Posted on 09/15/2007 11:42:16 AM PDT by Fiji Hill
The Internet Should Work Like Our Democracy
Internet harassment of Democratic or progressive political activists is a serious problem that seems to be growing in scale and scope. Many Internet active Democrats have long been aware of organized harassment campaigns from large groups of Far Right Wing Republican cyber terrorists.
These tactics and harassment campaigns have created the terms “freeped” and “freeper” because it looks like many of the extremists involved seem to rally for the attacks with individual of a similar political bent at Free Republic.com. Everyone active at Free Republic.com are not involved in the “freeper” attacks. The terms are now applied to Right Wing extremist who use the harassment tactics but are not necessarily associated with Free Republic.com. The terms have become generic.
“Freepers” attack open message boards and blogs with smear campaigns in which they use profanity and obscenities, racist language, character attacks and false accusations. Every idea that is moderate, liberal or progressive is labeled communist or socialist. Anyone who does not completely follow the line of the Republican Far Right is called a traitor or supporter of terrorism.
These “freepers” attack the idea that the United States is or should be a democracy with venom. They often falsely claim to be independents or Libertarians while pursuing a completely Republican Right political agenda. They often attempt to infiltrate Democratic or progressive groups by claiming to be Democrats or progressives to stir up conflict or give credence to stereotypes of their opponents they wish to promote. Fundamentally, these “freeper” tactics are fascist in nature or worse.
Sometimes, their tactics appear to cross the line into criminal behaviors. Emails with viruses are sent. Websites are hacked and vandalized. Faked emails are sent with insulting or obscene content that seem to be coming from prominent Democratic or progressive Internet activists but are really being sent from “freepers.”
Some individuals who have been active in the past at sites like Free Republic.com have been connected to acts like the mailing of anthrax hoax letters. There is some Internet speculation that the deadly, real anthrax attacks shortly after 9-11 might have come from people who share political values with the “freepers” or who might be “freepers.” Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has still not solved the Anthrax Attack case.
Democratic Talk Radio has been victimized by “freeper” attacks of all sorts. In one week, we received over 10,000 pieces of hate mail. Our message board at Democratic Talk Radio.com has been filled with thousands of obscene messages until open posting was closed. “Freepers” have infiltrated our message board for Democratic activists to sow conflict. We have received anthrax hoax letters, emailed death threats, etc.
Recently, we are finding that thousands of pieces of spam are being sent that claims falsely to be coming from various fake names @democraticTalkRadio.com when no emails are ever sent from addresses using @democratictalkradio.com. Our mailbox is being flooded with undelivered spam being returned so real email does not always get to us.
Critics are complaining to AOL about receiving our Democratic Voices columns which are normally received by many local Democratic activists, union leaders, journalists, progressive websites and bloggers. AOL has disrupted our email access in acts of blatant political censorship and harassment based on politically motivated complaints.
AOL seems to think that their Terms of Service trumps the US Constitutional guarantees of Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Assembly. Anyone who does not want to receive our Democratic Voices opinion column can individually request to be removed by replying to our emails. You can block any sender from sending you email. The politically motivated Terms of Service complaints are crude attempts to keep our opinion columns from being received by the opinion leaders who currently receive them by individuals who disagree with their content.
Political emails are not commercial spam. AOL and other Internet providers are violating Constitutional rights when they attempt to block them from being sent when the emails do not contain profanity, obscenities or threats.
The Internet should work like our American Democracy. We should not try to restrict the rights of others to freely express their views. Political harassment, corporate control, censorship and dirty tricks have no place in our national tradition.
Written By Stephen Crockett and Al Lawrence (hosts of DemocraticTalkRadio.com ). Mail: P.O. Box 283, Earleville, Maryland 21919. Phone: 443-907-2367 Feel free to publish at no charge without prior permission in your newspaper, newsletter, website or blog.
Here's a clue, pal -- This country was founded as a constitutional republic, not as a democracy.
Uh, what is that saying about people in glass houses? These tactics were created and honed to an art by the "underground" Left during its salad days in the 60's. And before that, by the National Socialists under Adolph Hitler. Yes, they are fascist in nature, and are wholeheartedly embraced and practiced regularly by the Left!
Sometimes, their tactics appear to cross the line into criminal behaviors. Emails with viruses are sent.
Hogwash.
Websites are hacked and vandalized.
Lies.
Faked emails are sent with insulting or obscene content that seem to be coming from prominent Democratic or progressive Internet activists but are really being sent from “freepers.”
Very possible. And very legal. Read the First Amendment, you phony piece of crap. And before you go casting stones, take a look at the skanks and the freaks sitting beside you.
I agree, it is projection.
Interesting that FR started having sevice problems after this thread was posted.
Politics these days, has a kind of late 1850s feel to it.
He's not exactly my type.
“Recently, we are finding that thousands of pieces of spam are being sent that claims falsely to be coming from various fake names @democraticTalkRadio.com when no emails are ever sent from addresses using @democratictalkradio.com. Our mailbox is being flooded with undelivered spam being returned so real email does not always get to us.”
I think they answered too many Viagra ads and have caught some email viruses that have nothing to do with being freeped.
ROFLOL!!
Where’s the story and hit piece about the “far-left wing traitors and scum at moveon.org??? Liberals only whine and cry when we’re getting them good.
Hey pal, I believe it does.
“Progressives” attack open message boards and blogs with smear campaigns in which they use profanity and obscenities, hate-filled language, character attacks and false accusations. Every idea that is christian, conservative or traditional is labeled bigoted, racist, homophobic, nazi, or intolerant. Anyone who does not completely follow the line of the Moveon.Org Far Left is called a "neocon" or supporter of Bush-Cheney-Halliburton-PNAC war machine.
No it isn't. Who's next?
Jim Rob, if you don't make them prove this BS...
They left out eating babies.
Aww, the communists don’t like us. Too bad.
yeah yeah..and freepers also are responsible for hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, tsunamis, framing OJ for double murder and armed robbery, etc..I mean..can you PROVE freepers DIDN’T have a hand in any of them..hmmmmm...
They will always take what they do and try to smear US with it. But they usually do it just before they do something big; then they can say we were just reacting to what they have been doing to us. SO the question is whats on their minds now?
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