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Wisconsin’s Shame: No, the Left is Not Going to Stop Trying to Criminalize Free Speech
National Review ^ | April 22, 2015 | David French

Posted on 04/22/2015 8:20:06 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

I’ve been overwhelmed by the response to my article about Wisconsin prosecutors’ efforts to criminalize conservative activism,complete with terrifying dawn and pre-dawn raids. Without the courage of the raids’ targets who were willing to speak with me–on and off the record–there would have been no story. Ironically enough,on the very weekend that my story hit National Review,the Huffington Post published yet another screed against so-called “dark money” relying on the very existence of the unlawful John Doe investigations to cast a cloud of suspicion on conservative activists. The language is instructive:

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is slated to take up the “John Doe” criminal investigation of alleged coordination between Friends of Scott Walker and “independent” groups during the tumultuous 2011-2012 recall elections.

The Center for Media and Democracy CMD) as detailed the bipartisan state investigation into the Walker campaign and the secretive big money groups that bankrolled his 2012 recall victory. Wisconsin Club for Growth(WiCFG),headed by Walker campaign manager R.J. Johnson and the “third Koch Brother” Eric O’Keefe,spent at least $9.1 million on Wisconsin’s unprecedented recall elections,and funneled almost $10 million more to other politically-active groups, including Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. Yet,WiCFG,which enjoys tax free status,told the IRS that it spent $0 in political activity during that period.

What’s missing from this summary? Any mention of the law or the Constitution. By law,money spent on issue advocacy is distinct from money spent advocating the election or defeat of a specific candidate. Through the First Amendment,not only is money spent on issue advocacy constitutionally-protected, so is anonymous speech,and no amount of predawn raids or “dark money” talking points can change that fact. What else is missing? Any mention of the tens of millions spent by the Left to try to recall Walker and allied legislators. And this complaint is almost hilarious:......."

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: 2016election; election2016; homeraids; johndoe; johndoelaws; leosoutofcontrol; policestate; scottwalker; tyranny; unions; wisconsin; wisconsinraid
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1 posted on 04/22/2015 8:20:06 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

The left is trying to criminalize speech and politics it doesn’t agree with. As Glenn Reynolds says, we should punch back twice as hard. And Kluka (the judge) and Chisholm (the DA) should be disbarred and dumped into Lake Michigan.


2 posted on 04/22/2015 8:32:31 AM PDT by Rummyfan (Let us now try liberty)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
IF ONLY the GOP would choose to highlight the tyrannical tendencies of the democrat party, having been taken over as it has by radical leftists.

Leftists are jackbooted thugs at heart. Always have been, always will be.

3 posted on 04/22/2015 8:36:00 AM PDT by skeeter
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Thanks for posting. Wisconsin has become an unlikely bellwether for the left/right struggle for dominance. I am watching with interest and more than a little concern. If I were the governator my inclination would be to use the state police to stop the malicious persecutions.

Where is Walker?


4 posted on 04/22/2015 8:39:46 AM PDT by rockrr (Everything is different now...)
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To: All


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5 posted on 04/22/2015 8:41:23 AM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: rockrr
Where is Walker?

Beating the Left.

If you don't understand the situation with the John Doe investigations in WI please find one of the many threads or articles covering it and educate yourself.

6 posted on 04/22/2015 8:45:04 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Rummyfan

It’s not “free speech” that they are attempting to criminalize,

opposition is what they are trying to criminalize.


7 posted on 04/22/2015 8:45:16 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Bttt.

5.56mm

8 posted on 04/22/2015 8:50:28 AM PDT by M Kehoe
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

The victories of the Left over tradition and American values can be attributed to their willingness to infiltrate institutions and get into the streets. Call them fascists.

Conservatives have been entirely cerebral, dignified and inactive, thinking that simply standing in place with dignity was enough, that it had influence. We see now that we have been pushed over, while standing in place.


9 posted on 04/22/2015 8:53:56 AM PDT by RitaOK ( VIVA CRISTO REY / Public education is the farm team for more Marxists coming)
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To: rockrr

This is a criminal investigation. I would hope Walker’s attorney has advised him to stay quiet while it continues. It is almost always a mistake to make public statements during a criminal investigation when you are a subject of it.


10 posted on 04/22/2015 8:54:23 AM PDT by Captain Jack Aubrey (There's not a moment to lose.)
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To: MrB

They’re not just intent on criminalizing opposition they’re following the Soviet model by calling opposition to their agenda a mental disorder: Oppositional Defiance Disorder.

This tack is to justify extrajudicial commitments of political opponents to insane asylums and then subject those people to mind altering drugs and ‘therapies’ such as electro-shock.

These people are a threat not just to liberty but to our very lives.


11 posted on 04/22/2015 8:57:16 AM PDT by MeganC (You can ignore reality, but reality won't ignore you.)
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To: MeganC

People need to realize this is the goal and start fighting back while we still can.


12 posted on 04/22/2015 8:58:52 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: Captain Jack Aubrey
This has been going on for 4 years - as Chisholm expanded this and started a 2nd John Doe probe. I'm sure that Walker's getting good counsel.

The DA and prosecutor have run into some legal trouble. Here is part 177 of 193 archived watchdog articles on their actions against Walker and his supporters.

March 4, 2015: $775,000 and rising — Wisconsin taxpayers’ bill to defend John Doe prosecutors

13 posted on 04/22/2015 9:02:59 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: rockrr

I have asked that too. He needs to speak out about this. You just do not let the criminals run rampant. This will only embolden them more. Remember the democrats party encouraging this and using the union members to invade and occupy the capital building and causing many 10’s thousands in damages.


14 posted on 04/22/2015 9:07:20 AM PDT by minnesota_bound
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

This is only the most egregious example of the campaign by the Democrat crime family. It begins at the White House where all criminal activity is coordinated and expands out to the media, the left wing organizations, and what is left of Democrat control in local government. Isn’t it interesting that two examples of rogue Democrat prosecutors are seated in the towns of major left wing universities. To find the Mafia, go to Little Italy in every major city. To find the Democrat crime family, go to college towns.


15 posted on 04/22/2015 9:07:23 AM PDT by centurion316
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To: centurion316
...... To find the Democrat crime family, go to college towns.

BTTT!

16 posted on 04/22/2015 9:09:33 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: RitaOK
"Conservatives have been entirely cerebral, dignified and inactive, thinking that simply standing in place with dignity was enough, that it had influence. We see now that we have been pushed over, while standing in place."

That's a pretty good way of putting it. Conservatives need to learn to talk back to the press, to challenge its assumptions, to challenge its moral pretenses, its hypocrisy, and its partisanship. Preferably this should be done with a smile, but it must be done with or without a smile.
17 posted on 04/22/2015 9:20:21 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
If you don't understand the situation with the John Doe investigations in WI please find one of the many threads or articles covering it and educate yourself.

I understand them just fine. Walker is under no legal obligation to abide by such a blatantly unconstitutional order. Indeed, he is obligated to expose it.

His choice may be legitimately tactical, but it demands explanation. For you to flippantly dispose of of the question as a matter of ignorance is despicable.

18 posted on 04/22/2015 9:33:35 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (The fourth estate is the fifth column.)
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To: Steve_Seattle

I firmly believe that a lot less smile and a lot more sweat, noise and shoe leather is our only possible last hope. We have to raise hell and form national coalitions, and learn how to swarm. I have to say, bullying obviously works, just not for us. We lean toward mint juleps and smiles. Yawn.

We have to become active to ever hope to defy the national media who is shaping the news because we aren’t visible.

Heck, we even let the TEA PARTY die. Andrew Breitbart laid the pattern, but collectively we put that on the shelf too, LIKE WE ALWAYS DO.

Another thing, churches need to GROW UP, and be more demanding of us and the communities, towns and cities we live in. Surely there is still something left of churches that is more than concerts and ski trips. Virtue and courage use to take us over cliffs to bring peace and safety and victory for our children.

We are so soft now days that a feather would go through us. It’s dangerous to be so soft.

My rant. Thanks. Rita


19 posted on 04/22/2015 9:39:28 AM PDT by RitaOK ( VIVA CRISTO REY / Public education is the farm team for more Marxists coming)
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To: Carry_Okie

It is exposed.

It’s at the WI Supreme Ct and the U.S. Supreme Ct.

For my curtness, I apologize. There have been some FReepers who have intentionally used this horrible activist DA and judge to opportunistically take a hit at Walker.

Walker had no control over how this was abused.


20 posted on 04/22/2015 9:58:13 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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