Are these the type of people we want running the country? I've said repeatedly that the left is against free speech. The left supresses opposing views by any means at their disposal.
An anti-abortion protest at the University of Washington the other day was met with comments like this:
"I think it's absurd that they're here," said Grant Mandarino, 25, who is working on a graduate degree in comparative literature. "These people are not wanted. This is a pro-choice campus, and there isn't a place for them here."
His fury was moderate compared with the reception Show The Truth has received on other Washington campuses. At The Evergreen State College in Olympia, young people spray-painted and punctured their signs, scrawling "Sick lies, lies, lies" over a poster showing a bloody fetus, its head caught in forceps and, apparently, screaming.
I don't agree with the methods of these anti-abortion types. I think it's way over the top, but still, they have their right to show their message as long as they aren't hurting anyone or bothering anyone more than offering a pamphlet.
And if that isn't enough, the left is attempting to manipulate Google so that if you search for a Republican candisate, your first choices will be to articles portraying them in some negative fashion.
If things go as planned for liberal bloggers in the next few weeks, searching Google for “Jon Kyl,” the Republican senator from Arizona now running for re-election, will produce high among the returns a link to an April 13 article from The Phoenix New Times, an alternative weekly.
Mr. Kyl “has spent his time in Washington kowtowing to the Bush administration and the radical right,” the article suggests, “very often to the detriment of Arizonans.”
They are trying to unfairly influence what you see. However, the guy who is behind this scheme says it should be the practice of all campaigns. In other words, they all should try to cheat.
But Mr. Bowers suggested that he was acting with complete transparency and said he hoped political campaigns would take up the tactic, which he called “search engine optimization,” as a standard part of their arsenal.
“I did this out in the open using my real name, using my own Web site,” he said. “There’s no hidden agenda. One of the reasons for this is to show that campaigns should be doing this on their own.”
Indeed, if all campaigns were doing it, the playing field might well be leveled.
Mr. Bowers said he did not believe the practice would actually deceive most Internet users.
“I think Internet users are very smart and most are aware of what a Google bomb is,” he said, “and they will be aware that results can be massaged a bit.”
If that is the case, the why do it? You know why! It is an attempt to deceive. Mr. Bowers might be up front about it, but it is deception none the less.
Free Speech? Not from the left.
VW
Yep, you are only allowed to speak if what you have to say is in agreement with their "ideology", agenda or politics. I have found it darn near impossible to have a reasonable or rational conversation with folks of their ilk and I tell ya, I'm surrounded here.
Posted by: yankeemom | Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 18:13
I don't even know why people go into politics anymore, it's like bare knuckle boxing only worse!
Posted by: canuckistani | Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 18:15
YankeeMom, I hear ya. I live in the Seattle-Tacoma area. The free speech movement was not started by a bunch of long-haired radicals at Berserkely in the 1960's. It was started by a bunch of long-haired radicals in the 1780's!
Canucki, as long as there is fame, fortune and the occasional intern or page, people will will be drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
VW
Posted by: Violence Worker | Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 22:40
Ugh... I don´t like this story for a few reasons... first, I work for UW so I know very well how liberal they are, not much condemnation when an eco-terrorist set fire to one of our buildings and caused millions in damages... second I used to work at a retail fur shop in Seattle so I know how ugly protesters can get - on both sides. We used to get bomb threats and would be followed and screamed at when we´d go out to lunch, it was awful.
Posted by: Kelly | Friday, October 27, 2006 at 07:25
Silly protestors. Why don't they shut up and sing.
Oh, wait, that's only when liberals express an opinion.
Posted by: Knotaremf | Friday, October 27, 2006 at 14:16
Please tell me where I have ever supported denying liberals their right to free speech or to express an opinion. You can't, because I haven't. Don't twist words around.
VW
Posted by: Violence Worker | Friday, October 27, 2006 at 14:28
In all fairness, VW, YOU have not.
But conservatives in general DO complain when liberals voice their opinions and the "shut up and sing" mantra is a tired one.
I agree with you that everyone should be able to say what they want -- and expect to get shouted down by the other side.
Posted by: Knotaremf | Monday, October 30, 2006 at 08:23