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Censorship and the "New" Media?

Call me an idealist -- odd label for a pragmatic Conservative. When I began blogging over two years ago, I believed that the use of this "new media" would provide an open forum for everyone. I guess only SOME of the "new media" bloggers like myself prefer an open forum. Others, delete comments and ban people who express a differing point of view. That's a shame.

It makes no sense to me for bloggers to put their thoughts out to the world if they don't intend to engage differing voices and perspective. Why would a person even bother to put in the time to write? Why not stand in front of a mirror and talk to yourself? Censoring the comments section of a blog is the same thing... oh, well maybe your friends are hanging out in front of the mirror with you, nodding and parrotting what you think. THAT would be the general idea behind writing and then censoring those who take the time to comment with their differing views.

This, my friends, is the problem with "old media" (and megalomaniacs) trying to fit into a "new media" world. Such is the case recently on The Lexington Herald-Leader's "Pol Watchers" blog. The old media, Herald-Leader, is now treating the comments section like a "Letters to the Editor" submission. That was the old paradigm; editors decided whose views were suitable to be printed.

When the editors at the Pol Watchers blog became discomfited by the expression of anger by state employees who have very strong opinions on the story they posted, they went into censorship mode and cut the comments. These comments expressed their anger and distrust as it pertained to the hearing of Mark Nickolas's "free speech" lawsuit in which, ironically enough, Nickolas claims to have had his right to free speech infringed upon by the state. Irony of ironies!

Of all voices that are pertinent to this particular story, it seems to me that the Bluegrass Report's "target audience" of state employees are the most pertinent. Granted, these folks were angry enough to use some strong language in their commentary; however, at what point does that make their comments any less legitimate than others? In the new media, free speech should be as easy as pie. Nickolas himself censors the comments on Bluegrass Report and is unapologetic about it. So, is Pol Watchers now willing to squelch the free speech of its readers and represent the same level of censorship as Bluegrass Report? It certainly seems so.

In the interest of preserving the very important voice of these state workers, presented below is an email I received from these state employees and the full text of the Pol Watchers comment thread before they were censored/cut:

To Whom It May Concern,

The online Herald-Leader Pol Watchers deleted my wive's (sic) and my post last night. To set the stage for you, we had read the Pol Watcher article called, "Judge Holds Hearing on Bloggers' Lawsuit." In the comments was a reference to the bipartisan article that you both printed. After reading the piece from your blogs we posted similar comments in both conservachick.com and theruraldemocrat.blogspot.com and then posted the same comment at Pol Watchers. That all happened around 8:30-9:00 pm last night.

Before bed, we checked all locations to see if any other posters had commented. We found that John Stamper had DELETED OUR POSTS at Pol Watchers around 12:30! We were outraged!

We know that taxpayers do not think highly of state workers. It is not uncommon to have some hard workers together with less than average workers in all areas of employment. The same goes for state government. There are many hard working, intelligent people and then there are the less than average.

It is hard enough to shake that reputation without adding insult to injury when the State Treasurer tries to cram his propaganda slander-house blog down our throats because we have become his target audience. My wife and I are highly offended by his plot to brainwash us and all state employees.

We don't know what Stamper's motivation for deleting our comments were. What we do know is that for some reason John Stamper did not want other state workers, or the general public for that matter, making the same connection my wife and I did.

We reposted our comments on Pol Watchers with a preface to Mr. Stamper that we were sending Stamper's comment regarding deleting our post and our new posts to Judge Caldwell, Mitch McConnell, Ben Chandler, John Yarmouth, and Geoff Davis. That message is still up. There has been no more deleting as of the writing of this email.

Do you all think the reason the media is not printing anything about Miller & Nickolas is because they do not want state workers thinking for themselves either? Is it possible the press wants Miller in the governor's office? The whole thing is disgusting. It is appalling and an insult that our State Treasurer thinks state employees are pliable and unable to think on their own. Most likely Miller is using our hard earned tax money to pay that disgusting creature, Nickolas, to brainwash state employees.

I don't know if Stamper will delete our posts again. In the event he does, we copied the portion here. I had to laugh at Stamper's threat of, "If that continues, we'll be forced to monitor all comments, which means many comments might be delayed for hours, if not days, before they appear on the site." The irony in that threat is funny since the whole article is about "banning" the right to free speech!

My wife and I think he hasn't deleted our subsequent post because he is afraid of what the judge, McConnell, Yarmouth etc., will think and do if he does?

Thank you both for letting us know what the media is hiding from us. You all are really keeping them on their toes.

Good luck in your efforts,
[Name withheld for privacy]



Here in full is the comment thread from PolWatchers that includes the deleted comments from the state employees:

"This blog is not a place to engage in name calling. I've had to delete a few posts today on this thread because someone couldn't be adult enough to comment without
resorting to personal attacks. If that continues, we'll be forced to monitor all comments, which means many comments might be delayed for hours, if not days, before they appear on the site. That type of delay sort of defeats the purpose of allowing comments in the first place and would be a major hindrance to those who like to use the blog to debate policy and analyze political maneuvers. For the time being, folks who want to comment will have to supply an email address."
Posted by: John Stamper January 14, 2007 at 12:24 AM

"Mr. Stamper, By deleting my post and my wife's post you have just illustrated why you do not report the news. You are acting just as corrupt as he is. Here it is again, I have copied this post to Judge Karen Caldwell (JUDGE HEARING NICKOLAS' BOGUS LAWSUIT), John Yarmouth, Mitch McConnell, and Ben Chandler, Geoff Davis. How dare you pull Nickolas deletion because you don't like the facts. ARE YOU ON MILLER'S PAYROLL TOO? This post HAS to do with the topic of banning and has to do with Miller & Nickolas who are both the blog OWNERS!

Mr. Jonathan Miller,
You little corrupt piece of dung. I have been a state worker since before you were crapping yellow. I don't need your malicious, hateful, vulgar, slander house you call a political blog to "influence" me!!!! You don't know a damn thing about the state working man. We don't need your brainwashing machine. We are quit capable of deciding what "state policy" we need without your propaganda machine from that vile, nasty, creepy, malicious Mark Nickolas that you hired to get YOUR message out to ME, YOUR "most important target audience." I hope you rot where all corrupt politicians rot. You have no respect for the state working man. I have no respect for you, pal. For your information Mr. Treasurer (young punk) who thinks I am too stupid to formulate my one opinion on "state policy." I graduated magna cum laude from Cornell University with a Masters Degree in Engineering. Do you think that State employees are stupid? Do you think we are elementary school drop outs? You are just a disgusting individual.

PS. Here is my one opinion on "state policy." Get rid of corrupt, lying, cheating, malicious creeps like YOU and Mark Nickolas."
Posted by: max January 14, 2007 at 01:14 AM

"Mr. Stamper,
I have copied the entire thread including my post. I have sent it to Judge Karen Caldwell and Governor Fletcher's lawyers. If you delete my post again, it will be interesting to hear why you deleted such a relevant post when you are brought in to testify as a witness FOR the governor. Maybe the gov's lawyers will ask, "Is there some reason you coddle Miller & Nickolas." Maybe the Governor's lawyers will want to see your emails?"
Posted by: max January 14, 2007 at 01:19 AM

"Mr. Stamper, This too shall make it's way to Judge Karen Caldwell and all other elected officials named above. My wife insisted on having her voice heard on your blog regarding the content of this thread and the demeaning facts involving state workers.

TREASURER JONATHAN MILLER,
I work hard and I pay my taxes. I wake up every morning, go to work for the state and at the end of every month I get to see how much money of MINE has gone to
taxes.

You started your so-called politcal blog, bluegrassreport, to brainwash ME. You should be thrown out of office and put on public display. Did you tell Irv Maze the little game you are playing??????

Miller how dare YOU target ME as your core audience!!!! Who the h&ll do you think you are? Do you think I am so stupid I need your nasty vile PATSY / MOUTHPIECE, Mark Nickolas to tell ME what to think? YOU DISGUST ME!!!!!"
Posted by: max
January 14, 2007 at 01:34 AM

"Mr. Stamper, Please do not delete our comments again. If you delete us for using the word crap you must delete scooby as well. As I stated above, this entire thread including my comments and my wife's comments have been copied and sent to the judge hearing the case as well as all elected officials named above.

What has this country come to?"
Posted by: max January 14, 2007 at 01:38 AM

"I am totally opposed to this administration and the re-election of Dirty Ernie yet I find it interesting that Nickolas sued the governor for the same behavior he engages in regarding censorship of blogs. When he is not publishing his liar's corner I suspect he is in a jockey suit at the end of Prince Ben's driveway. So much for holding to a
higher standard. Dirty Ernie, Lambert and Nickolas, the polictical three stooges"
Posted by: u12bravo January 14, 2007 at 04:59 AM

Comments

William Hayes said…
Dawn,,,Way to go! Thanks for backing those guys up!

William Hayes
Rena Bernard said…
William, it's time someone called them on the censorship practices of the old media invading the internet space of the new media... ;o) Keep up the good work over there at The Rural Democrat, my friend!

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