Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Cornyn to Obama: Stop Compiling Political Enemies List

From U.S. Senator John Cornyn, "Sen. Cornyn Calls On White House To Immediately Stop Compiling Political Enemies List":



Dear President Obama,

I write to express my concern about a new White House program to monitor American citizens' speech opposing your health care policies, and to seek your assurances that this program is being carried out in a manner consistent with the First Amendment and America's tradition of free speech and public discourse.

Yesterday, in an official White House release entitled "Facts are Stubborn Things," the White House Director of New Media, Macon Phillips, asserted that there was "a lot of disinformation out there," and encouraged citizens to report "fishy" speech opposing your health care policies to the White House. Phillips specifically targeted private, unpublished, even casual speech, writing that "rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation." Phillips wrote "If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov."

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.

By requesting that citizens send "fishy" emails to the White House, it is inevitable that the names, email addresses, IP addresses, and private speech of U.S. citizens will be reported to the White House. You should not be surprised that these actions taken by your White House staff raise the specter of a data collection program. As Congress debates health care reform and other critical policy matters, citizen engagement must not be chilled by fear of government monitoring the exercise of free speech rights.

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.

So I urge you to cease this program immediately. At the very least, I request that you detail to Congress and the public the protocols that your White House is following to purge the names, email addresses, IP addresses, and identities of citizens who are reported to have engaged in "fishy" speech. And I respectfully request an answer to the following:

  • How do you intend to use the names, email addresses, IP addresses, and identities of citizens who are reported to have engaged in "fishy" speech?
  • How do you intend to notify citizens who have been reported for "fishy" speech?
  • What action do you intend to take against citizens who have been reported for engaging in "fishy" speech?
  • Do your own past statements qualify as "disinformation"? For example, is it "disinformation" to note that in 2003 you said:"I happen to be a proponent of a single-payer universal health care plan"?

I look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,


JOHN CORNYN

United States Senator

Also, see Michal Goldfarb, "Cornyn to Obama: Stop With the Enemies Lists" (via Memeorandum).

Image Credit: Atlas Shrugs.

5 comments:

  1. Why are so many people still calling that jerk a socialist? He is MUCH worse than that. Try Communist.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Another proud "don't mess with Texas" moment from one of my Senators. It's good some are finally standing up and saying enough is enough in D.C. Also, Rep Issa.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Democrats have crossed the final line calling me a part of a mob. I just watched the birth of my 6th grandchild on Friday, and have been a little preoccupied since, but this latest round of insults from elected folks in DC, has me steaming! I have a vested interest in what happens to this country via my children and grandchildren, and I will not sit idly by and allow these elitist liars twist and form our future government system in ways that will break the back of this great country! If they think we are “Astroturf” and continue this Alinsky method of targeting us and demeaning us, they have another thing coming! I hold no allegiance any longer to any party, but to mine and my families future!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I did a post last week Called Big Brother is Watching You, the following is a copy of and email I sent to the whitehouse.

    TO; flag@whitehouse.gov

    Subject: YOUR HEALTH CARE PLAN SUCKS

    This is to inform you that their is nothing about the stupid health care plan that makes any sense, please add me to your enemies list.....

    CE Cordle

    American

    http://sargecharlie.blogspot.com/2009/08/big-brother-is-looking-at-you.htm

    ReplyDelete
  5. This administration is becoming Hiterleresque in its approach to political rhetoric. It's attempting to subvert the first amendment to the Constitution. But what else can one expect for the Chicago Mafia in the White House.

    Without a doubt, Eric Blair's novel is spot on: Big Brother is Watching you.

    ReplyDelete