When you can't win an election fair and square.....you start tampering with freedom of speech.

Gateway Pundit: Missouri Sheriffs & Top Prosecutors Form Obama "Truth Squads" & Threaten Libel Charges Against Obama Critics

Daily Kos: Drudge Report Lie: Implies Obama "Truth Squad" is Threatening Criminal Prosecution

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Ana
The Republicans have been putting lipstick on a pig for 8 years. Is a pitbull wearing lipstick an attempt to keep us from noticing the pig?

Here's the link to the actual news clip. . .you be the judge.:

Video On Demand | KMOV.com | St. Louis, MO

__________________
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

I did and in my view:

There is at least one person who posts on this board from Missouri, I'll be curious to read her view. As for me, thank gosh I don't live in a red state if that clip is a true sample of what passes for "news".

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Ana
The Republicans have been putting lipstick on a pig for 8 years. Is a pitbull wearing lipstick an attempt to keep us from noticing the pig?

State of Missouri-Governor's Press Announcements - 2008

I don't think anyone should be allowed to air, or print, ads that are lies, regardless of which side they come from. I watch very few ads so I really have no idea what types of ads are running right now. Maybe I should start paying more attention to them.

As far as the statement from Blunt, known in some circles as "The Pocket Governor", I take everything he says with a grain of salt. He forgets to mention that a lot of what is said about him happens to be true. My son-in-law, the family's token Republican, hangs out with him and some of his cronies at times and even he doesn't have too much nice to say about him.

Around here, the D's and R's are all in bed with one another to some extent and although there is jockeying for the top spots, neither side is above making deals with the opposition if the money is good enough.

"The Barack Obama Truth Squad is an initiative based on pure unadulterated Marxism, a Marxism where the end justifies the means. Through the Marxist dialectic, Marxists are taught to lie and to accuse their detractors of lying".

Obama’s Marxism steps out of the shadows and into the public realm

Nice try, but dealing with "lies and misleading television ads" is not the job of local law enforcement. That is up to the FEC, the courts, and possibly the FCC. If the Obama campaign thinks there is something wrong with the ad they can take the advertiser to court.

And exactly who is to decide if it's "misleading?" Or are you suggesting, for example, that local law enforcement should track down advertisers of every commercial to find out if it's true?

The two attorneys call the media to go on record that they will immediately respond to any statements or ads that violate Missouri State ethics laws. The state ethic laws deal with conflict of interest and campaign financial disclosures only. To state otherwise is a lie, misleading, and designed to stifle speech.

It all sounds a little reminiscent:

Main Soviet censorship body, Glavlit employed seventy thousand full-time staff not only to eliminate any undesirable printed materials, but also "to ensure that the correct ideological spin was put on every published item". Telling anything against the "Party line" was punished by imprisonment.

Infuriated committee members (including Drexler) held out at first. Meanwhile an anonymous pamphlet appeared entitled Adolf Hitler: Is he a traitor?, attacking Hitler's lust for power and criticizing the violent men around him. Hitler responded to its publication in a Munich newspaper by suing for libel and later won a small settlement. . . .

Those critical of Hitler's agenda, especially his close ties with industry, were suppressed or intimidated.

I just think these tactics are dangerous. If their is an ad that is a lie, there is nothing from stopping Obama from putting out his own ad debunking it. Or he can sue in civil court for libel. That's what Hilter did. But to ask sherrif's and prosecutors to publicly say they are going to "target" anyone dispersing the lies is pure intimidation. In fact, like stated above, Missouri ethics laws don't have anything to do with whether or not a political ad is a lie. . .to imply it does is pure bs.

My undergraduate degree is in International Relations. . .I mostly studied Soviet history. And to be honest, terms like "Truth Squad" make me cringe.

__________________
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Behold! The McCain Palin “Truth Squad!” Mudflats

The term "Truth Squad" still makes me cringe. I don't care who uses it!

As an aside, I haven't seen any memebers of the McCain/Palin Truth Squad that are in law enforcement and criminal justice going on tv saying they are goinig to "target" people that they think are lying.

__________________
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

I wonder if Obama becomes President how he will try to control the "news".

Newsmax.com – Obama Wants NRA Ads Banned

Video clips of the ads are in the article.
The ad: Hunter
NewsMax - America's News Page

"The Obama camp has been threatening television and radio stations to keep them from airing anti-Obama ads."

"The NRA charged that "Obama and the DNC have been using strong-arm tactics reminiscent of Chicago machine politics to try and cover up the truth and silence NRA by forcing the stations to assist them in hiding Obama's radical anti-gun record."

I watched the video and I didn't see any law enforcement and criminal justice going on tv saying they are going to "target" people that they think are lying. You took it that way because that was the way the right leaning TV station and their talking heads wanted you to take it and you fell into their little scheme. You really should listen again just to the comments of the 2 people. You are being manipulated. It is disgusting.

This is exactly what they said:

We’re hear to respond to any character attacks, to set the record straight,” Joyce told Mills in the report.

McCullough added: “If they’re not going to tell the truth, then somebody’s got to step up and say wait a minute, that’s not the truth, this is the truth.”

On Wednesday, Obama’s Missouri campaign announced U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill would lead a group of Democratic lawmakers, prosecutors and one sheriff “who will be proactive in letting voters in the Show-Me State know the truth in the face of the distortions by the McCain campaign,” according to a news release.

The group includes prosecutors from St. Louis, Dunklin, Lafayette, Cass, Clay, Ripley, Audrain and Jackson counties volunteering to be surrogates for Obama on their own time.

The Missouri Truth Squad will “respond quickly, forcefully, and aggressively when John McCain or his allies launch inaccurate claims or character attacks about Barack Obama, or when they distort Barack Obama’s record or plans.”

In a conference call Saturday with reporters from battleground states, Obama national campaign manager David Plouffe said those who spread lies and mistruths about the Illinois senator have to be “held accountable,” but did not elaborate how.

So, I understand that you are saying they did not say they are going to prosecute peolpe in the news story. BUT. . .it does give that impression. Referring to Ploufffe's statement. What does "held accountable" mean? And what does that imply?

__________________
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Of course it gives that impression. That is what the talking heads were trying to do. That's the manipulation.

These are examples of why the Obama "truth squads" story is so frightening.

Idiot’s Guide to Completely Idiotic Canadian ‘Human Rights’ Tribunals by Mark Hemingway on National Review Online

Mark Steyn Case Wakes Up Canadian Press to Human Rights Tribunals’ Threat to Free Speech

But why did the Obama campaign single out law enforcement and criminal justice members?

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

You post a link to a video where two people talk about 'setting the record straight' and 'letting people know what the truth is' and somehow assume they are going to intimidate people. How do you get to "dangerous" and "pure unadulterated Marxism?" What did I miss? Is there anything more to this you left out?

I'd wonder why people would be upset about those trying to prevent lying? Would you rather those entrusted by the public to enforce laws announce that ethics violations are now welcomed in Missouri? Missouri is becoming a close race. Would you rather they said, "Please bring out of state money here so that you can run fraudulent misinformation campaigns!!"

In Missouri, "good old boy" politics is alive and well - Gov. Blunt isn't running for reelection in a Red state and his administration is being investigated for corruption . My guess is his announcement might be an effort to win him a few points when his ethics violations come before a court.

Should it be surprising Missouri law enforcement people are concerned that out of state money will be brought in to tell lies on television. Much of rural Missouri has a direct relationship between tooth loss and cognitive ability. Many have no access to information other than the television. In SW Missouri, well, lets just say "Abandon reason, all ye who enter there." *shudder*


I am all for truthful advertising and see no reason why the McCain campaign shouldn't be supporting this idea, too.

The ethics laws in Missouri don't have anything to do with truth in adverstising. Why are they implying that they do?

__________________
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

I did not say anything about the "laws of Missouri." So, I ask again, is it okay to lie? And, if not, what exactly is the problem?

I find it somewhat entertaining that those who support an administration that looks at the Bill of Rights as an inconvenience are suddently in an uproar over this. Funny, Funny, Funny. This is classic. "Wah, Wah. Look, those mean democrats are picking on us by insisting we all behave ethically! Make them stop."

Additionally, as if on cue, this is yet one more distraction.

Do you see lies on television? I think it is ok to run whatever you want in a tv advertisement you are paying for. There are FCC rules and libel laws in civil court to cover those things. Why would a prosecutor have anything to do with those? Why, as a prosecutor would you get on tv and imply that you do? If the Obama campaign is worried about lies in tv ads, they should be writing to the FCC. . .not law enforcement and criminal justice members of Missouri.

Speaking of 1st Amendment rights. . .have you seen this?

Fredericksburg.com - Signs of liberty

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."

***For security reasons, do not bring bags. Please limit personal items. NO SIGNS OR BANNERS ALLOWED***
University of Mary Washington | News and Public Information Home Page


ETA: There are more:

Obama to Visit Bristol - No signs or banners will be allowed
I look forward to seeing highlights of this.

Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, is scheduled to hold a town hall-style meeting at 11:45 a.m. Thursday at Virginia High School.(LINK)

Hats off to him for coming, but I will be pursuing change at work.

Ticket distribution for the Bristol event is scheduled to continue from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. today at the Virginia High gym at 1200 Long Crescent Drive, Bristol, Va.; the Boucher for Congress campaign office, 137 S. Court St., Abingdon, Va.; and the United Mine Workers office at 2 Right Miners Drive in Castlewood, Va.
For security reasons, those attending should not take bags and personal items should be limited. No signs or banners will be allowed.

Interesting.

__________________
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Okie Dokie

Yep, that would be under the jurisdiction of the FCC. Why would the Obama campaign ask law enforcement and prosecutors in Missouri to be involved? It's like calling the police department when your house is on fire.

__________________
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

And you wonder why people say they don't trust Obama or there's just something about him that scares them. Hmmm.....

These are the dumbest allegations that I have ever read.

Why? Explain why we shouldn't be concerned.

__________________
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Funny how the cons never batted an eye about McCain's Truth Squads. He has a district attorney from New Mexico and the South Carolina attorney general ready to respond to misleading ads from Obama and Democrats in their respective states.

And despite GOP complaints that the mere presence of prosecutors on the "Truth Squad" could intimidate Obama's critics, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin have used prosecutors on their "Truth Squads" too, prompting no complaints from the GOP at the time.

Largely unreported is the dial-back from reporter John Mills, whose story seemed to imply exactly what the GOP is charging -- that Obama has enlisted a squad of prosecutors to go after anyone who criticizes the Democratic presidential candidate -- but has since said that "in the retelling of the story, it got out of control."

St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch called the notion that he was going to use his official powers to prosecute people who lie about Obama "nonsense."

"I don't know what charge anybody could be talking about there is no such thing; libel is a civil matter entirely," McCulloch said. "What I said was if it is a lie I'll call somebody on it and say that's a lie; tell us the truth. That gets morphed by those with these very sinister motives," the prosecutor said. He added, "It's morphed into 'they are trying to intimidate people into not talking.'"

St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce added in a statement: "As a citizen, I believe that elections should be about issues. I also have enormous respect for our First Amendment and freedom of speech. My sole purpose in participating in this initiative is about getting truthful information to the voters. This has never been or never will be about prosecuting people. Clearly there are those who are attempting to twist the purpose of this initiative for their own benefit. This attack is a great example of how the truth is distorted in campaigns and what we’re trying to stand up against."


Of the concern that prosecutors should not be on truth squads -- which may seem a legitimate criticism -- it could be observed that McCain's South Carolina primary "Truth Squad" included Attorney General Henry McMaster and Seventh Circuit Solicitor Trey Gowdy, a prosecutor.

The recently created "Palin Truth Squad" includes District Attorney of Dona Ana County (NM) Susana Martinez.

Political Punch



National Members Of The Palin Truth Squad:

· Former Governor Jane Swift (R-MA)
· Governor Linda Lingle (R-HI)
· Lt. Governor Sean Parnell, (R-AK)
· Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN)
· Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
· Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
· Congresswoman Thelma Drake (R-VA)
· Congresswoman Mary Fallin (R-OK)
· Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC)
· Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX)
· Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
· Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-MI)
· Congresswoman Sue Myrick (R-NC)
· Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
· Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM)
· Jo Ann Davidson, RNC Co-Chair
· Rosario Marin, Former U.S. Treasurer
· Meg Stapleton, Former Aide To Governor Palin
· Kristan Cole, Lifelong Friend Of Governor Palin

State Members Of The Palin Truth Squad:

· Former Lt. Governor Jane Norton (CO)
· State Representative Amy Stephens (CO)
· State Board of Education Member Peggy Littleton (CO)
· State Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff (FL)
· County Commissioner Mildred Fernandez (FL)
· Former Iowa Senate President And Former U.S. Ambassador To The Eastern Caribbean, Mary Kramer (IA)
· State Representative Jackie Walorski (IN)
· State Representative Laura Brod (MN)
· Former GOP State Party Chairwoman And Former State Rep. Barb Sykora (MN)
· Jayne Millerick, Former NH GOP Chair (NH)
· State Senator Jennifer Beck, Honorary Co-Chair NJ Women For McCain-Palin (NJ)
· Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose, Honorary Vice Chair NJ Women For McCain-Palin (NJ)
· Bergen County Clerk Kathe Donovan, Honorary Co-Chair NJ Women For McCain-Palin (NJ)
· DA Dona Ana County Susana Martinez (NM)
· Former Lt. Gov. Lorraine Bono-Hunt (NV)
· State Senator Barbara Cegavske (NV)
· State Assemblywoman Heidi Gansert (NV)
· Sue Lowden, Nevada GOP Chair (NV)
&# 183; Kay Ayres, OH GOP Vice Chair (OH)
· Betty Montgomery, Ohio Women For McCain-Palin Chair (OH)
· Mary Taylor, Ohio Auditor Of State (OH)
· Margie Hughes, Clackamas County Chair Of Women For McCain-Palin (OR)
· Linda Neace, West Linn Small Business Owner For McCain-Palin (OR)
· Deanna Smith, Women For McCain-Palin Chairwoman (OR)
· Renee Amoore, PA GOP Deputy Chair (PA)
· Joyce Haas, PA GOP Vice Chair (PA)
· State Senator Lisa Baker (PA)
· Diana Irey, Washington County Commissioner (PA)
· Christine Toretti, RNC National Committeewoman and McCain-Palin Pennsylvania Co-Chair (PA)
· Kim Ward, Westmoreland County Commissioner and McCain-Palin Pennsylvania Regional Chair (PA)
· Former First Lady Susan Allen (VA)
· Lori Ann Miller, Young Republican Federation Of VA Chairman (VA)
· Former Lt. Gov. Margaret Farrow (WI)
· Peggy Oban Boze, McCain-Palin Chairwomen For King County (WA)
· Susan McCaw, Former Ambassador To Austria (WA)
· Della Newman, Former Ambassador To New Zealand (WA)

Behold! The McCain Palin “Truth Squad!” Mudflats



But a review of McCain’s own truth squads shows he has a district attorney from New Mexico and the South Carolina attorney general ready to respond to misleading ads from Obama and Democrats in their respective states.

Democrats maintain the GOP has twisted the context of a news report to manufacture this controversy.

“It is the height of absurdity that Governor Blunt would try to deceive voters about the role of respected Missourians across the state who want to see this election be about the truth, not false attacks like the ones we’ve seen today,” said Justin Hamilton, spokesman for Obama’s Missouri campaign. “It’s clear why Missouri voters are rejecting the kind of campaign that they’re running.”

News-Leader.com | Springfield Blogs - Inside Missouri Politics | Springfield News-Leader

Because it is poppy cock and you appear, online, to be someone with more sense than to be dragged into the hysteria promoted by websites whose sole purpose is to create hysteria.

Heres more on one of McCain's truth squads. This McMaster guy must be trying to squash freedom of speech. Shame on McCain.

McCain Ready to Truth-Squad

The South Carolina contingent -- which will issue statements to voters as well as be available to comment to the media -- will include Spears, Attorney General Henry McMaster, House Speaker Bobby Harrell and Seventh Circuit Solicitor Trey Gowdy.

"Our goal is to set the record straight," McMaster said. "As soon as one of these negative attack ads goes up on the air or hits the mailboxes, we'll let the voters know the truth. Hopefully candidates will have learned, given what happened in Iowa, that negative campaigning just doesn't work. But, just in case, we'll be ready."

McCain Ready to Truth-Squad | The Trail | washingtonpost.com

Yes, I know McCain has a Truth Squad :cringe:. Yes I know there are prosecutors on that squad. Have any of them gone on tv. . .with "Prosecutor Blahblah" under their name stating their position? Look, my brother is a prosecutor, and yes it is a political position, as most are elected. However, one has to be EXTREMELY careful to insure their political ties are kept seperate from their job responsibilities and the authority it carries. Maybe it is all innocent. . .but those attorneys should have never agreed to do the interview with their job titles under their names. I am assuming they are smart enough to know what that implies. . .but then again maybe they're not.

__________________
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

So, because a few people agreed to be interviewed by a newsperson in Southern Missouri (shudder) in a way the you disagree with, you (in a broad sense) jump to a hysterical conclusion that Senator Obama is now a Marxist in disguise?

Think about it. There are lots of policy differences to discuss. - the war, the economy, health care to name a few. Please don't dip into the "Obama is a Muslim, terrorist sympathizer, bent on destroying the US and I know it because he doesn't wear a plastic flag pin and his middle name is Hussain" pool.

There are people here I expect to spout the above hysteria, you are not among them ...

If that was the ONLY thing. . .but it's not.

There's the whole radio crap with the NRA. . .

There's the "NO BANNERS OR SIGNS" thing, because of security reasons. . .but security says that's not the case.

It's a pattern of tactics.

__________________
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Since signs are SUCH an issue…

“…attendees are subject to tight security screening: * No oversized bags* No food* No beverages* No weapons * No signs of any kind, neither homemade nor manufactured.The U.S. Secret Service reserves the right to add other items to this list to secure the venue and to perform searches as they are permitted by law.”
Florida GOP Stars Coming Out for McCain | Firstcoastnews.com | Most Popular

I could have listed more but this was the first one I came across and I didn’t want to waste any more of my time on this “issue”.

BUT did you notice “No weapons”? John McCain is against our right to bear arms!!!

And who asked for no signs at that venue?

ETA: Looks like signs were allowed.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...ch&vt=lf&hl=en
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...ch&vt=lf&hl=en



You know what's even more disturbing? The lack of signs at the Obama rally at University of Mary Washington:

http://video.google.com/videosearch?...8&sa=N&tab=wv#

However it you look at this one, you will notice that people close to the podium are allowed to have official Obama campaign signs but the people further out don't have any. How staged is that? :

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...ma&vt=lf&hl=en

__________________
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

This is from the Florida rally where no signs were allowed. I am not saying any candidate does or does not do this. But, it is what it is ....

"Roughly three quarters of the 16,000-seat Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena was empty when McCain took the stage with his wife, Cindy. The empty spots were littered with dozens of signs prepared in advance–the hand-painted ones meant to look like supporter-made signs but were actually made by campaign staffers. Among the discarded, untouched signs: “We (heart) Todd” and “The Winning Team McCain Palin.”

Staged ???? You betcha.

Washington Wire - WSJ.com : McCain Minus Palin Equals Smaller Crowds

I personally have no problem with the no sign rule. It looks like both do it. So ????

So, this "pattern" isn't such a "pattern" after all.

Really, Faux News is bad enough and even they aren't trying to get you all hysterical over this silly stuff. You shouldn't be lurking in those nutty websites if they get you so worked up.

Yeah, that's crappy. I still don't like the "no sign" rule.

__________________
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm