If it wasn’t bad enough that the Senate Republicans and Senate Majority “Leader” Mike Bishop clearly demonstrated how low he will stoop to shut critics up by illegally censoring a progressive blog and stomping on the First Amendment’s Freedom of the Press for daring to call him out on his foot-dragging and attempt to hold the state budget hostage for his political gain, but his defenders are somehow spinning that outrageous and illegal behavior to defend Ann Coulter’s upcoming appearance at Cleary University.
As you know, last week Bishop ordered "Blogging for Michigan" blocked from being accessed from Senate computers, using the false claim that the blog was “created by a Senate employee using Senate equipment” and staffers were wasting time reading and posting comments on it. After an outcry from both the left and right, Bishop relented, but he said he would be back.
It was nice to see even rightwing blogs realize how heavy-handed and illegal this was and joined in calling Bishop out on it, but it didn't take long for rightwing bloggers to somehow compare what Bishop did to me trying to stop Coulter from getting paid $30,000 to appearance at Cleary University and their Economic Club Speakers Luncheon Series and further reinforce the false claim that my hometown, Livingston County, is a safe haven for racists and bigots of all ilks, like Coulter.
Even subscription only Gongwer had this snaky comment on the story it ran on Bishop backing off of his censorship attempt.
“Though ironically, on the blog, Ms. Barry has encouraged Cleary College in Livingston County to not invite conservative columnist Ann Coulter to speak at a college fundraiser.”
There is nothing ironic about it at all. This is very basic. The Founding Fathers created the First Amendment to stop the government from shutting down the press when they criticize the government. That is exactly what Bishop did. I am not the government, and there is no way I can ever censor Ann Coulter. I can try a boycott or try and force school officials to see the error of their ways in embracing and paying a hateful racist handsomely for their hate speech. I will try those things, and it is not illegal, censorship or infringing on her freedom of speech.
I have no problem if she comes down to Howell and speaks on the steps of the historic Livingston County Courthouse for free.
So these mundane, run-of-the-mill nuggets from the queen of hate are dedicated to the people who do not understand the most basic American right that protects all others.
"Anorexics never have boyfriends. ... That's one way to know you don't have anorexia, if you have a boyfriend."---Politically Incorrect 7/21/97
"We're now at the point that it's beyond whether or not this guy is a horny hick. I really think it's a question of his mental stability. He really could be a lunatic. I think it is a rational question for Americans to ask whether their president is insane."---Equal Time
5 comments:
Dude,
I am a moderate republican. I love your insight and value your observations. I am lock-step with you in your fight against the hate-monger Coulter, but when you try to link Mike Bishop and his blog crack-down to her screwed up logic, I must respectfully part ways.
This is how I see the blog issue. Bishop's office made a mistake. They should have locked down on senate computers posting to blogs on "company time." (Much like the military or any administration locks down staff comment on legislative issues ((a regular practice of every executive worth her salt)) and well within the terms of service to an employing agency.)
Reading a relevant blog like BFM should be someone's job in any responsible office. Posting to that blog should be a transparent process, initiated by the elected official responsible for the claim.
I am very disappointed by the fact that you have taken the tact of associating Bishop with Coulter. It does not help our state climb out of our mess and it only serves partisan purposes.
Respectfully,
A-non-eee-mus
Dear A-non-eee-mus,
Dude, thank you for your support and reading and posting here.
However, it was not me that linked the issue of Bishop’s real censorship and me trying to stop a hatemonger from further tarring the reputation of my home. As you can see by the quote I provided, it was Gongwer, some rightwing guy calling himself Prophet on BFM (http://www.bloggingformichigan.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=295) and some girl named Julie with an I on a rightwing blog who linked the issue (http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2007/8/8/142317/6040).
I fail to see how you can call Bishop’s violating the most important and cherished freedom we enjoy just a mistake. If it was a mistake perhaps he would admit it, but that has not happened and his statement said he plans on studying the policy to see if he can quash the debate legally. And those on the right are claiming if was only because of their objections that Bishop changed his mind.
I don’t know what this “locking down” means, but my only concern is that the Senate should be able to read and have access to the information. If they can’t post at work and have to wait until they are at home I have no problem with that.
However, It’s the job of every House and Senate staffer to know what’s going on in politics and policy, not just the job of one person. If they want to post they can wait until they go home, unless the post completely misrepresents the member’s position, and then a staffer can correct it. Most staffers speak for their boss when writing, but the bottom line is I don’t think posting is necessarily a protected right.
Again, I appreciate you understand what a hatemonger and racist Coulter is, but it was not me that made the association with Bishop’s censorship and Coulter. The two do not compare: one is illegal the other isn’t. I also fail to see the “partisan purposes” you are talking about. People on both sides of the political spectrum pointed put the illegality of Bishop’s action, and both sides condemn Coulter. Unless Coulter really speaks for the Republicans.
Respectfully,
Communications Guru
I totally agree, dude. I think an employer has every right to direct employees to avoid public communications without the consent of the Boss. I think it was a short-sighted move to block all access to the website.
I also apologize. When I read your post, I thought you were making the connection. I am not privy to Gonwer and when I re-read your original post, it is clear I made a mistake.
Sincerely,
A
I am constantly amazed at the velocity and altitude Ms. Coulter's humorous remarks attain as they sail over the heads of so many earnest left wingers. God bless our intellectual diversity and the Hobbesian dictum that all men (and women) are created equal, intellectually, because they think they are.
I suggest you read the Coulter quotes of the week here, and if you think they are humorous or witty then you probably laugh at fart jokes.
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