Monday, August 30, 2004

Free Speech for the Left

"Free speech for me but not for thee” ought to be the new motto of the left.  The same people who plan to disrupt the RNC and impede freedom of speech are now hiding behind it.

The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation and is demanding records regarding Internet postings by critics of the Bush administration that list the names of Republican delegates and urge protesters to give them an unwelcome reception in New York City.

Federal prosecutors said in a grand jury subpoena that the information was needed as part of an investigation into possible voter intimidation. Protesters and civil rights advocates argued that the Web postings were legitimate political dissent, not threats or intimidation.

The investigation, conducted by the Secret Service, comes at a time when federal officials have begun an aggressive effort to prevent what they say could be violence by demonstrators at the convention this week and at other major political events. Large-scale demonstrations in New York began over the weekend.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has questioned at least several dozen would-be protesters about whether they knew of any plans for violent demonstrations, and it has directed agents nationwide to identify possible criminal plots. Some Democrats in Congress and civil rights advocates have criticized the efforts, saying the inquiries have had a chilling effect on free speech.The accusations are likely to intensify with the disclosure of the subpoena regarding the Republican delegates.

“People have a right to be heard politically, and the names of a lot of these delegates are already public anyway,” said Matt Toups, 22, a system administrator for the Web site under federal investigation. “This is just part of the government’s campaign to intimidate people into not saying things.”

I guess these people are easily intimidated.  What, exactly, is the free speech issue when one has publicly posted the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the delegates?  Do they have no privacy, or does their status as delegates make them fair game?

In publicizing the information, organizers said in a posting that they were trying to supply groups opposed to the Republican National Committee “with data on the delegates to use in whatever way they see fit.”

“The delegates should know not only what people think of the platform that they will ratify, but that they are not welcome in New York City,” organizers said in a posting.

“This upcoming mobilization in New York is not about the delegates, it’s about who and what is going to be affected by the Republican Party platform that these delegates will proudly put their name to and will ratify,” the message continued. “It goes beyond that, as we raise our voices and fists and proclaim that this rotten system of capitalist exploitation and imperialist domination must be swept away.’’

“As they see fit.”

“Not welcome.”

“Swept away.”

Has an ominous ring to it, doesn’t it? And before we rend our garments and weep for these poor, ostensibly intimidated into silence protesters just trying to exercise their ‘rights,’ let’s not forget that they have some groups experienced with this sort of thing.

Given the rabid state of hatriotism on the left these days, I think a little prudent investigating is not out of order. And every time I hear about how “intimidated” these people feel, I remember that they’re still flapping their gums, waving their signs, and scaring the children.

Posted by Matt on 08/30 at 02:54 PM
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