Posted on 08/05/2009 2:08:16 PM PDT by Sudetenland
A Republican senator is calling for the White House to suspend a new project that asks members of the public to flag “fishy” claims about President Obama’s health care plans, arguing that it raises privacy concerns and will serve to chill free speech.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is sending a letter to the White House today asking the president to “cease this program immediately” -- or to explain how Americans’ privacy will be protected if e-mails are forwarded to the White House as requested.
“I am not aware of any precedent for a President asking American citizens to report their fellow citizens to the White House for pure political speech that is deemed ‘fishy’ or otherwise inimical to the White House’s political interests,”Cornyn writes:
“I can only imagine the level of justifiable outrage had your predecessor asked Americans to forward emails critical of his policies to the White House. I suspect that you would have been leading the charge in condemning such a program -- and I would have been at your side denouncing such heavy-handed government action.”Yesterday, White House director of new media Macon Phillips wrote a blog posting urging readers to flag questionable claims about health care proposals.
“There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.”
Cornyn specifically asks whether those who quote the president’s past statements -- such as his 2003 statement that he was a “proponent” of single-payer care -- qualifies as “disinformation.” He also asks what actions the White House would take against those engaging in “fishy” speech.
The occupant of the White House attacking the 1st Amendment???? I don’t believe it.
Alright, this has been going around for more than 24 hours now, and I bet they have received some hilarious spy reports. Would love to see it. Hope someone files a FOIA on it. Would be several days’ worth of entertainment, I’m sure.
Let’s email or call him and let him know how we feel!!
Can there be any doubt that this man is a tyrant?
“maintain no record describing how any individual exercises rights guaranteed by the First Amendment unless expressly authorized by statute or by the individual about whom the record is maintained or unless pertinent to and within the scope of an authorized law enforcement activity.”
Odamma dun need to follow no steenkin' law.
Got to be some smart alecks who can turn a firehose on that web site and tick off that female version of Baghdad Bob running the WH Communications office.
FLAG THIS.
The “precedent” was Hitler and his Hitler Youth.
These O-bots would have turned in Anne Franke’s family if Obama asked them to.
It sure sounds like an improper mixing of the political operation with the official White House operation. That kind of crap belongs at the DNC or ACORN (if there is any difference). Sounds worthy of an ethics complaint.
Just send them all the “misinformation” links you can find, such as Arlen Specter’s talking points, Olbermann transcripts, etc., Pelosi Q&As on health care, pro-Obamacare opeds, pictures of grannies consuming too many health-care resorces etc. Flag this, indeed.
Amend my last. Given what Enterprise cited in post 6, it sounds like a criminal complaint is in order.
Kind of like "High crimes and misdemeanors" impeachment material.
Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (Spanish: Comités de Defensa de la Revolución), or CDR, is a network of committees across Cuba. The organizations have been primarily designed to report "counter-revolutionary" activity as well as promoting social projects. CDR claim a membership of 7.6 million.History
The CDR system was formed on September 28, 1960, following the 1959 overthrow of Fulgencio Batista by the Cuban Revolution. The slogan of the CDR is, "¡En cada barrio, Revolución!" ("In every neighborhood, Revolution!"). Fidel Castro himself proclaimed it as "a collective system of revolutionary vigilance" to report about "Who lives on every block? What does each do, who lives on every block? What relations does each have with tyrants? To what is each dedicated? In what activities is each involved? And, with whom does each meet?".
http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm
John,
Sue the President and his assistants and drag them into court immediately.
Let’s see if the Constitution works!!
Come on FR friends, this is a no-brainer....We flood that web site with millions of posts. Give them what they asked for.
The list, ping
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