Gag The Internet! An Obama Official's Frightening Book About Curbing Free Speech Online

New York Post ^ | 07/11/09 | Kyle Smith

[Behind Liberal Lines]

When it comes to the First Amendment, Team Obama believes in Global Chilling.

Cass Sunstein, a Harvard Law professor who has been appointed to a shadowy post that will grant him powers that are merely mind-boggling, explicitly supports using the courts to impose a "chilling effect" on speech that might hurt someone's feelings. He thinks that the bloggers have been rampaging out of control and that new laws need to be written to corral them.

"Although obscure," reported the Wall Street Journal, "the post wields outsize power. It oversees regulations throughout the government, from the Environmental Protection Agency to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Obama aides have said the job will be crucial as the new administration overhauls financial-services regulations, attempts to pass universal health care and tries to forge a new approach to controlling emissions of greenhouse gases."

Sunstein was appointed, no doubt, off the success of "Nudge," his previous book, which suggests that government ought to gently force people to be better human beings.

[Nervous Tick]

>> suggests that government ought to gently force people to be better human beings.

Hmmm... “Government ought to”, huh.

My parents taught me to read the Bible and worship God, at least partly for that purpose.

[bareford101]

1. This was the same obamanation that wanted to use the internet to be able to connect with everyone and know their views....

Obviously, the people's views are that they think he is anything but a gentleman, a leader and an ethical person. They point out that he hasn't met a lie that he didn't love, or a marxist that he didn't want a picture and autograph of.

As far as him having a hot bod?!! You have to be kidding... he's at the bottom of the rung... with family close behind.

And, the baby boomers were born 1944-50 or so, WE DID NOT PUT HIM INTO OFFICE. The liberal voters who were born in the late 60’s to crazy parents who began the “There is no God” stuff, while doing dope..... these people and their children put this LYING IMPOSTER in office... Not us!!! And it really began when the atheists were able to have their way.... Madalyn O'hare (sp) and the TV and movies became bringing "do it your way" and drink, dance and be merry for tomorrow we die!! idiots......

[America2012]

I can well imagine that FR is at the top of Barry’s list of sites to be shut down.

[lilylangtree]

the last bastion of free speech in order to the complete the transformation from a Republic to a Marxist state with obozo & his minions staying in power to rule over us.

[Anti-Bubba182]

"..Sunstein was appointed, no doubt, off the success of "Nudge," his previous book, which suggests that government ought to gently force people to be better human beings..."

He needs to roast slowly!

[frankenMonkey]

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Czar is too mild a world for what Sunstein is about to become. How about "regulator in chief"? How about "lawgiver"? He is Obama's Obama.

We're about to be Czarred and fettered!

Here's Cass Sunstein describing FreeRepublic.com as "group polarization," where people segregate themselves so effectively online with other like-minded thinkers that they create an echo chamber where the group's worst and most malevolent opinions get reinforced and strengthened. "We might want to consider," Sunstein startlingly told the Times recently, "the possibility of ways of requiring or encouraging sites to link to opposing viewpoints."

[NewHampshireDuo]

“Gently force”

A person I know professionally (well respected in technology, MIT graduate, east European immigrant) has used that term regarding women. Specifically, “things” should be put in place to “gently force” women to have fewer children. This guy escaped from communism but he’s swallowed environmentalism hook, line and sinker.

[PapaBear3625]

This is big:

Sunstein calls for a "notice and take down" law that would require bloggers and service providers to "take down falsehoods upon notice," even those made by commenters - but without apparent penalty.

Something like a DMCA notice to take down "copyright infringing" items, with the originator of the notice not needing to give proof, but only make the assertion.

How many "notice and take down" letters from lawyers would FreeRepublic's Internet Service Provider need to get before they decided that it wasn't worth the risk to host FR?

[stevie_d_64]

Certainly a Free Republic killer position...

Pick yer blog, and ZOT!!! Whats left will be a wisp of vapor...

Is it just me, or is this yet another signal???

I feel like I am waiting for some code phrase, to activate me and my group or something...

(That last statement may very well garner me some sort of visit or knock on my door...Oh, wait a sec, BRB)

[GOPJ]

Cass Sunstein, a Harvard Law professor who has been appointed to a shadowy post that will grant him powers that are merely mind-boggling, explicitly supports using the courts to impose a "chilling effect" on speech that might hurt someone's feelings.

Shall we assume Sunstein believes in tenure for professors - so THEY can say whatever they want? Sounds like Sunstein is KING OF THE DOUBLE STANDARD - a dubious honor.

[stevie_d_64]

OK, just the milkman making a delivery...

[A_Former_Democrat]

Should we also presume that “Cass(andra)” took an oath to be admitted to the bar to uphold the Constitution of both the USA and “her” state of admission?

This idiot should be fired and disbarred. Pronto.

[samtheman]

For 8 long years the left fantasized that Big Bad W was out to get their library cards... or some such nonsense.

But when it comes to actual curtailment of actual speech, where is the left? Where is the ACLU? Where are the inheritors of the Berkeley Free Speech Movement?

Completely silent and in the tank with the suppressors, with the Dictator, that’s where.

[Katdaddy]

Boomers are from 1946-1964

[NeverForgetBataan]

Should we be surprised?

Obama wants to appoint a Judge to the Supreme Court who would eliminate the Second Amendment from the Constitution.

So why would the First Amendment be any more sacred?

[Former Proud Canadian]

What “rumours” are untrue? Like the “rumour” that “global warming” is nonsense?

[oblomov]

I would not be surprised if he tried. After all, he won.

[bareford101]

I have always seen this diffently and considered those people born 1954-1965 as the Generation Jones group to distinguish them from the earlier Baby Booners.