a magnificent job of controlling a VAST number of members with varying ideas of appropriateness. Once again - great job!!

Chip

[PianoMan]

This "conservatives" from "Conservative Voice" have a lot to learn about freedom if they think it means they can go squat on someone else's forum and say whatever they feel like on someone else's dime.

[Arrowhead1952]

Open borders and illegal immigration ping.....

[nutmeg]

bookmark bump

[Sloth]

Did you not read the 'Hillary-speak' part?

[irishtenor]

How dare you purge people from your own site! What gall! I don't know how you sleep at night. Your ancestors must be spinning in their graves. Don't you know that there are little children in China that can't go online? And yet you purge away as if you own the ... wait, you do own it. Sorry, my bad :>)

[retrokitten]

God bless you and FR. I love it here.

[Bush_Democrat]

Geez, Jim, I almost went off on you! When I started reading this tripe, I immediately got ready to reply to the poster not to let the door hit him you-know-where, etc. I'm so damn TIRED of people coming here whining how they don't like it here anymore. Get the hell out then! Geez Louise, it's not that hard to understand. Jim invites us into his livingroom for a political discussion. If someone misbehaves and takes a dump in the living room, they deserve to be booted.

</ rant>

[hispanarepublicana]

At the extreme end of both the left and right are those who can't or won't see the difference between illegal hispanics and true Americans of hispanic heritage. There is no room here for either, in my opinion.

[L,TOWM]

Damm, this must be a pretty inefficient purge if you're still here! Or me, for that matter...

I suspect the flame war loving Clymers have gotten Zotted, but those that manage to (mostly) avoid whizzing into the punch bowl are still here.

Rock on, Garth!

[Michael Barnes]

testing....

[secret garden]

Your site, your rules.

I'm cool with that.
:-)

[Dog Gone]

Your tagline is pathetic.

[Uncle Fud]

In my opinion, President Bush's proposals to deal with illegal immigration are dreadfully misguided and deserve a speedy defeat.

I am confident that the above statement will not affect my posting status on FR.

[PaulaB]

Continued posting of racism, personal attacks, insults, profanity, etc



I can't understand why people can't voice their opinion without doing the above...I've have always expressed my views about our immigration problem (I live in Texas 'nuff said)and have never had a problem on FR. I think people confuse attacks with debate. A good debate always keep us sharp, an attack is ignorance.

[Mears]

bump

[<1/1,000,000th%]

News to me.

Congratulations on becoming a media celebrity (again) !!

[cripplecreek]

I dissagree with the president on this one but have yet to be purged. Should I prepare my opus?

[finnman69]

I see lots of frepers opposed to amnesty here. Noone is getting 'purged' unless they break the rules some other way.

[Seth Monroe]

Bush is just trying to lock in the Hispanic voting block. It's all a show and the Republicans are set to defeat anything he proposes on Illegal (slave labor) Amnesty.

Relax.

Thanks to Jim for keeping the ignorant racist sites off of here.

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

Great site and you do a very good job at maintaining it. Thank you.

Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Thanks for all that you do, this is still the greatest forum on the net.

Regards,Axel.

[OldFriend]

Some folks think every day it's silly thread day.

This is your place, keep it as clean as you wish!

[RogueIsland]

Considering that I have expressed opposition to such Bushbot sacred cows as unrestricted free-trade, amnesty for illegal aliens, and offshoring, and am still here posting, I have no idea what this guy is talking about.

[blues_guitarist]

Well said!

[meema]

Well said, JR.

I'm vehemently against open borders and illegals, and I'm very much still here.