Sunday, September 28, 2008

Obama’s 'Truth Squad' Threatens Freedom of Speech


A bold maneuver, unprecedented in American politics, has pitted the Obama campaign against freedom of speech. Missouri authorities will pursue criminal charges against those who speak “falsely” against Barack Obama.

Enlisting Missouri law enforcement to intimidate people and kill free debate is reminiscent of the Sedition Acts - not a free society.” (From a statement issued by Governor Matt Blunt on Sept. 24)

St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce and St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Bob McCulloch, both members of The Obama Truth Squad, have threatened to bring libel charges against those who speak out falsely against Barack Obama. Some say that such threats by Missouri authorities to pursue criminal charges violate civil rights. Many see this as an attempt by the Obama campaign at voter intimidation.

KMOV has a Sept. 23 video news report on this story. The report clearly shows involvement by the Obama campaign. This is an excerpt from the KVOV report:

“Sen Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign is asking Missouri law enforcement to target anyone who lies or runs a misleading television ad during the Presidential campaign . . . Prosecutors and sheriffs from across Missouri are joining something called the Barack Obama Truth Squad . . .”

According to Saint Louis CofCC Blog the attempts by the Obama campaign at voter intimidation are clear, but in actuality “virtually nobody that levels criticism at Barack Obama can be charged criminally for doing so.”

The implication here is also clear — if people with badges and guns are getting involved, they want Obama critics to shut up lest some cop will arrest them and send them to jail. We also found out from this news clip that this is indeed all at the behest of the Obama campaign. . .

Based on the 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court landmark decision, New York Times vs Sullivan, Saint Louis CofCC Blog goes on to explain that if a “prosecutorial authority brings criminal libel charges against a defendant on behalf of a plaintiff, as McCulloch and Joyce are threatening to do, then the prosecutor has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to twelve out of twelve jurors that the defendant knowingly said or wrote something factually incorrect about the defendant.”

The two key concepts here are “knowingly” and “factual.” Successful civil libel lawsuits brought by public figures are exceedingly rare, because it’s very difficult to prove that the defendant “knowingly” said or wrote something factually incorrect. Criminal libel prosecutions thereof, because they require a unanimous jury and a higher legal standard of proof, are virtually impossible.


As for “factual,” it means that the statement made cannot relate to an opinion. If you say that Barack Obama isn’t really a Christian, that’s not a statement of fact, because religion is mostly subjective. The Catholic Church still really doesn’t consider Protestants to be Christians, and in some cases, some radical Protestants don’t think that Catholics are really Christians. Therefore, if one says that Barack Obama isn’t a Christian, it isn’t actionable, because it’s somebody’s opinion. Now, if Obama were a Catholic, and really was Confirmed as such, and someone for whom that it can be proven does know he is a Confirmed Catholic goes out and says that he isn’t, that’s actionable. The reason is that Confirmation in the Catholic Church is (usually) provable by ecclesiastical records.

Federal civil rights lawsuits could be brought against Missouri officials and the Obama campaign under several statutes such as the First Amendment Retaliation (under 42 USC Section 1983), or “under the KKK Act (42 USC Section 1985) – it is unlawful for two or more persons to form a conspiracy to use threats or intimidation to prevent the exercise of civil rights (including voting).”

Instapundit.com has listed several other attempts at free speech intimidation by the Obama campaign.

Stephen Kruiser of America Needs Me writes:

. . .There is a disturbing pattern of thuggish behavior by Obama and his supporters. Obama himself finally let the mask slip for a moment when he told supporters to go out and “get in peoples’ faces”. He then dispatched his minions to threaten and silence critics.

The Fredericksburg Free Lance Star has an editorial about the Obama campaign banning signs and banners during his rally Saturday at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia.

. . .Mr. Obama, the Democratic nominee for president, is scheduled to speak at a rally at the university today. The public is invited to this forum, on property it, the public, owns. However, signs and banners will not be allowed, according to the organizers and compliant campus officials. Suddenly, UMW is a First Amendment-Free, or at least a First Amendment-Crippled, Zone, subject to the self-serving preferences of politicos. Why does an Obama rally–or a McCain rally or a Nader rally–justify taking a little off the top of Americans’ most fundamental rights?


A UMW spokeswoman says that the Obama campaign required the sign-and-banner ban. That campaign tells us that the ban is for “security” reasons. But a spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service, responsible for protecting presidential candidates, says that the service has no objection to signs at rallies, provided that no “part of the sign could be used as a weapon”–e.g., a heavy metal pole or a sharpened stick. Finally, the McCain campaign tells us, “We encourage people to make signs at our events.” . . .


The First Amendment guarantees the freedoms of religion, speech, the press, peaceable assembly, petition of the government. Will one who aspires to the title Defender of the Constitution begin inhibiting these First Freedoms even before he is in office--at a public university?

Some are drawing inferences that Obama’s Truth Squad is a precursor to Obama’s plan for a civilian national security force. In July World Net Daily wrote:

Democrat Sen. Barack Obama's stunning assertion in a recent speech that the U.S. needs a "civilian national security force" that would be as powerful, strong and well-funded as the half-trillion dollar Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force is not included in published transcripts of his prepared remarks. . . Campaign officials have declined to return any of a series of WND telephone calls over several days requesting comment. Nor have they posted a transcript of the speech on their website.

Gatweay Pundit warns Obama Stalinist Police State Already Taking Form

. . .Reminiscent of the beginning of the Stalin purges, the Obama “Truth Squads” seem to be the beginning of Obama’s plan to end free speech and create a police state that is beholden only to its secular messiah. Note: Stalin’s purges were affected by his country-wide police forces to silence political opponents. The Obama campaign has also advised Missouri law enforcement throughout the state to look for anything that the Obama campaign determines a lie. . . One of the most frightening aspects of all of this—as if it could become any more horrific—is that Missouri law enforcement now appears to be following Obama’s marching orders and it is being allowed to get away with these gangster tactics! . .

Here’s the statement issued by Governor Matt Blunt on Sept. 24.


Gov. Blunt Statement on Obama Campaign’s Abusive Use of Missouri Law Enforcement


JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Matt Blunt today issued the following statement on news reports that have exposed plans by U.S. Senator Barack Obama to use Missouri law enforcement to threaten and intimidate his critics.


“St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Bob McCulloch, St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer, and Obama and the leader of his Missouri campaign Senator Claire McCaskill have attached the stench of police state tactics to the Obama-Biden campaign.


“What Senator Obama and his helpers are doing is scandalous beyond words, the party that claims to be the party of Thomas Jefferson is abusing the justice system and offices of public trust to silence political criticism with threats of prosecution and criminal punishment.


“This abuse of the law for intimidation insults the most sacred principles and ideals of Jefferson. I can think of nothing more offensive to Jefferson’s thinking than using the power of the state to deprive Americans of their civil rights. The only conceivable purpose of Messrs. McCulloch, Obama and the others is to frighten people away from expressing themselves, to chill free and open debate, to suppress support and donations to conservative organizations targeted by this anti-civil rights, to strangle criticism of Mr. Obama, to suppress ads about his support of higher taxes, and to choke out criticism on television, radio, the Internet, blogs, e-mail and daily conversation about the election.


“Barack Obama needs to grow up. Leftist blogs and others in the press constantly say false things about me and my family. Usually, we ignore false and scurrilous accusations because the purveyors have no credibility. When necessary, we refute them. Enlisting Missouri law enforcement to intimidate people and kill free debate is reminiscent of the Sedition Acts - not a free society.”


Trackposted to http://morewhat.com/wordpress/?p=3214, Rosemary's Thoughts, Democrat=Socialist, and The World According to Carl, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

23 comments:

  1. I've been writing about this flake's CNSF for almost forever.

    Czarbie is a Clear and Present Danger.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What next, abolishing the Fifth Amendment?

    BA

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  3. Blunt's comment is very forceful, but where does he say Missouri will prosecute them?

    Sheriffs were involved. That cannot be legal.

    At a Virginia Obama rally yesterday, signs were banned! Obama says in the interest of safety!

    This indeed is the way the man thinks about his own civilian militia.

    It gets worse every day.

    Maggie

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  4. Maggie you've asked some very good questions. I am pleased to know that more and more blogs are picking up on this story today. This is the only way to force the left-leaning media to take note and actually cover this story!

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  5. When his first statement on the Civilian National Security Forces hit, I sent audio clips to the various news agencies to no avail. We talked about this for almost forever on the Blog Talk Radio circuits and I have at least 20 blog posts on this subject.

    Glad to see others getting in there!

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  6. Haha! Democrats are sissies. They can not be thuggish or intimidate people if their lived depended on it. They probably had to hire some republicans to do that for them. Luckily republicans will do anything for money.

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  7. Dave:

    You should ask Obama to denounce this Rovian tactic in Missouri, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania and to instruct his lawyers in the Borg case - other Republicans of course - to disclose a small piece of paper with the name of her mother on it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. http://www.politickerpa.com/wallyedgepa/1828/obama-launches-pa-truth-squad

    Obama either wants to have this issue discussed I guess or does not read blogs.

    BA

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  9. Good job at getting this all in one spot......

    The Manchurian Messiah is covered in so much dirt its a wonder how he is even still allowe dto run and keep his senate job...

    WE have to shout from the highest mountains.... I email several times a day to representatives all over the country

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  10. Thanks buffoon for your comments. i agree that we need to be shouting from the highest mountains. It's great that you are writin our reps so much!

    ReplyDelete
  11. .
    Great job with this, sounds like real near 'Brown-Shirt' tactics on Obama's part. I’m sure Obama will fix all the problems perfectly. All progress is possible and positive if we just hope.
    .
    People should vote on the real issues and a candidate's true character and political leanings, not just a bunch of populist fluff.

    People are hypnotized with Obamamania and his Obammunism. Good fodder for Obama posters here. Posters about him reflect this puppy dogs, doves and rainbows feeling. The Obama Utopia.

    If Obamassiah doesn't get POTUS in 2008 and if he can stay pretty clean, do some good things as Senator, and then become Governor of IL, he could be unstoppable in 2012 or 2016. Scary stuff.

    I would dearly love to see a Jewish, African-American woman as POTUS. It's not race or gender that makes it for me though. It's political beliefs that matter, and socialism is bad for everybody, (accept those high in government or high-level academia) especially poor people, of all races. Obama is a dyed-in-the-wool Marxist, no thanks.

    His 'Change', 'Hope' and 'Progress' mantras are actually somewhat self-mocking. Making your own Obama posters is totally addicting.
    I laughed so hard I almost had a breakdown. LOL!

    :)
    .
    absurd thought -
    God of the Universe says
    pretend to be moderate

    move towards the center fast
    enrage your Left wing early

    .
    absurd thought -
    God of the Universe says
    befriend a bomber

    pushing for change at all costs
    sacrifices must be made

    .
    absurd thought -
    God of the Universe says
    only feel and hope

    please force people to change
    change can only be good

    .
    absurd thought -
    God of the Universe says
    NEVER ELECT a woman

    OR a minority
    if they are Right of center

    .
    absurd thought -
    God of the Universe says
    you must be a racist

    if you vote for a white man
    it can't be his politics

    .
    All real freedom starts with freedom of speech. Without freedom of speech there can be no real freedom.
    .
    Make Some Obama Posters NOW!
    .
    Che Makes Money for Capitalists
    .
    Help Halt Terrorism Now!
    .
    USpace

    :)
    .

    ReplyDelete
  12. ah yes he will squelch us all if he gets the chance!..great stuff !

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  13. Can anyone say Gestapo?

    That's what Obama is proposing and trying to create.

    And people don't want to call him Hitler?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Findalis:

    At this stage, one should compare Obama's thugs to SA (Sturmabteilung) or SS (Schutzstaffel). The Gestapo was created by Hitler only after he became chancellor of Germany.

    I agree with your comment. Gestapo might be misinterpreted by Obama's people though. I'm sure they will not mind being compared to the SA or SS.

    ReplyDelete
  15. My Mother and Father could not shut me up.

    My teachers could not shut me up.

    Many men have tried unsuccessfully to shut me up and failed miserably.

    If this little twirp wants to give it a go, I say, "BRING IT ON!"

    I'll be damned if I go down without a fight. :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. where is the objection to $700 billion socialism for wall street? that step toward socialism is a much greater and more imminent danger than anything you fear BHO could do to this country. y'all don't mind socialism as long as it fits in your world view and subsidizes your golden calves.

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  17. I see the little socialist coward from Irvine is here.

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  18. Now, Now folks let’s give Mark in Irvine credit for at least walking into the lion’s den. He hasn’t asked himself why Pelosi and the Democrats were solidly behind Bush’s $700 billion bailout, now has he? He doesn’t want to know why most Republicans, and about 90% of America, are against the bailout. He even thinks we have golden calves. Let’s don’t upset him. I’m sure he’s a very nice, but misguided, person.

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  19. You all must not have paid attention to my comment - the taxpayers (ME!) are being asked to subsidize the failure of businesses that gave HUGE rewards to the people who ultimately ran them into the ground. That's socialism, not capitalism. I see "snooper" is as charming and polite as ever.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I write a conservative blog that was down yesterday because it was hacked by the Obamadelusionals.

    The Obama minions only believe that First Amendment rights apply to them. Any differing opinion is eventually the victim of smear campaigns, outright censorship or electronic sabotage.

    The irony is that leftists like Naomi Wolf, author widely-read propaganda about conservatives like Sarah Palin asserting Gestapo tactics. In reality, it is always the left actually engaging in such behavior.

    This was the blog that was hacked:
    http://www.livebreatheanddie.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. the truth squads have been in the campaign since long before he won the primary. this is hardly news. the missouri prosecutors said they would take legal action if the state ethics laws are violated.

    is there any problems with the missouri prosecutors doing their jobs? i don't understand this. and i'm not voting for obama so don't call me some left wing crazie just because i question a lot of the garbage out in our political process.

    ReplyDelete

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