Conservative Free Republic blog in free speech flap after racial slurs directed at Obama children

The Vancouver Sun ^ | July 11, 2009 | Chris Parry

[buccaneer81]

Conservative Free Republic blog in free speech flap after racial slurs directed at Obama children

By Chris Parry, Vancouver SunJuly 11, 2009 11:01 AM

This photo of U.S. President Barrack Obama's daughter Malia, wearing a peace-symbol t-shirt touched off a storm of epithet-laced comments on the conservative 'Free Republic' blog

"A typical street whore." "A bunch of ghetto thugs." "Ghetto street trash." "Wonder when she will get her first abortion."

These are a small selection of some of the racially-charged comments posted to the conservative 'Free Republic' blog Thursday, aimed at U.S. President Barack Obama's 11-year-old daughter Malia after she was photographed wearing a t-shirt with a peace sign on the front.

The thread was accompanied by a photo of Michelle Obama speaking to Malia that featured the caption, "To entertain her daughter, Michelle Obama loves to make monkey sounds."

Though this may sound like the sort of thing one might read on an Aryan Nation or white power website, they actually appeared on what is commonly considered one of the prime online locations for U.S. Conservative grassroots political discussion and organizing - and for a short time, the comments seemed to have the okay of site administrators.

Moderators of the blog left the comments - and commenters - in place until a complaint was lodged by a writer doing research on the conservative movement, almost a full day later.

"Could you imagine what world leaders must be thinking seeing this kind of street trash and that we paid for this kind of street ghetto trash to go over there?" wrote one commenter.

"They make me sick .... The whole family... mammy, pappy, the free loadin' mammy-in-law, the misguided chillin', and especially 'lil cuz... This is not the America I want representin' my peeps," wrote another.

Such was the onslaught of derision on the site that the person who originally complained about the slurs, a Kristin N., claims only one comment in the first hundred posted actually criticized the remarks as inappropriate.

A note on the front of the blog reads, "Free Republic does not advocate or condone racism, violence, rebellion, secession, or an overthrow of the government," but one comment on the thread read, "This disgusting display makes me more and more eager for the revolution," while another read, "I never actually wnated [sic] to be a pistol before but..."

After attention from other blogs, the thread was suppressed and placed under review, but before long it was returned to the site intact, and attracted a new series of racial slurs when the original complaint email was posted publicly to the site, with the sender's email address intact.

"The writer has a point," wrote site owner Jim Thompson sarcastically. "We should steer clear of Obama's children. They can't help it if their old man is an American-hating Marxist pig."

"I agree Jim," wrote commenter, by the nickname NoobRep. "The kids didn't pick their commie pinko pansy of a father. Nor did they choose to be put into the spotlight. But Obama/Soetoro is fair game and so is his witch of a wife."

"Poor kids. I hope they're not 'punished with a baby'," wrote another. "Hopefully they won't deal cocaine like the Kenyan."

"DIRTBAGS! All of them. Our [White House] is now a joke to the rest of the world. We have no respect and this is not going to turn out well, mark my words. We will be hit, and much worse than last time. We are now seen as weak and vulnerable. Ghetto and Chicago thugs have taken over."

Only after significant negative attention from a host of left wing political blogs did the maintainers of the Free Republic site place the thread under review for a second time, before finally pulling it.

In the wake of the controversy, some Free Republic posters complained about the vitriol.

One poster by the name of "fullchroma" wrote, "To Jim Thompson: The recent uptick here in racist vitriol, aimed at Barrack, Michelle and their children has made me wonder if I belong. My objection to Obama has nothing to do with skin tone. Is the ugly stereotype of Conservative racism true?"

Another, going by the name of TChris, wrote, "Free Republic is a political discussion forum. It SHOULD be beneath us as a group to stoop to such juvenile tactics as I see increasing here lately. Do we REALLY have to insult Mrs. Obama's appearance like a clique of nasty 14-year-old girls?"

But such opinions were not shared by all. Said Roses of Sharon, "Poor libs .... Too late, the battle has been joined." © Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

[Darnright]

Ok, so I used your quote to find out if you have no problem nailing the political parent who uses, or relies upon his minor child in matters that he or she should deal with.

The original premise of the thread had to do with Obama's minor child "sending a message" to the G8 participants. His child has to send a message on behalf of her father? Really?

Perhaps the journalist who wrote the title was overreaching a bit. I'm not sure there is a way to know.

[aruanan]

Ok, so I used your quote to find out if you have no problem nailing the political parent who uses, or relies upon his minor child in matters that he or she should deal with.

Both Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton were opportunistic dumb-asses. As soon as I heard Jimmy mention asking Amy what she thought was the most pressing issue in the world and say that she said, "Dad, I think it's nookier periferation" I knew that he had lost the debate as well as the upcoming election.

There is no way in the world Obama's daughter went out wearing that thing without her parents' knowledge and approval. He really didn't have to use her to send a message since he'd already been buns-up kneeling before the mighty Putin and trashing the U.S. at every opportunity. Her peacenik outfit was just the shmear of wasabi on the sushi.

[Islam=Murder]

Soros is shocked, shocked, that we would speak harshly of Omoslem’s spawn.

Nazi collaborator Soros funds approx half of all libtard hit-groups.

[txhurl]

Kickin’ prose, man.

[Mamzelle]

I participate in the Fashion Threads because I highly resent the outrageous comparisons to Princess Diana and Jackie O. The fashion press is in a lather to make us perceive Michelle the way they want us to perceive her. Sometimes Michelle scores a hit (like when she wears her hair up, which is very becoming) and sometimes a miss (that ghastly black widow dress).

[saquin]

Jake Tapper didn’t say that. He was quoting what someone else tweeted and called it “sick”.

[Albion Wilde]

I participate in the Fashion Threads because I highly resent the outrageous comparisons to Princess Diana and Jackie O. The fashion press is in a lather to make us perceive Michelle the way they want us to perceive her.

I agree; it is the media hypocrisy that is the main annoyance. I think we would leave her alone if the press weren't constantly trying to dictate our opinion about her.

[taxesareforever]

I guess the Vancouver Sun felt that all this name calling wasn’t getting enough air time so they had to repeat them. I take it that means using them to make money (selling papers) is more important than just stating how bad they felt they were. Talk about hypocrites.

[Netizen]

I think they should ask Sara Palin to comment on the appropriateness of commenting about ‘children’.

[Seven plus One]

The original premise of the thread had to do with Obama's minor child "sending a message" to the G8 participants...

Sending your message via t-shirt is the American way after all. The family is guaranteed to be on camera to the point of saturation, so every detail is studied and planned. Anyone's camera time not supporting the agenda is wasted opportunity, we can't have that.

I wear these to work. I'm not famous and I'm not a child (chronologically). The "message" isn't ambiguous. If BO's daughter was wearing this shirt, I'd actually be encouraged. But, alas...

[Misterioso]

And that’s OK if you don’t.

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

Has anyone actually gone back and tried to find these posts to verify this?

[tioga]

Thanks, GOP_Lady........critiquing fashion non-sense is very different than racial slurs. It is sad that those comments were up for even a few minutes, I am ashamed that they were posted by any FReeper.

As for the so called “peace” symbol, it is innocent enough here in the states, but on the president’s daughter at a G8 summit in a foreign country? Good grief, the Obama’s have NO sense of propriety whatsoever.

And that pic of MO with her daughter and the monkey sounds......gees. I saw that and turned off the computer without hitting the abuse button. I clearly should have hit abuse when I saw it as even I was offended by that. Next time I will hit abuse in a nonosecond.

I enjoy the fashion threads, but not that day at all. I was shocked.

[GOP_Lady]

You're most welcome, tioga.

Free speech does not mean posting things that are way out of line or untruthful.

Words have meaning.

One has to be responsible for what they post on the internet.

[paulycy]

I clearly should have hit abuse when I saw it as even I was offended by that. Next time I will hit abuse in a nonosecond.

This seems to be the lesson all us FReepers need to learn from this... episode.

[fanfan]

I understand the rage at Obama but it doesn’t help our cause to look like unhinged kooks or bigots.

I agree.

[GOP_Lady]

In addition to the children, here’s a thread for which there was no real reason for posting, and I stated so on that thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2289048/posts

[fanfan]

But the one you are referring to is in Jim Robinson's yard, and you need to respect how much extra burden you put on him and the rest of the organization when you fail to observe his ever-present warnings, "Loose Lips Sink Ships" and "Please: NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts."

I agree, and have never violated those rules.

[tioga]

yeah.....I thought MO looked lovely there....are a rare feat indeed. they lambasted ashcroft for a similar pic they got of him at a news conference though....remember drapegate?

[Altura Ct.]

Why should we care what Mr Parry or for that matter the left thinks about what is said or we say? The day we allow them to dictate what we say and do is the day all is lost.

I waving to you Mr. Parry and yes I am waving with one finger.