Obama calls on Americans to turn in each other to the Whitehouse by email (Source ACLJ.org)

The fact this email exists is insidous and a direct restriction of Free Speech and a Fourth amendment violation. This Gestapo intimidation is nothing but a compilation of a hit list designed to intimidate Americans into silence and fear filled complacency.

Sign the Petition at ACLJ.org or call 877-989-225 to join the petition to protect your free speech, while you still can!

Here is the report…

New Attack on Free Speech  (ACLJ.org)

Yesterday, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) wrote to President Obama expressing his concerns about a recent post on the White House blog written by Macon Phillips, the White House Director of New Media. 

In his post, Phillips notes “[t]here is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there” both on the web and floating around in chain emails.  Phillips states that “[s]ince 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.” 

In a nutshell, the White House is asking you to report on your neighbors, family, and friends who disagree with the President’s policy choices on health care.  The White House is also implying that you should think twice before sending an email disagreeing with the President, since it might end up being forwarded to them.  The White House email address says it all – let’s “flag” those who disagree with us.  For what purpose are these individuals being flagged?

In his letter, Senator Cornyn rightly seeks assurances from President Obama that this new reporting program will be “carried out in a manner consistent with the First Amendment and America’s tradition of free speech and public discourse.”  He poses several questions, including, “[h]ow do you intend to use the names, email addresses, IP addresses, and identities of citizens who are reported to have engaged in ‘fishy’ speech” and “[w]hat action do you intend to take against citizens who have been reported for engaging in ‘fishy’ speech.” 

The First Amendment states, in part, that “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble.”  Our Founding Fathers fought and died for the right to speak openly and freely about the government. 

President Obama campaigned on the promise of a more transparent and open government.  His new White House reporting program seems aimed at stifling debate on his health care reform plan.  While he knows that he cannot “ban” such speech, I imagine that he thinks that the fear of being reported to the authorities will discourage many naysayers from speaking out.  I am concerned about what White House “program” will come next.  Who else do we need to “flag?”  Will it be those who attend town halls and speak in opposition to health care reform?  What about those who write op-eds?  Or perhaps those who speak out against mandated abortion coverage on the radio?

We are sending President Obama a letter demanding that he withdraw and rescind this citizen reporting program.  You can read the letter here.  I have also expressed our concern in a posting to The Hill’s Congress Blog.  That is posted here.

We will continue to monitor the situation.