Philadelphia man indicted for using right to free speech

Reading Eagle ^ | 24 June 2010 | Nat Hentoff

[ARepublicanForAllReasons]

It's like some absurdist comedy. The guy, Shore, in effect is saying, "I served my time, you sent me to school and I held a responsible job for 6 years, now I'm laid off. EXTEND MY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS or I will have to steal again! (Or something worse -- like I said, who knows what is in all those emails?)

So he pushed a lot of buttons, now he's getting some attention at last! Maybe he can sell his story to Rolling Stone.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks justiceseeker93.

Consider what happened to an unemployed American, Bruce Shore, because of e-mails he sent to the Web site of U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky. As reported by Arthur Delaney on huffingtonpost.com, Shore, watching the Senate in inaction on C-Span, was angered when Bunning complained that, gosh, he has missed the Kentucky-South Carolina basketball game because he had to be in Congress to debate an unemployment benefits bill. "I was livid, I was just livid," recalled the 51-year-old Shore. "I'm on unemployment, so it affects me." Here is part of his Feb. 26 messages to Bunning staffers: "Are you'all insane. No checks equal no food for me. Do you get it?"

[padre35]

Well, the reason why I give half a care about this is legitimate political protest via Email could just as easily be prosecuted under such a vague definition as Shore is being prosecuted on.

For example “your” name isn’t “ARepublicanForAllReasons” yet if you send a single email that the recepient doesn’t approve of, using your nom de plume, you or even I could be prosecuted under the charge of “annoying”.

[ARepublicanForAllReasons]

True. Look at how high school students are prosecuted for sending 'inappropriate' text messages and photos. a guy sends a pic of his (17 yo) girlfriend's boobs, then gets hit with 'child pornography'.

There is a fine line between legitimate protest and self-expression, and criminal behavior in this country. What's worse is, the rules seem to shift arbitrarily.

Well, I am still going to call my CongressCritter a Dunkin' Donut Hole if I feel like it! I might even use PJ O'Rourke's expression 'Parliament of Whores'.

[padre35]

Ersatz child porn and political speech are completelty different things though.

You can apparently call a Rep a “dunken donut A*hole” but if your name is “Burt’ do not send an email signed ‘Bertrude”..hehehe