The White House has responded to the deport Piers Morgan petition by giving the right wing a little refresher course on the First Amendment.
In response to the petition to deport “British Citizen Piers Morgan for Attacking 2nd Amendment,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney wrote,
Thank you for participating in We the People to speak out on an issue that matters to you.
Let’s not let arguments over the Constitution’s Second Amendment violate the spirit of its First. President Obama believes that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to bear arms. However, the Constitution not only guarantees an individual right to bear arms, but also enshrines the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press — fundamental principles that are essential to our democracy. Americans may disagree on matters of public policy and express those disagreements vigorously, but no one should be punished by the government simply because he or she expressed a view on the Second Amendment — or any other matter of public concern.
We recognize that the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, sparked an intense, and at times emotional, national conversation about the steps we can take as a country to reduce gun violence. In fact, your petition is one of many on the issue, and President Obama personally responded by sharing his views on this important issue.
In short, President Obama reminded the right that the constitution is not their personal toy. They don’t get to violate the rights of another, or in this case the rest of us, because they disagree with the opinions of others. The right was willing to throw out the freedoms of speech and press, because they were upset over what Piers Morgan said about the Second Amendment.
Obama’s lesson was simple. The Second Amendment is not more important than any of our other constitutionally protected rights.
Consider yourselves schooled “patriots.”
PoliticusUSA
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dar win
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 5:59 pm
but the redcoats are coming! that was the best retort goofy rwnj jones had…
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Meredith Cable
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 6:00 pm
It must be really depressing for the crazy 2nd amendment nuts to have to come to grips with that nasty 1st one!!! Loving it!!
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Jolene Clark
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 2:27 am
Oh, no. The right wing doesn’t “come to grips” with anything! Don’t ya know, in their world, it’s perfectly ok for Alex Jones to push his nutjob mental case performance…that’s free speech. But no one is allowed to argue against it! That’s a violation of the Special Right Wing Nutjob Constitution of ‘Murika!
Poor President Obama, his tongue must bleed daily from biting it.
And yes, I agree, I’d much rather deport the gun nuts (start with Alex Jones) that insist they’re going to lose all their guns. The simple idea that no, we don’t want to take all their guns is just too much reality and common sense for their peabrains. In all my years, I’ve never seen such a messed up bunch of people as the right wingers.
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Beth Humphrey
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 7:57 am
Jolene, you rock! I couldn’t agree with you more. It makes me so happy to see that there are so many people out there, like me and you, that see that. We successfully reelected President Obama, in a landslide election. As bad as things have been, in this country, I have a lot of hope. :)
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Prantha
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 1:33 pm
We ARE the “Silent Majority.”
And it is time for us to speak up against nut jobs like Alex (and Rush and Sean, etc.)
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Matt
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 9:59 pm
A landslide? On what planet? Obama got 51.0% of the vote to Romney’s 47.2%. That’s a difference of 3.8%. That’s not a landslide by any reasonable usage of the word.
I voted for Obama, incidentally, not that that should make a difference. 70% would have been a landslide. +3.8%? Hardly.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 10:03 pm
Wait! Lets think back to Rove predicting that Romney would get 330 electoral votes, and he called it a landslide. Obama got 332 electoral votes and its not a landslide?
Of course, the math is always different for the GOP
It was a landslide by your own party’s say so
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mjh
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 11:04 pm
A landslide? On what planet? Obama got 51.0% of the vote to Romney’s 47.2%. That’s a difference of 3.8%. That’s not a landslide by any reasonable usage of the word.
Sorry Matt, but
REPUBLICANS AGREE: 332 IS A LANDSLIDE!
- “I am no predicting a 330 vote Electoral landslide (for Mitt Romney)” — Larry Kudlow
- “Electorally it won’t even be close . . . I predict a Romney victory by 100 to 120 Electoral votes.” — Wayne Allan Root
- “I’m predicting Minnesota to go for Romney (in a 321-217 landslide)” — George Will
- “We’re going to win by a landslide . . . my own view is that Romney is going to carry 325 Electoral votes.” — Dick Morris
.
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djchefron
Jan. 11th, 2013 at 9:19 am
Ohh Matty can you say moving the goalpost again.When President Obama did health care reform,mind you the first President to get something done other than LBJ with Medicare since Teddy Roosevelt first tried back in 19 freaking 06 he didn’t do enough since we didn’t get unicorns and mints.
President Obama is the first President since Eisenhower to get over 51% of the vote.Twice.Not Clinton,not bush not even the great one ronnie ray-gun.But he dont have a mandate.Its funny that when bush was installed by a judicial coup and pissed away the surplus he said he had a mandate and not a peep was said except when Paul O’Neil said something and he found himself on the unemployment line.
This farce reminds of baseball.Back in the late 60′s Bob Gibson was so dominant,hell his ERA was a run a game.What did they do?They lowered the mound so the hitters could have a chance.
The question is not does President Obama have a mandate.It is whats stopping you from recognizing that he does?
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Brigita Petrutis
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 6:06 pm
I wasn’t so sure of Piers until I started watching him on MSNBC, when I came to sincerely like him and his ability to cut through some sh*t and make the right points. The ensuing controversy is great fun. Leave it to a Brit to hold up the mirror — almost priceless.
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YellowDogYankee
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 8:19 pm
Piers Morgan is on CNN. You might have him confused with another Brit on MSNBC, Martin Bashir. Bashir, who is almost as outspoken as Morgan on the subject of gun control, is on from 4 until 5 in the p.m.
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Brigita Petrutis
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 1:54 am
My mistake. Thanks for the correction. I switch back and forth between the two all day long, forget which is which, sometimes. Until the goofballs show up, then I know it’s CNN.
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Tan Vampire
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 6:27 pm
The 2nd Amendment, Batman Shooting & High Fructose Corn Syrup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvIK4cmzeRY
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tom hubbard
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 7:37 pm
I’d feel safer if they deported the other guy. (In TV interview.)
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karen
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 10:29 pm
They should just throw Engler in jail for sedition.
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Beverley Mundy
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 11:02 pm
Good move Mr. President, its about time you take the bull by the horn and make something happen in Washington. Tired of the bickering from the far right wingers. They should be ashamed of themselves blocking every and anything that comes up for a sensible vote. In their face Mr. President!!!!
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Patriot
Jan. 9th, 2013 at 11:56 pm
First amendment doesn’t apply to foreign nationals. Especially ones that flee jail time.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 12:00 am
The US has extradition agreements with the UK. If he was fleeing jail time he would be back in the UK.
I beleive that the 1st does cover foreigners while in this country.
You are not George Washington. You shouldnt take the name patriot
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dontworry
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 6:05 am
so apparently you must be george washington to be a patriot ?? i think your logic is a little flawed there buddy. moderator or not.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 8:56 am
No, but simply calling yourself a Patriot doesnt make you one. Thinking your part of the tea party doesnt make you one. In general a patriot doesnt call himself a patriot.
A good test of whether or not you are a patriot is to compare yourself to someone like Washington. Who actually was a patriot. Otherwise all you are doing to the word is making everyone in the country a patriot. Is that true?
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djchefron
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 9:41 am
If I may ask,What makes you a patriot?
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dontworry
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 6:09 am
being a moderator i would expect you to know this, but i really feel like instead you’re going to simply moderate my post…
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. ”
no where in there does it say that patriots of the country cannot agree to deport a traitor… it limits CONGRESS and their ability to limit freedom of speech… there is no limitation of actual citizens calling for the deportation of a foreign national blatantly displaying his conflict of interest against our form of government.
go back and re read the constitution you nutcases. you arnt always right just because a criminal gets up and reads off a teleprompter
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dontworry
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 6:20 am
“Once again, Sarah Palin showed her fragile grasp of the Constitution when she claimed that media attacks on her violate her First Amendment right to attack Barack Obama. The problem is that the First Amendment deals with Congress passing laws regulating speech, not the media.”
seems like in other areas you guys already accept and make fun of sarah palin for making the SAME MISTAKE that you guys are making now regarding the FACT that the first ammendment only limits CONGRESS….
so is this politicususa’s way of showing us THEIR OWN fragile grasp of the constitution?? im curious to hear your response, or to see if you censor this out completely for some bogus technicallity
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 9:11 am
It is true. the 1st only limits the government. The constitution gives you no freedom of speech outside the fact that the government cant take it away from you. If you are on other peoples property, this website being a good example, you only have the freedoms that property allows you to have. Hence moderators. You are not covered by the constitution 1st amendment on other peoples property. The constitution is clear. It simply says the government cannot remove that right.
As for Palin, your argument is shot. She knows nothing about the constitution and has proved it. You are proving it for yourself at this moment
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 8:53 am
Who is the traitor?
There is no conflict of interest just becuase someone has an opinion.
Who is the criminal? Someone who doesnt agree with you?
Where in the Constitution does it say foreigners are not covered under our laws?
You really have no argument other than calling people names
I suggest you do some reading and stop running off the hate emotion, because its failing you.
http://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1302&context=facpub
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djchefron
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 9:32 am
So using your logic all representatives who put Israeli interest before the United States should be deported?
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Reynardine
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 10:18 am
Treason is a crime that can be committed only by a citizen against his own country, from which he cannot be deported. You are therefore talking balderdash. Piers Morgan has not said anything even remotely seditious. Your sort do it all the time, saying, inter alia, that your *right* to bear arms is key to your *right* to stage an insurrection, secede, or even assassinate “tyrants”, by which you mean elected officials you didn’t vote for, especially ones that have strange names, strange faiths, dark skins, vulvas, or some combination thereof. The country you claim you are loyal to never existed, not in your romanticized 1950′s or any other time. If anyone stands in the dock for treason, it is likely to be you.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 10:33 am
treason could also be defined as supporting individuals within your country who allow weapons to be illegally sold to another country. Similar to the gun houses who can sell unlimited numbers of weapons to Americans who then immediately sell them across the border for a large profit. Wait, that would mean that the NRA are traitors
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Chris H
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 12:39 pm
Therefore the freak that Piers interviewed, who spoke of fighting the US Government, would technically be talking treason–Luckily, he’s protected by that Darned First Amendment that he seems to hate..Whatta maroon.
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dolphin
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 3:32 pm
Indeed you are free to make yourself look like a fool by demanding the deportation of a person because you don’t like their point of view, no one has argued differently.
But making such demands shows a lack of understanding of the US Constitution because only the government can deport an individual and due to the first amendment, the government CANNOT punish someone for merely having an opinion.
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Rosaleee
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 5:43 pm
You are missing an important detail –
Obama isn’t saying that these groups don’t have the right to REQUEST Morgan’s deportation. That is well within their right as citizens under the 1st amendment.
What he is saying is that FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO *ACTUALLY* deport Morgan based solely on his speech WOULD IN FACT be a violation of the 1st Amendment, which prevents the GOVERNMENT from interfering with free speech.
These gun nuts are demanding that the government suppress Morgan’s freedom of speech by deporting him.
They can demand that all they want. But if the government acceded to those demands, it would violate the 1st amendment.
Got it?
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arguethefacts
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 8:18 am
The 1st Amendment covers ANYONE in this country regardless of nationality as long as the speech does not threaten another’s rights. The classic example being that you can’t yell “FIRE” in a crowded theatre. You do not have to be a US citizen for the 1st Amendment to apply. You can be from a foreign country visiting the US; you can be an illegal immigrant.
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Julie
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 1:17 am
Actually, the entire Constitution protects anyone living on American soil so long as they are here legally. I assume CNN would not hire a journalist, especially one as high-profile as Mr. Morgan, who was a fugitive or otherwise illegally living in the United States, as it would be bad for business. Thus, one can logically assume he is protected by the First Amendment.
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dontworry
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 6:15 am
does it now? whens the last time you read it.. the only group limited by first ammendment right is the government itself.. says nothing about citizens asking for the deportation of a foreign national.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 9:15 am
And where does it give the citizens the right to deport a resident alien? Someone legally here who has committed no crime? Deportation is not done on request, it is donme through the legal system. Can you name a crime Morgan has committed other then having an opinion? I can wait
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paulabflat
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 9:41 am
you DO have the right to call for piers morgan’s deportation, in the streets with noise makers and signs if you want to.* freedom of speech, freedom to let your freak flag fly for all the world to see. you lucky dog.
ask away. DO feel free. knock yourself out.
the president, however, has told us that, based solely on a petition put together by a bag of mixed nuts who want it their way or else, the u.s. will not be deporting piers morgan, it’s not going to happen.
and you can deal with it however your talents will allow. we suggest moderation.
look the word up if you have to.
*i’ve done it myself, numerous times, because i’d like a little peace and quiet in the world. don’t worry, don’t worry, i didn’t get what i wanted either. if hard pressed, i’d have to report that the system is pretty well balanced. nobody’s ever really happy.
oh, if you do take it to the streets, don’t forget your permit. freedom has limits, you know. along with hefty fines. jail time maybe. how far will you go?
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Reynardine
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 10:22 am
You have a right to petition for anything you want, you tinhatted snotpatriot, and the party you are petitioning has a right to deny it.
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Rosaleee
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 5:46 pm
Nobody says they can’t ASK for it.
They can stupidly demand all sorts of ridiculous, illegal actions by the government.
They can say WHATEVER they want.
What they can’t do is expect the government to follow through by suppressing Morgan’s right to HIS free speech.
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KatzKids
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 3:44 am
A Patriot you are not. A Constitutional genius you are not either.
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Daniel Berry, NYC
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 6:39 am
the real substance of the discussion is not whether or not a foreign national criticized conservatives, but conservatives’ reflexive stifling of dissent.
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SinghX
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 7:13 am
It is not just their bias, base upon a cult-like mindset-fantasy of the future, it’s the paranoia tied to their conspiracy theories; Jones’ erruption is only the messenger of these fantastic conspiracies.
One of the trademark tools of an aberrant cult leader is, creating “psychic” predictions based upon future scenarios. These “events” are always geared to happen AFTER a time when the leader/followers will all be dead. Of course!
These kinds of “predictions” keeps followers in a mental state of anxiety, constant alert for “signs”, fear that their leader is right. As soon as one of the futuristic conspiracies loose momentum, the cult leader comes out with a new, more scary, more paranoia, more hyperventilating prediction until the constant loop of nonsense erupts through a surrogate, like Jones.
one more…there is a video of Jones (looks like he set up a home-camera) talking about how CNN had producers meet with him, crying and apologizing for Morgan’s stance, begging his forgiveness…plus, something about CNN providing him security over all the “death threats” he has received. Bhahhahahaaaa!
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djchefron
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 8:39 am
If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpLUM7zZI-U&feature=player_embedded
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 9:17 am
Ah the 60 through the 70′s music. Its not hard to long for that time to return. A very brief time in space when the record companys allowed music to actually have a message other than ho’s and biotches
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Non-Citizen Steve
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 10:10 am
Not according to the UN, sir.
http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/edumat/studyguides/noncitizens.html
Heading III – Rights at Stake.
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James
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 12:38 am
Those in glass houses should not throw rocks.
Piers Morgan like to shoot guns also, for no reason.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediamonkeyblog/2013/jan/07/piers-morgan-gun-stance-media-monkey
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 12:50 am
Get real
“But in a column in the Mail on Sunday, he has revealed he once fired a gun himself – in an indoor shooting range in Prague a few years ago on a stag weekend. ”
He once fired a gun. Hello?
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KatzKids
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 3:45 am
Gotta say that these folks do supply a constant source of unintended comedy. If only they weren’t so completely deranged.
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Darrell
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 1:55 am
Sarah Palin and the rest of the Tea Nuts need to learn that we cannot go around screaming about the U.S. Constitution Amendments. We are not at war with the British in the 21st Century. It is really funny that the Tea Nuts follow Sarah Palin, while she is running straight to the bank. They are broke and Sarah and Family are living the life they never could have imagined.
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JP
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 8:05 am
Even if we stretched the constitution to serve the gun nutters purpose that he is not an American (we know better but play along), he still works for a news corporation that does gain protection under freedom of press. Sorry gun nutters, you lost in two areas.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 9:01 am
And corporations are people. Theres that nasty little citizens united working against the haters
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j
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 8:11 am
Perhaps we should remember that ‘foreigners’ like the British are fighting our crazy wars with us and also dying there, do those people who dislike foreign people think they should support us in wars?
I am not a Piers Morgan fan, but I do not recall his being charged with anything – other than the crime of being an employee of Rupert Murdock’s org.
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A bit of perspective
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 10:14 am
Um, doesn’t he have to be a citizen for the first amendment to apply to him? In 1952′s Harisiades v. Shaughnessy, the Supreme Court upheld the right of Congress to expel noncitizens who were former Communists. I don’t see it as much of a difference.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 10:27 am
Any resident alien is covered by the 1st amendment
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Reynardine
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
At the time of that ruling, there was a presumption at law that the Communist Party unconditionally supported the violent overthrow of the U.S. government and that anyone found to have membership in it was, ipso facto, guilty of sedition, a deportable offense. That ruling was overturned by Rowoldt v. Perfetto in 1986, which held that there had to be an individual finding of seditious conduct.
Seditious conduct apart, the right to speak freely in the United States is the same for an alien as a citizen.
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Reynardine
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
Typo: read, 1956.
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knight4444
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 3:44 pm
The republican party is mad!! stark raving mad! they have an issue with Piers Morgan speaking his mind about issues that aren’t gop propaganda talking points and because he’s British!?? LOL but these same hypocrites lust for Rupert Murdoch (Australian) and Alwaleed Bin Talal (SAUDI) to spoon feed them lies that even the dullest numb skull wouldn’t buy!! My God I feel like todays republican is from another planet!! the world is honesty starting to hate america! and I wonder why? The republican party is bring ruining this nations somewhat decent reputation.
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MC
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 5:56 pm
Pretty hippocritical of the White House with Louie Giglio having to withdraw from giving the inaugural benediction ….. your freedom of speech only happens with you agree with the other person!
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 6:03 pm
“Rev. Louie Giglio has pulled himself out of the presidential inauguration ceremony ”
I would ask you if you understand that statement, but I am afraid it would embarrass you.
2ndly, I would suggest you go read up on freedom of speech. It has nothing to do with this situation
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Ann Williams
Jan. 11th, 2013 at 9:34 pm
I do agree with all you have said in these post. I did watch MSNBC (O’Donnell I think) last night about the Rev. being pulled and it never mentioned that he pulled himself. I was waiting to hear something like that because of his stance. So thank you for the update. Can you give ref. on those statements please. Would like to refer to others that feel the same as above.
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Shiva (Moderator)
Jan. 11th, 2013 at 9:48 pm
http://www.politicususa.com/obama-inaugural-clergy-choice-pokes-stick-eye-mainstream-christians-homosexuals.html
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djchefron
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Reading is Fundamental.
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Rosaleee
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 6:16 pm
For those who bring up “treason,” the following is the definition of treason in Article 3 of the U.S. Constitution:
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.
So, anyone can SAY ANYTHING against the United States. It becomes TREASON only when you take up arms against the government or give aid and comfort to the government’s enemies.
Like, all you folks thinking that the 2nd Amendment gives you the right to take up arms against the government…ummm….that’s TREASON, folks.
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djchefron
Jan. 10th, 2013 at 6:37 pm
The day goober runs outside with his assault rifle,the last sound he will hear is the whoosh of a drone bearing down on his derriere.
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RBJ
Jan. 11th, 2013 at 12:22 am
It is distressing that a large number of people in the US right now think they can deport, harass, and vilify anyone they want just because the person does not agree with them. It is more distressing that some of these people are in power right now. I don’t believe that the Teapubs should get away with disrespecting the President, especially those in power. They are the “role models” that the Teapub Right Wingnuts take their cues from. Piers Morgan should be covered by the first amendment in the same way anyone else is. It is time for the “role models” in the Teaparty stop fomenting a revolution with their crazy conspiracy theories (think Michelle Bachmann) and their total disrespect of both the office and the man that is our President (all the rest of the Teapubs). Hopefully next time we have an election the Teapubs will be gone as a political party. And just a member of the Right Wingnuts at large.
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Mrs. Eileen Curras widow to Hernandez, WWII
Jan. 12th, 2013 at 7:31 am
The United States should get their act together. I do not have a gun and people should talk.
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Joy Richey
Jan. 12th, 2013 at 3:53 pm
Get over it people, it’s been worse before and we survive. President is no worse than any other, look at Bush, and it was he that started this mess. There were no weapons, it was all about killing thousands of innocent people and GOD is still blessing them with more.
Notice we are over there killing innocent people and they are here not doing the same. AMERICA will destroy it’s self and many of Americans will die.
I love this country, the people but they are living a life of sin and GOD is not please.
Can you imagine if Rick Perry or Mitt Romney won we will all be living a life of hell pray for GOD to come down and save up.
GO with the flow people Obama is not that bad at all, he want fairness for all people and fighting Demons in the White house every day who want NWO meaning slavery for all.
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