{"id":210,"date":"2009-08-11T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2009-08-11T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/lynnvsekulow\/2009\/08\/silencing-the-critics.html"},"modified":"2009-08-11T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2009-08-11T08:00:00","slug":"silencing-the-critics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/2009\/08\/silencing-the-critics.html","title":{"rendered":"Silencing the Critics"},"content":{"rendered":"

Barry, there’s a troubling pattern developing as the White House and Congressional leadership embark on a campaign to silence their critics – especially when it comes to concerns about health care.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

Example One:  <\/span>Last week, in an official White House release <\/a><\/font>from Macon Phillips, the White House Director of New Media, the White House launched what can only be described as a citizen reporting initiative on the White House website.  <\/span>Phillips claimed that “[t]here is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there” both on the web and floating around in chain emails.  <\/span>He stated that “[s]ince we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to <\/font>flag@whitehouse.gov<\/font><\/a>.”<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The White House is asking Americans to report on those Americans who disagree with the President’s policy choices on health care.  <\/span>The White House is also implying that you should think twice before sending an email disagreeing with the President, since it might end up being forwarded to them.  <\/span>The White House email address says it all – let’s ‘flag’ those who disagree with us.  <\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font>What’s worse, this turns the White House into some sort of self-appointed ‘speech police’ – urging Americans to monitor and report those who engage in ‘fishy’ speech.  <\/span>What will the Obama Administration do with those names?  <\/span>Who will be ‘flagged’ next?  <\/span>It’s not only wrong, it directly contradicts President Obama’s repeated promise to conduct a more open and transparent government.  <\/span>We have sent a letter to President Obama<\/a> <\/font>urging him to rescind this initiative.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Even the ACLU expressed concern <\/a>about this program <\/font>saying that it is a “bad idea that could send a troublesome message.”<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Example Two:  <\/span>Does free speech only apply to the Congressional leadership who insist on criticizing the critics – instead of addressing the real concerns about health care?<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In an opinion editorial in USA Today<\/a>,  <\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font>House Speaker Pelosi and House Majority Leader Hoyer label those who are protesting against President Obama’s policies as ‘un-American.’<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And Senate Majority Leader Reid <\/a>has accused those speaking out against health care policies of trying to ‘sabotage’ the democratic process.  <\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font>Example Three:  <\/span>Members of Congress don’t want to take the heat for health care policies that most Americans reject.  <\/span>In Georgia, Congressman David Scott <\/a><\/font><\/p>\n

berated one of his own constituents at a town hall meeting – shouting down <\/font>a medical doctor who had concerns about the policies and wanted to know why Congressman Scott supported them.<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Barry, I do not support the violence and threats that sadly have become part of this debate.  <\/span>Some clearly have crossed the line.  <\/span>But, come on, there’s a disturbing pattern developing here – from the White House to Congressional leadership – pulling out the stops to intimidate – and silence – those who may disagree with President Obama and his policies.  <\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font>Our country was founded on a belief in the necessity of free and open discourse on the important policies and political issues of our day.  <\/span>Let Americans speak out – without the fear of being ‘flagged’ by the White House for making ‘fishy’ comments or called ‘un-American’ because they have strong opinions.<\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/span> <\/p>\n

To subscribe to “Lynn v. Sekulow” click <\/font>here<\/font><\/a>.<\/font><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/span>  <\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Barry, there’s a troubling pattern developing as the White House and Congressional leadership embark on a campaign to silence their critics – especially when it comes to concerns about health care.   Example One:  Last week, in an official White House release from Macon Phillips, the White House Director of New Media, the White House…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[59,8,36,217,123],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-censorship","category-congress","category-free-speech","category-health-care","category-president-barack-obama"],"yoast_head":"\nSilencing the Critics - Lynn v. 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Jay Sekulow has also served as a faculty member for the Office of Legal Education at the United States Department of Justice.  As a member of the faculty he instructed Assistant United States Attorneys and investigators in the First Amendment issues associated with prosecution of obscenity. An accomplished and respected judicial advocate, Sekulow has presented oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in numerous cases in defense of constitutional freedoms. Several landmark cases argued by Sekulow before the U.S. Supreme Court have become part of the legal landscape in the area of religious liberty litigation.  In the Mergens case, Sekulow cleared the way for public school students to form Bible clubs and religious organizations on their school campuses.  In the Lamb's Chapel case, Sekulow defended the free speech rights of religious groups, ensuring that they be treated equally with respect to the use of public facilities.  And, most recently, in McConnell v. FEC, Sekulow ensured that the constitutional rights of young people remain protected with a unanimous decision by the high court guaranteeing that minors can participate in political campaigns. A nationally recognized and respected defender of religious freedom, Sekulow has assembled one of the most prestigious law firms in the nation.  Founded in 1990, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses in constitutional law.  The ACLJ, under Sekulow's direction, is involved in public interest and public policy issues working to protect religious and constitutional liberties. In 2007, the Chicago Tribune concluded that the ACLJ has \"led the way\" in Christian legal advocacy.  In 2005, TIME Magazine named Sekulow one of the \"25 Most Influential Evangelicals\" in America and called the ACLJ \"a powerful counterweight\" to the ACLU.  Business Week said the ACLJ is \"the leading advocacy group for religious freedom.\"  Sekulow's work on the issue of judicial nominees - including possible vacancies at the Supreme Court - has received extensive news coverage including a front page story in The Wall Street Journal.  In addition, The National Law Journal has twice named Sekulow one of the \"100 Most Influential Lawyers\" in the United States (1994, 1997).  He is also among a distinguished group of attorneys known as \"The Public Sector 45\" named by The American Lawyer (January\/February 1997).  The magazine said the designation represents \"45 young lawyers outside the private sector whose vision and commitment are changing lives.\" Sekulow brings insight and education to listeners daily with his national call-in radio program, Jay Sekulow Live!, which is broadcast throughout the country on nearly 850 radio stations.  Sekulow also hosts a weekly television program, ACLJ This Week, which tackles the tough issues of the day and is broadcast on a number of networks nationwide including the Trinity Broadcasting Network and FamilyNet.  Sekulow is also a popular guest on nationally televised news programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, CNBC, and PBS.  He frequently contributes articles and commentary to national publications and is often quoted in the nation's leading newspapers including USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Washington Times. A graduate of Mercer University, Sekulow graduated cum laude receiving both a bachelor's degree and doctor of jurisprudence from Mercer University where he served on the Mercer Law Review as an editorial staff member.  Following graduation, Sekulow served as a tax trial attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service.  In that capacity, Sekulow prepared and brought to trial tax cases on behalf of the United States Department of Treasury in United States Tax Court. He also received a Ph.D. from Regent University, with a dissertation on American Legal History, and is the author of numerous publications and law articles. Sekulow serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for The Supreme Court Historical Society in Washington, DC.","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/author\/jsekulow"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/163"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=210"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}