Sunday, May 31, 2009

Obama Restrains Speech: Harbinger?

This announcement has drawn attention. It concerns the "Porkulus" program.

Following OMB’s review, the Administration has decided to make a number of changes to the rules that we think make them even tougher on special interests and more focused on merits-based decision making.

First, we will expand the restriction on oral communications to cover all persons, not just federally registered lobbyists. For the first time, we will reach contacts not only by registered lobbyists but also by unregistered ones, as well as anyone else exerting influence on the process. We concluded this was necessary under the unique circumstances of the stimulus program.

Hmmmmmm.

Second, we will focus the restriction on oral communications to target the scenario where concerns about merit-based decision-making are greatest –after competitive grant applications are submitted and before awards are made.

If, say, ACORN and The Charlie Brown Club both submit grant applications to 'harmonize a community,' the Charlie Brown Club will not be allowed to address ACORN's fitness as a grantee after the applications are submitted? Say that happens in the City of Milwaukee. Will you be able to have an offhand conversation with the Mayor about your concerns about ACORN?

Or, in another venue, as Spencer outlines:

With the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) making an all-out international effort to restrict free speech about Islam, including speech designed to alert non-Muslims to the motives and goals of the global jihad movement, and Obama making conciliatory gestures toward the OIC, it is not at all difficult to look down the path and see the day coming when it will Sharia provisions restricting speech about Islam will be in place in the United States of America, and it will be illegal to speak about the Islamic supremacist agenda...

Very curious announcement.

3 comments:

Left Coast Rebel said...

I think that we can see through this....gestapo anyone? I put this up over at LCR last night too....

Beer, Bicycles and the VRWC said...

Extraordinarily chilling. This appears to cover public comment as well. At what point will it cover discussion in the third party? i.e. when will this administration say we can't discuss issues on blogs?

This is a major problem.

Anonymous said...

This should not come as a surprise after the MIAC memorandum and the Dept of Homeland Security report on potential terrorists. You know the ones defining those who believe in the constitution, limited government, believe the IRS is abusive, wants us out of the UN, possibly are Christian and anti-abortion, and voted for Ron Paul or 3rd party candidates as terrorists. It seems likely that the Obama administration will use these reports to take our rights away. It would not surprise me if he turns out to be a half-black Hitler. After all, he just got authorization for his own brown shirt youth corps with the GIVE act.

It remains for us, the loyal opposition, to calmly as we can, make the case for liberty and limited government, even as he moves us ever closer to totalitarianism. With ownership of banks, major industries and insurance companies, we have become a socialist/communist country over night. It should not be unexpected if Mr. Obama, Lenin-like, to attempts to consolidate his power by eliminating his enemies.