Two New York legislators have taken a page from the playbook of aspiring internet regulator Joe Lieberman by sponsoring a bill that would make the posting of anonymous comments illegal. The bill written by Republican State Senators Dean Murray and Thomas O’Mara states:
“A web site administrator upon request shall remove any comments posted on his or her web site by an anonymous poster unless such anonymous poster agrees to attach his…name to the post and confirms that his…IP address, legal name and home address are accurate. All web site administrators shall have a contact number or e-mail address for such removal requests clearly visible in any sections where comments are posted.”
The stated purpose of the Act is “…to amend the civil rights law, in relation to protecting a person’s right to know who is behind an anonymous internet posting.” Apparently, it has now become a civil right to know what your neighbor thinks of Barack Obama, the United Nations, or Jerry’s House of Pancakes.
According to Murray and O’Mara, passage of the Act would “…cut down on cyberbullying, protect small businesses such as restaurants from unfounded, negative reviews and, naturally, protect politicians from baseless, derogatory attacks during campaign time.” As one wag added, “I’m sure that last concern is only an afterthought.”
The contempt displayed by the nation’s politicos for the constitutionally protected rights of the American public seems to increase with each passing year. Some believe pressure brought to bear by Tea Parties or the occasional primary upset of a longtime incumbent will sort out political hacks like Murray and O’Mara. But so arrogant are these self-important law makers that even decisions of the Supreme Court are blissfully ignored.
“Anonymous pamphlets, leaflets, brochures and even books have played an important role in the progress of mankind,” wrote Justice Hugo Black in 1960. Thirty five years later, the Court found unconstitutional an Ohio statute demanding campaign literature include the name and address of the individual issuing it.
“Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…” Even if State Senators Murray and O’Mara should find sufficient, elected horse’s behinds to turn this asinine bill into law, it will not pass constitutional muster. Yet, self-serving politicians continue the assault; for as with so many constitutional rights and liberties, they find free speech a dangerous and inconvenient threat to their authority.
It has been noted that if this law had been in effect 230 years ago, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay “…would have been forced to disclose their real names…” on the Federalist Papers, perhaps preventing the works of “Publius” being written. But then Senators Murray and O’Mara would not have considered that much of a loss–certainly not as important as preventing the cyberbullying of Senators Murray and O’Mara!
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I read it but I couldn’t believe what I was reading but that wouldn’t effect me NOT at all because I never say anything I not proud of saying.
HANG THE BASTARDS AND HANG’EM HIGH THATS ALL I HAVE TO SAY
LIVE FREE OR DIE!!!
I’m with you brother! They are pushing for a fight and I’m more than ready to oblige them. This is nothing more than the thought police being able to round up the troublemakers and haul them off to the new gulags – the Fema camps and the converted Wall Marts! Have you noticed that there is a Wall Mart – they are built like prisons – within 15 miles of just about every city in AMERIKA. I read that information recently! 1776 … 1776… 1776…
READ MY LIPS: ANONYMOUS, ANONYMOUS, ANONYMOUS, ANONYMOUS,ANONYMOUS,
ANONYMOUS,ANONYMOUS, ANONYMOUS, ANONYMOUS, ETC.
Aren’t these the same whiners who feel it’s racist to require ID to vote? Some people are just dumb and then there is the Obama / Liberal DUMB.
Photo ID is absolutely necessary to prevent voter fraud. The reason Komrade Obama and cohorts zre againt it is that it will prevent Chicago style tactics like imaginary voters, deceased voters,etc. Tou are – race has nothing to do with it.
I wonder how long it would be until some wife-beater, child molester or such (with the help of the ACLU) uses this ruling to expose [friends of] his victim to further violence?
Nearly every city has “Anonymous Tip Lines” to the police! Without the promise of anonymity there goes the safety of anonymity against the fear of retribution and there goes the tips that have solved countless crimes!
Agree. This is a very war-like act, very dangerous for freedom. Comments on blogs are not testimony in court, and shouldn’t be see as such.
These thugs do not have the authority to ban free speech. What a bunch of BS!
From an idea to, eventually, a law. It’s been done before.
This is a game to take everybody mind off want they are really up to because the heat is on and they all know they all will be facing jail time for the high crimes congress and Odumbo has commited, This will be tied up in court for a while while everybody is watch the out come of this and they will be tring to take away all of our rite. They all want a dictatorship here but they for got what happens to dictators look at Hitler and the rest of the dictators of the world they all are dead,
“…they all know they all will be facing jail time for the high crimes congress and Odumbo has commited…”
If the past is any precedent (pass on savings and loan swindle, deliberage flub of Bubba impeachment, pass on Fast and Furious, etc., etc., etc.) nothing will happen to any criminal bankster or politician thief/liar/swindler. All dictators certainly are NOT dead, the worst have all the money in the world to keep walking around and pursuing their OneWorld plans, which advance only, never retreat, though they may stall for short periods. Where’s the outrage…how will I recognize it IF it happens?
Why should we risk putting our names onto a hit list? The present administration is a communist enemy of America. To stay anonymous gives measure of safety. Use private browsing, clear history and cookies, etc.
The two Congressmen writting this bill have to be Socialist……or just plan nuts…..if it passes, I will disconnect from the net and use my lap top to play games…..
folks of NY .. do your duty and vote them out.. but while that takes place send them your thoughts and don’t be nice about it…… never does a politician attempt to make a law for the good of the citizens, unless it benefits them as well and a lot… this attempt to usurp the Constitution should be treason.. any attempt should be treason.. and if they are not smart enough to know that then why in the world and how did they ever get voted into office in the first place?
First off: it takes an Act of Congress to amend a constitutional guranteed right.; although this congress is probably not awake long enough to act even if it wished to which it probably doesn’t since they haven’t been able to agree on anything for three years.The constitution supesedes NY law and so, for this to pass, the Bill of rights would have to be amended to the point of eradication. Now you see what the Obama agenda and UN agenda 21 are all about. This is only the beginning. BEWARE!
Free Speech is not Free. Millions of Soldiers and people have paid the ultimate price with there lives. And it looks like the EPA is sticking its nose where it does not belong. F the EPA. And the horse they road in on. They need to be shut down wasted Billions of dollars for Obamas Cronies. A bunch of Tree huggers “Gone Wild” . If I were to meet O I would tell him good to meet you and I dont believe one word out of his mouth “With Respect”. Just the same as I would even tell Bush his second term sucked and he made Government to big. He should of shut things down with 50% across the board. All of the ones who are supposed to be protecting our US Constitutional Rights all work for Obama. Except for the WOnderful Constitutional Sherrif’s Like Joe Aripio (sorry spelling) who are trying to protect us from the EVIL within this Dictatorship in DC. If Joe cannot wake up America maybe the Re-education camps will in 7-10 years. Then it will be to late for all of us. May God Help us all.
Five stars.
I’m not a Politician but i think it would be great that a new law would be instituted for any lame brain politician that trys speaks of violating the U.S. Constitution goes straight to a Federal Penitentiary for a minimum of Ten Years!!
Ten stars!!
It’s troubling that some Republican state legislators are getting more Stalinist than their leftie cousins.
Can you imagine the owners of large forums like Free Republic being forced to adhere to these regulations? It’d take a large staff to sort through the mess.
Hopefully this will get nipped in the bud and these idiots will get voted out of office.
We’ve seen this movie. It ends with Hitler blowing his brains out.
Unfortunately, Over the years that monster was in power, millions died in absolute agony, the western world uffered tremendous financial loss and probably in the end produced the left wing loon cowards who now are intent on destroying the USA. It is a pity we can not put those lame brained politicians back in time into one of Hitlers concentration camps. DO them the world of good.
You do have a point… probably the lefties didn’t enlist. Millions were killed,but they weren’t lefties, so yes, wars deplete the good, and the bad are “left”, excuse the non-pun.
“Wars are good for cartel bankster and their military businesses; invest your children and grandchildren…”
Those with money and common sense are fleeing this socialist hell-hole. Whats next, fences to keep the people in?
best to speak up now, not later? they are on that pipe again.
In the works I think.
For those interested, I have posted contact information for NY State Senators Murray and O’Mara. Should anyone wish to make use of the contact link/email address, I’m sure Western Journalism would wish you to be respectful and courteous.
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Dean-Murray/contact/
omara@nysenate.gov
I don’t care if they are republican or democrat this is against the constitution and free speech what they are trying to do here is censorship. If I lived in New York you can bet I would be calling them and e-mailing them to protest this piece of crap legislation. they are proposing. New york citizens better wake up on this
I am happy I don’t live in New York, and this is just another reason why I won’t live there.
It looks like New York state is vying with California to see who has the nuttiest fruitcakes.
Unfortunately, everything that Obama has done is unconstitutional, but apparently NONE of our Congressmen or Senators have the guts to stand up to him & call for his impeachment, neither Democrat nor Republican. And, this is why so many Tea Party candidates are knocking off long time incumbents. The majority of Americans are tired of the politicians ripping us off, then pointing the finger at someone else. The majority of them are in cahoots to see who can rip off the most money. I still say we need term limits! And, no pay once they leave office, & they have to wait at least 10 yrs before they try to run again.
Are you people in the 4th grade or have you forgot how to read? The article says nothing about banning speech. What it is talking about is you cannot “POST A COMMENT” without identifying yourself. This has nothing to do with a tip line. If you have to comment anonymously then good riddance, identify yourself or keep quite.
go to commiebusrers.com check it out look whos in the white house and congress
do you mean commie busters?
What part of the US CONSTITUTION do these people not think is active ? At the last time I look at that great peice of workmanship, I saw that FREE SPEECH was still LEGAL . Maybe, time for these 2 ( CLOWN ‘ S ) NEW YOIRK STATE LEGISLATORS, you have to understand they are from NY, to read the CONSTITUTION and heed what it says before they shoot off their LAME BRAINED mouths. In other words put mouth in gear before putting mouth and keyboard in motion.
What makes you think that Joe Liberman is for America’s freedom of speech, or anyone that is a Democ-rat, Liberman’s buddy, Progressive Traitor John Mcmcain and Diann Fienstine had that same bill that all the Traitor Senators passed, was throsed out by the Supreme Court saying that was unconstitutional. New York and Calif. are run by Democ-rat Traitors to the freedom of the USA along with their new god, the magic-negro Obama who is a Traitor to the America people and to this Country. Here comes NY pushing it through their state. Where are the people to get up as one voice and say you can’t do that to us. The people are the Government!!!
I really oppose that idea. But, if the Congress were to make a law that said, “Every year on July 4, a National vote shall be taken to select one member of the Federal Government to hang”. I would vote for that and would like to see the result on the character and activities of the members of the Federal Government.
I’ll vote for that! Five stars.
VOTE THEM OUT!
If you want to stop this kind of crap then you have to get out and vote these sorry selfcentered politicians out of office. There is no other way. CLEAN HOUSE IN 2012 – VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBENTS.
I read more and more of this type of thing every day. It’s not restricted to democrats either, as this tale has clearly shown. The republican party has become as listless as the democrat party has become lunatic. It’s no longer left vs right. It’s now manic vs. depresive! I honestly think that each and every elected official, from Streetsweeper to President, has no belief that the Americam public will do anything about it. Honestly, with all the liberals, apathetics, and “uninvolved” persons around these days, they could be right. I’m fed up with all of it. There is a whole raft of changes that need to be made, history to set right, and laws that need straightening out. Will it happen? Only God knows!
Joe Lieberman has turn out to be a real un American kind of politician .He couldn’t make it as a Democrat in name but now as a independent he acts more like a member of the 3 rd Reich calling for more and more control at the same time taking more and more freedoms from everyone. Where is his head at? Obama must feel uncomfortable sitting down ,because he knows exactly where Joe’s head is at all times.
More proof if it’s connected to New York in any way it SUCKS! New York is a Cess Pool maybe Obama will move there with Bloomberg and they will try to mate!
Ohhhhhh! Thats not a pretty picture. Ohhhhh I feel sick now.
I predict Dean Murray and Thomas O’Mara will not get reelected the next time they run. These guys are Republicans? I suspect RINO’s. They need to get the boot!
Demanding that a blogger provide their legal name and home address, leaves them wide open to attacks by nuts, and to having their name put on a government hit list.