GOP Senator: White House Encroaching on First Amendment

[thundley4]

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports:

A Republican senator is calling for the White House to suspend a new project that asks members of the public to flag “fishy” claims about President Obama’s health care plans, arguing that it raises privacy concerns and will serve to chill free speech.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is sending a letter to the White House (PDF of letter),today asking the president to “cease this program immediately” -- or to explain how Americans’ privacy will be protected if e-mails are forwarded to the White House as requested.

“I am not aware of any precedent for a President asking American citizens to report their fellow citizens to the White House for pure political speech that is deemed ‘fishy’ or otherwise inimical to the White House’s political interests,” Cornyn writes

“I can only imagine the level of justifiable outrage had your predecessor asked Americans to forward emails critical of his policies to the White House. I suspect that you would have been leading the charge in condemning such a program -- and I would have been at your side denouncing such heavy-handed government action.”

ABC News

I don't know if this will get covered on air by the MSM, but FNC did cover it this morning.  Hopefully , more than a few people get pissed about this.

[rich_t]

I'm pretty pissed about it.

[Eupher]

It'd be interesting to see if Lord Zero actually responds in writing and, if so, whether or not he actually answers the questions.

[thundley4]

I'm surprised that the page hasn't been changed and that little blurb sent down the memory hole.  0Bama and his handlers are quite good at changing their websites. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Facts-Are-Stubborn-Things/

[Chris_]

Unless he has his best friend the teleprompter he wont be able to be understood anyway without those ummms

[debk]

Fox has been reporting on Cornyn's letter all day and evening....