Barack Obama Attacks Free Speech

[loco4dis]

These are just a few examples in a long list of efforts by the Obama campaign to use threats, intimidation, and corrupt democrat prosecutors to silence his critics. It is beyond disturbing. Is this what we can expect from an Obama administration? Free speech for me, but not for thee?
When you have to silence your critics by threats and intimidation, it means you know you are losing the argument. There cannot possibly be a rational Obama supporter out there who thinks such behavior — in the United States of America, with a robust First Amendement — is defensible on any level at all.

http://governor.mo.gov/cgi-bin/coranto/viewnews.cgi?id=EkkkVFulkpOzXqGMaj&style=Default+News+Style&tmpl=newsitem

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/092008/09272008/413770

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/Obama_seeks_to_take_down_NRA_ad.html?showall

http://media.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZmRhYmE3NzFlMTljNTdmZGQ3MjhkYTVjNzdmMjVhMzE=

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0808/Obama_camp_Prosecute_Simmons.html

And lest any Obama supporters try the "But, but, but the ads are misleading waaaaaaa" defense, let me pre-empt you with the fact that this is a presidential campaign; all candidates have always said the other's ads are misleading. Only Obama has tried to have his opponents' silenced by threats and intimidation. If a Republican tried this, I dare say the leftist media would be screaming "Fascist!"

 

[Saxsoon]

I guess he missed that class on the first amendment while being a constitutional scholar.

 

[loco4dis]

I guess he missed that class on the first amendment while being a constitutional scholar.

Or he's one of those "Constitutional scholars" who find the Constitution — with all of its pesky guaranteed rights — to be nothing more than a…problem for his agenda.

 

[Saxsoon]

Love how no one wants to talk about this. After this, we will have one brave poster come up and say that this is a spin or something like that, but give no reason as to why it is spin.

 

[DawnCt1]

This is really worth posting in its entirety. I posted the original news link the other day and there seemed to be a lot of skepticism on behalf of OSs, that this really occurred. Well perhaps a statement from the Governor of Missouri is a bit more convincing. Obama is a scary guy.

day, September 27, 2008
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Gov. Blunt Statement on Obama Campaign’s Abusive Use of Missouri Law Enforcement
JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Matt Blunt today issued the following statement on news reports that have exposed plans by U.S. Senator Barack Obama to use Missouri law enforcement to threaten and intimidate his critics.
“St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Bob McCulloch, St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer, and Obama and the leader of his Missouri campaign Senator Claire McCaskill have attached the stench of police state tactics to the Obama-Biden campaign.
“What Senator Obama and his helpers are doing is scandalous beyond words, the party that claims to be the party of Thomas Jefferson is abusing the justice system and offices of public trust to silence political criticism with threats of prosecution and criminal punishment.
“This abuse of the law for intimidation insults the most sacred principles and ideals of Jefferson. I can think of nothing more offensive to Jefferson’s thinking than using the power of the state to deprive Americans of their civil rights. The only conceivable purpose of Messrs. McCulloch, Obama and the others is to frighten people away from expressing themselves, to chill free and open debate, to suppress support and donations to conservative organizations targeted by this anti-civil rights, to strangle criticism of Mr. Obama, to suppress ads about his support of higher taxes, and to choke out criticism on television, radio, the Internet, blogs, e-mail and daily conversation about the election.
“Barack Obama needs to grow up. Leftist blogs and others in the press constantly say false things about me and my family. Usually, we ignore false and scurrilous accusations because the purveyors have no credibility. When necessary, we refute them. Enlisting Missouri law enforcement to intimidate people and kill free debate is reminiscent of the Sedition Acts - not a free society.”

 

[manning]

Love how no one wants to talk about this. After this, we will have one brave poster come up and say that this is a spin or something like that, but give no reason as to why it is spin.

I think I heard today his group is trying to silence someone at a radio station.

If he gets elected let's hope there are enough in congress who can hold him back.

 

[FayeW]

I don't see anybody being silenced, threatened, or intimidated. They are free to say whatever they want, but if they are spreading lies and presenting them as fact, they will get called on it.

If they aren't lying then they have no reason to feel threatened or intimidated.

Why are you so concerned about protecting liars from being exposed?

 

[Anewman]

I don't see anybody being silenced, threatened, or intimidated. They are free to say whatever they want, but if they are spreading lies and presenting them as fact, they will get called on it.

If they aren't lying then they have no reason to feel threatened or intimidated.

Why are you so concerned about protecting liars from being exposed?

Well, even liars have freedom of speech... Sorry but the constitution guarantees that freedom, period.

Now as long as this alleged truth squad stays within the law, they too have freedom of speech. PERIOD

 

[Bobbysdog]

When I look at who has posted on this thread and their silence over the similar actions of this administration over the last seven and a half years, the only reaction a sane, rational person can have is to just start laughing hysterically at the alleged sincerity on display in the posts above mine.

 

[marybet]

What a waste of my time. The first link doesn't even say what he is doing, just that it's wrong. He didn't want banners at a rally, big deal, Bush wouldn't let people into his rallies until they signed a pledge, people got thrown out for wearing t-shirts that disagreed with Bush. I didn't see any of the above posters complaining about that.

It's all political spin. Barack is doing what he needs to do to protect himself. Wish Kerry would have done more of it, maybe the last 4 years would have be different.

 

[gmboy95]

hahahahahahaha....you people kill me. You are so desperate that this relatively young man from chicago with a funny name, and a controversial middle name is about to upset your conservative apple cart!....keep reaching for some scandal you can sink your teeth into, and continue to ignore the issues, Barak will ride your indignation right onto the white house!

 

[manning]

I don't see anybody being silenced, threatened, or intimidated. They are free to say whatever they want, but if they are spreading lies and presenting them as fact, they will get called on it.

If they aren't lying then they have no reason to feel threatened or intimidated.

Why are you so concerned about protecting liars from being exposed?

I heard it was an attempt to silence. What they do have a right to do is to respond to the claim.

To silence is going down the slippery road. How do you think Putin got control of Russia? Silence the press.

Let there be claims and counter claims. Then the people can make up their own minds.

 

[Anewman]

I heard it was an attempt to silence. What they do have a right to do is to respond to the claim.

To silence is going down the slippery road. How do you think Putin got control of Russia? Silence the press.

Let there be claims and counter claims. Then the people can make up their own minds.

Well what does "attempt to silence" mean, kinda broad isnt it. And it seems like a phrase with an attempt to incite, but with an easy way out once the full story arises.

If the truth squad was simply protesting with signs that say "shut up, stop lying", would that be an attempt to silence?

 

[FayeW]

I heard it was an attempt to silence. What they do have a right to do is to respond to the claim.

To silence is going down the slippery road. How do you think Putin got control of Russia? Silence the press.

Let there be claims and counter claims. Then the people can make up their own minds.

Well, I guess that was somebody's interpretation, but it doesn't make it true, or fact.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Well what does "attempt to silence" mean, kinda broad isnt it. And it seems like a phrase with an attempt to incite, but with an easy way out once the full story arises.

If the truth squad was simply protesting with signs that say "shut up, stop lying", would that be an attempt to silence?

No, but they want to go beyond protesting. They want to prosecute those who disagree with their version of the truth. Who gets to define what the truth is??

 

[Anewman]

No, but they want to go beyond protesting. They want to prosecute those who disagree with their version of the truth. Who gets to define what the truth is??

PROVE IT, or BE SILENT...


JK of course, but you get the point.

 

[gmboy95]

PROVE IT, or BE SILENT...


JK of course, but you get the point.

dont worry on novemebr 5th they will all be in complete shock!!

 

[Master Mason]

No, but they want to go beyond protesting. They want to prosecute those who disagree with their version of the truth. Who gets to define what the truth is??

There is no version of the truth, it is either the truth, or it is an opinion.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

PROVE IT, or BE SILENT...


JK of course, but you get the point.

You can't make me. Or can you??

 

[freckles and boo]

There is no version of the truth, it is either the truth, or it is an opinion.

Unfortunately there is so much twisting and distortion out there that the truth seems very, very fuzzy at times.