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White House Moves to Regulate Speech Regarding "Stimulus" Looting Spree »
Posted By pc25 6 months, 3 weeks ago in Political NewsIn case anyone thought this was still America, have a look at the official White House blog of Norm Eisen, special counsel to the president for ethics and government reform, who addresses the problem of people exercising their First Amendment rights and speaking up against the way the government has been wasting our money under the guise of "stimulus":
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pc256 months, 3 weeks ago
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FREE SPEECH IN AMERICA - NOT UNDER OBAMA
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http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Update-on-Recovery-...
3rd paragraph
First, we will expand the restriction on oral communications to cover all persons, not just federally registered lobbyists. For the first time, we will reach contacts not only by registered lobbyists but also by unregistered ones, as well as anyone else exerting influence on the process. We concluded this was necessary under the unique circumstances of the stimulus program.
Second, we will focus the restriction on oral communications to target the scenario where concerns about merit-based decision-making are greatest –after competitive grant applications are submitted and before awards are made. Once such applications are on file, the competition should be strictly on the merits. To that end, comments (unless initiated by an agency official) must be in writing and will be posted on the Internet for every American to see.-
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mesodude6 months, 3 weeks ago
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It's awfully telling that cons are suddenly petrified that their ability to recruit more moronic cons (by spreading lies about birth certificates, for instance) will be impeded. It wasn't long ago that criticizing Bush (over his manufactured war in Iraq, usually) was considered treasonous by cons' standards. The fact is, cons couldn't care less about freedom of speech. You people just want the right to spread misinformation, lies and fear without being criticized. That ain't gonna happen, cons. We'll keep smacking you roaches down every time you crawl from between the floor boards to make a creepy appearance. We see through cons. Never forget that. ;-P
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pc256 months, 3 weeks ago
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http://hotair.com/archives/2009/05/30/white-house-...
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FTA
Silencing dissent and criticism is “necessary under the unique circumstances of the stimulus program”? Gee, what “unique circumstances” might those be? Perhaps the fact that it costs more than the Moon shot, and has yet to halt the economic skid. Maybe it’s the fact that most of the stimulus package doesn’t actually stimulate anything except doctrinaire liberal dreams and the pens that check off the items from the Democratic wish list.
Remember when the Left took to the streets to declare dissent “patriotic” during wartime? I didn’t have a problem with dissent then, but apparently the Left has a curious definition of “patriotism”. Now, suddenly, the federal government can silence their critics at will, not to protect critical national-security programs or keep from undermining a war effort, but to protect a Democratic president intent on seizing control of private industry across a wide swath of the nation. Suddenly, that kind of dissent threatens America.
Can the Obama administration get away with this? I doubt it; I’m sure this is just a misunderstanding. After all, if that were true, then I’ d be one of the first peo -
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pc256 months, 3 weeks ago
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http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/Ta...
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White House moves to restrict criticism of stimulus projects
A new White House policy on permissible lobbying on economic recovery and stimulus projects has taken a decidedly anti-First Amendment turn. It's a classic illustration of Big Government trying to control every aspect of a particular activity and in the process running up against civil liberty.
Check out this passage from a post on the White House blog by Norm Eisen, Special Counsel to the President on Ethics and Government Reform (emphasis added):
"First, we will expand the restriction on oral communications to cover all persons, not just federally registered lobbyists. For the first time, we will reach contacts not only by registered lobbyists but also by unregistered ones, as well as anyone else exerting influence on the process. We concluded this was necessary under the unique circumstances of the stimulus program.-
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not2needy6 months, 3 weeks ago
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think you boosted the story enough pc..
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Now! I remember when Cheney had a man arrested for speaking his mind, and seems like i remember Bush having some people arrested for campaigning for Kerry at one of his campaign speeches.. So don't give me this sh!t, if anyone tried to shut us up it was your beloved Bush/Cheney combo!
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truthiness6 months, 3 weeks ago
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the comment was taken out of context. it was refering to a restriction that registered lobbyists had to submit their requests in writing, on line. it was then realized that the restriction did not cover unregistered lobbyists, who could continue to pander behind closed doors. which is why they expanded the restriction.
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it is not a restriction on what words are used. it is a restriction against lobbying in secret.-
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pc256 months, 3 weeks ago
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"Lobbyists and organizations that lobby complained that the White House’s restrictions on lobbying on stimulus fund projects were discriminatory and unfair because the same restrictions didn’t apply to people like corporate executives or officials. So these memorandumly noted changes address that fairness issue by expanding the ban on orally petitioning the government or expressing one’s views through speech. In the interests of transparency the First Amendment must be sacrificed.
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"The restrictions are also ambiguous enough that a lobbyist or other petitioner won’t be sure how to fully comply. So if someone runs afoul of White House officials, a phone call to a news outlet or a friendly prosecutor can punish the offender. Ambiguous rules plus capricious application equals negative rule of law." -
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truthiness6 months, 3 weeks ago
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Another update from Norm Eisen, special counsel to the president for ethics and government reform, in the spirit of transparency as always:
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I am writing with an update on the President’s March 20, 2009 Memorandum on Ensuring Responsible Spending of Recovery Act Funds. Section 3 of the Memorandum required all oral communications between federally registered lobbyists and government officials concerning Recovery Act policy to be disclosed on the Internet; barred registered lobbyists from having oral communications with government officials about specific Recovery Act projects or applications and instead required those communications to be in writing; and also required those written communications to be posted on the Internet. That Memorandum instructed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to review the initial 60 days of implementation of the stimulus lobbying restrictions, to evaluate the data, and to recommend modifications.
Following OMB’s review, the Administration has decided to make a number of changes to the rules that we think make them even tougher on special interests and more focused on merits-based decision making.
First, we will expand the restriction on oral communications to cover all persons, not just federally registered lobbyists. For the first time, we will reach contacts not only by registered lobbyists but also by unregistered ones, as well as anyone else exerting influence on the process. We concluded this was necessary under the unique circumstances of the stimulus program.
Second, we will focus the restriction on oral communications to target the scenario where concerns about merit-based decision-making are greatest –after competitive grant applications are submitted and before awards are made. Once such applications are on file, the competition should be strictly on the merits. To that end, comments (unless initiated by an agency official) must be in writing and will be posted on the Internet for every American to see.
Third, we will continue to require immediate internet disclosure of all other communications with registered lobbyists. If registered lobbyists have conversations or meetings before an application is filed, a form must be completed and posted to each agency’s website documenting the contact.
OMB will be consulting with agencies, outside experts and others about these principles and will publish detailed guidance, but we wanted to update interested parties on the outcome of the initial review. We consulted very broadly both within and outside of government (including as reflected in previous posts on the White House blog) and we are grateful to all those who participated in the process.
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pc256 months, 3 weeks ago
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the moonbats referred to are the liberal loons on prop.......
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the propeller liberal lemmings
http://www.gifbin.com/981396 -
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mesodude6 months, 3 weeks ago
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"I don't know about y'all but all this good news Obama is spewing is givin me a headache."
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--It must be hard for you cons trying to keep up with a President who communicates using full sentences comprised of words with more than one syllable.
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StevieGee6 months, 3 weeks ago
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From the White House blog post linked in the article:
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"Section 3 of the Memorandum required all oral communications between federally registered lobbyists and government officials concerning Recovery Act policy to be disclosed on the Internet; barred registered lobbyists from having oral communications with government officials about specific Recovery Act projects or applications and instead required those communications to be in writing; and also required those written communications to be posted on the Internet."
It requires them to write down their conversations and post them on the internet. I don't think that's censorship. I think that's prevention of corruption. -
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Wolfie20076 months, 3 weeks ago
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Hey tin foil hat liberal progressive loony moonbats you bought a pig in a poke with Obama and forced him on the rest of the world. Of course, now you can repent in leisure while the entire country goes bankrupt and our freedoms and liberties are being gutted daily Meanwhile the only thing you do is rant about George Bush. Btw, welcome to the Obama Depression.
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