White House Encroaching on First Amendment?

[cdneh 3,112]

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.”

Now they are asking for us to dob each other in. This is the dizzy limit

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

The Obama administration believes in community organizing..... but only by it's own supporters.

Thuggery Inc.

[GaryC 7]

It seems free speech only applies if you agree with this administration.

Signed, a proud thug.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Is flag a code word for censorship? I don't get it.

[GaryC 7]

Is flag a code word for censorship? I don't get it.

Not censorship, compling a list of "enemies" to be dealt with later. Would you have liked it if Bush had asked people to forward emails and blog posts of people that didn't like the war? I think you would have gotten it then.

[thepizzadude 26]

Is flag a code word for censorship? I don't get it.

:blink:

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Is flag a code word for censorship? I don't get it.

Not censorship, compling a list of "enemies" to be dealt with later. Would you have liked it if Bush had asked people to forward emails and blog posts of people that didn't like the war? I think you would have gotten it then.

Oh phew. For a minute there, I thought some here were having 1st Amendment fits thinking that the WH was actually trying to do something unconstitutional. But just in case, I'd recommend contacting your local ACLU. That's their specialty.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Is flag a code word for censorship? I don't get it.

Not censorship, compling a list of "enemies" to be dealt with later. Would you have liked it if Bush had asked people to forward emails and blog posts of people that didn't like the war? I think you would have gotten it then.

Bush wasn't smart enough to think of that.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The Right Wingers will stop at nothing to see health care reform be defeated. They've already lost the public debate over it, so now they resort to disinformation and flat out lies in the hopes that enough voters will be gullible to it. Oh what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive. Tsk, tsk.

Edited August 5, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

The Right Wingers will stop at nothing to see health care reform be defeated. They've already lost the public debate over it, so now they resort to disinformation and flat out lies in the hopes that enough voters will be gullible to it. Oh what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive. Tsk, tsk.

The Left Wingers will stop at nothing to see health care reform passed. They've already lost the public debate over it, so now they resort to disinformation and flat out lies in the hopes that enough voters will be gullible to it. Oh what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive. Tsk, tsk.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Is flag a code word for censorship? I don't get it.

Not censorship, compling a list of "enemies" to be dealt with later. Would you have liked it if Bush had asked people to forward emails and blog posts of people that didn't like the war? I think you would have gotten it then.

Worked for Nixon and Clinton.

[GaryC 7]

Is flag a code word for censorship? I don't get it.

Not censorship, compling a list of "enemies" to be dealt with later. Would you have liked it if Bush had asked people to forward emails and blog posts of people that didn't like the war? I think you would have gotten it then.

Oh phew. For a minute there, I thought some here were having 1st Amendment fits thinking that the WH was actually trying to do something unconstitutional. But just in case, I'd recommend contacting your local ACLU. That's their specialty.

Ah, so your OK with this then?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Is flag a code word for censorship? I don't get it.

Not censorship, compling a list of "enemies" to be dealt with later. Would you have liked it if Bush had asked people to forward emails and blog posts of people that didn't like the war? I think you would have gotten it then.

Oh phew. For a minute there, I thought some here were having 1st Amendment fits thinking that the WH was actually trying to do something unconstitutional. But just in case, I'd recommend contacting your local ACLU. That's their specialty.

Ah, so your OK with this then?

Asking people to flag 'fishy' claims about Obama's own health care proposal? What's the issue?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Is flag a code word for censorship? I don't get it.

Not censorship, compling a list of "enemies" to be dealt with later. Would you have liked it if Bush had asked people to forward emails and blog posts of people that didn't like the war? I think you would have gotten it then.

Oh phew. For a minute there, I thought some here were having 1st Amendment fits thinking that the WH was actually trying to do something unconstitutional. But just in case, I'd recommend contacting your local ACLU. That's their specialty.

Ah, so your OK with this then?

Asking people to flag 'fishy' claims about Obama's own health care proposal? What's the issue?

[cdneh 3,112]

Is flag a code word for censorship? I don't get it.

Not censorship, compling a list of "enemies" to be dealt with later. Would you have liked it if Bush had asked people to forward emails and blog posts of people that didn't like the war? I think you would have gotten it then.

Oh phew. For a minute there, I thought some here were having 1st Amendment fits thinking that the WH was actually trying to do something unconstitutional. But just in case, I'd recommend contacting your local ACLU. That's their specialty.

Ah, so your OK with this then?

Asking people to flag 'fishy' claims about Obama's own health care proposal? What's the issue?

They are asking people to dob other people in. Yes I have a problem with that.

This bill sucks which anyone who has bothered to READ it would know.