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by frenchmills from SO ST LOUIS

Last Post 41 days, 10 hours Ago


COULD IT BE THAT GOVERNOR BLUNT IS SPREADING LIBELOUS STATEMENTS?
Sep 28, 2008 | 5:12 PM
Category: Political
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This from a recent news release from Gov. Blunt's Office, which many Republicans are using to depict Barack Obama as a dictatorial oppressor:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290

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.”


Here's the link to the press release: http://governor.mo.gov/cgi-bin/coranto/viewnews.cgi?id
=EkkkVFulkpOzXqGMaj&style=Default+News+Style&tmpl=newsi
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This was in response to another TV station's news report regarding local Prosecutors (St. Louis City and County, Jefferson County) declaring that they will work to stop basically ads or other material disseminated that contains lies or defamation of character and other such.  There is no suppression of free speech as Gov. Blunt seems to make it seem.
17 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 17
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decici68 read my blog
Sep 28, 2008 | 6:00 PM

Do you honestly think that Gov. Blunt would put himself in a position to be sued over something like this.
frenchmills read my blog view my photos
Sep 29, 2008 | 8:00 AM

decici68 -- check the link -- it looks like it comes from his office -- and I haven't heard a word otherwise about this myself.
decici68 read my blog
Sep 29, 2008 | 10:04 AM

Frenchmills I just heard this morning on the radio about this they played a clip from Chan. 4 or 5 I cant remember the t.v station but you can check their websites. Very interesting if it is true that both Prosecuting att. from the city and county signed on for this they need to lose their jobs (just my opp.) along with any law enforcement agency or officer.
JeffcoConservative read my blog
Sep 29, 2008 | 11:03 AM

I agree Osama Obama needs to grow up, he has so many things he needs to hide in his past. This is why he is trying to play Big Brother, and if he gets elected it will certainly get worse.
frenchmills read my blog view my photos
Sep 29, 2008 | 11:30 AM

what Gov. Blunt has done and what you guys are saying is one reason I am becoming more and more liberal. You really turn me off and away from conservatism. You are prime examples of the mindset of single-sighted narrow mindedness.
decici68 read my blog
Sep 29, 2008 | 11:51 AM

What !!!! All I said was that I had heard something about it on the radio how is that single minded. It is now making national head lines come on frenchmills I have read some of your blogs before and this attack seems really out of line for you. And I believe I also said if it is true !!! not that it is true. But what I have heard on local news and on the radio and on the national news its true what Sen. Obama is trying to do and if it makes you feel any better I have heard that the Republicans are tying the same in S.C. on a local level and I think that is wrong also it is called FREEDOM OF SPEECH !!!!!
frenchmills read my blog view my photos
Sep 29, 2008 | 1:57 PM

lying is freedom of speech?
decici68 read my blog
Sep 29, 2008 | 2:49 PM

so lets see frenchmills you voice an opp. based on what you think is truth about Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin but turns out to be a lie then its ok for their lawyers to come into to town with the support of the Prosecuting Att. and file charges against you. And that is what many news outlets local and Nat. are reporting Sen.Obama wants to do. Now come on that is FREEDOM OF SPEECH not a lie.
frenchmills read my blog view my photos
Sep 29, 2008 | 3:31 PM

Last time I heard, libel is a prosecutable offense. If something falls under local libel laws, then the perpetrator should be prosecuted.

These laws protect people. You wouldn't want somebody slandering you, and I am sure you would file a lawsuit or press the local law enforcement to step in.
frenchmills read my blog view my photos
Sep 29, 2008 | 3:32 PM

but What Sen Obama wants to do is ensure that libelous speech is prosecuted.
decici68 read my blog
Sep 29, 2008 | 4:13 PM

Then if we are going to get that nit picky for something that is said during a political campaign then there are alot of people in these blog rooms including you that should have not one many charges filed against them.
SeniorCitizen view my photos
Sep 29, 2008 | 5:19 PM

This has been on fox 2 news and when I was looking at the Alaskan newspaper it is also there.
frenchmills read my blog view my photos
Sep 30, 2008 | 7:57 AM

sorry to be so rash.

I don't think the matter is as big an issue as Republicans are making it to be. And how they are saying it is badly skewing the actual facts of the matter.

They are trying to make this out to be suppression of free speech when all it is is enforcing the laws that are on the books against libelous and slanderous statements.
SeniorCitizen view my photos
Sep 30, 2008 | 4:22 PM

this is from fox 2 news
Obama Campaign Truth Squad In Missouri Drawing Fire

Last Edited: Sunday, 28 Sep 2008, 10:11 AM CDT
Created: Sunday, 28 Sep 2008, 10:11 AM CDT


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By: Betsey Bruce

(KTVI - myFOXstl.com) -- An Obama campaign truth squad in Missouri is drawing fire from GOP Governor Matt Blunt and some national conservative blogs. Nine prosecutors, a sheriff and U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill make up the squad. Critics fear the public will feel intimidated by law enforcement officers operating as a truth squad and that could dampen free political speech.

The McCain campaign also has truth squads positioned to counter criticism of him. Both campaigns fear character attacks and smears from third party groups spending money on television advertising particularly in states like Missouri where the race remains very close. Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said, "We want to make sure these ads first of all if they are illegal they are not able to run."

The Rush Limbaugh website said prosecutors on the Missouri Obama Truth Squad "threaten to prosecute anti-Obama speech." St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch insisted such claims were "nonsense." "I don't know what charge anybody could be talking about there is no such thing; libel is a civil matter entirely," said McCulloch.

Missouri's Republican Governor Matt Blunt posted his reaction on the taxpayer financed state web site. Blunt charged the purpose of the squad "is to frighten people away from expressing themselves,

SeniorCitizen view my photos
Sep 30, 2008 | 4:24 PM

this is from fox 2 news
Cont Blunt charged the purpose of the squad "is to frighten people away from expressing themselves, to chill free and open debate, to suppress support and donations to conservative organizations." He called the action "reminiscent of the Sedition Acts-not a free society."

McCulloch strongly rejected Blunt's argument. "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.'"

Newly undecided voter Joan Lipkin thinks the constant attacks from both sides are hurting the nation. Lipkin is a playwright and former Hillary Clinton supporter. " I think any kind of truth squad should be bi-partisan," she said adding, "they should be composed perhaps of people who are political science professors and maybe they should be ethicists and religious and spiritual leaders, educators. I don't think they should be public officials who have clear ties to one campaign or another."

Lipkin also expressed concern for free speech. "The real issue is creating an atmosphere of intimidation that makes it difficult for typical citizens to engage in free speech," she explained.
SeniorCitizen view my photos
Sep 30, 2008 | 4:25 PM

Cont
Lipkin also expressed concern for free speech. "The real issue is creating an atmosphere of intimidation that makes it difficult for typical citizens to engage in free speech," she explained.
frenchmills read my blog view my photos
Sep 30, 2008 | 6:27 PM

thank you -- SeniorCitizen
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frenchmills

an avid Missourian 64 years old and married, with children in Colorado, hence the photos from there, and step children here and all have grown up quite well thank you. wish I could go mountain climbing again - just have to settle for the Ozark Mountains instead of the Rockies. Young years spent in North St. Louis County, then teen years in Hyde Park Neighborhood of North St. Louis. Lived in all parts of Missouri, have family in rural Missouri, lived in the Ozarks for about 4 years. Lived in Springfield Mo for another 6, Lived also in Columbia and Kansas City. Returned to St. Louis November 1970 and have live in South St. Louis ever since, have seen many changes, but have seen that the City has remained mainly stable, even grown and attracted young urban professionals with good incomes, an ingredient for a healthy community. Have seen first-hand the circumstances of the disadvantaged of the City. I know somewhat what is going on there.

Member Since: 4/9/2007


 

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