Chris Cannon's Communication Director Responds to Deleting Comments (UPDATED)
(Looks like I should've said "editing" comments, not deleting. This of course escalates things a bit.)
From my inbox, regarding a refusal to post my comment on Chris Cannon's defense of retro-active immunity for telecommunications companies (emphasis mine):
Jason,The "innuendo" he objects to? Cannon's campaign contributions from Teclo's. Documented here. Oh and also here. And just in case, here's one more.
Comments that allege, as yours did, that Congressman Cannon is “bought” by someone or alleging (Unfounded and unsubstantiated) serious ethical misconduct will be deleted because they are NOT intellectual discourse on top of being untrue.
All of your rants, comments, vitriol, has been approved, except those that contain allegations such as the ones you included in the previous comment that was deleted.
Congressman Cannon asked that I not turn the comments off and anything, even critical or angry comments be permitted. But, innuendo that someone is “bought” or unethical, won’t be approved.
As a blogger, I know you have a right post anything you want, including this email, but I wanted to let you know why your comment (as I believe there has been one, maybe two, that have been deleted out of dozens) were deleted.
PS – the study you linked to, #1, does not say, as voice of Utah did, that 80% of lawsuits are filed by corporations. It says a large majority are filed by corporations in 2 states and 2 selected jurisdictions. On top of that, Congressman Cannon abhors junk lawsuits – whether they are filed by corporations or individuals. Who do you think represents corporations? Answer? Trial Attorneys.
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Fred Piccolo
Communications Director
Rep. Chris Cannon (UT-3)
2436 Rayburn HOB
(202) 225-7751
fred.piccolo@mail.house.gov
Telco's are some of his largest contributors.
My response:
Fred,UPDATE: Apparently it's worse than I'd written. My comments weren't deleted, per se, they were EDITED, with the "offensive" material removed. I have made a request to have what I had written posted in it's entirety, or posted not at all. Sphere: Related Content
Thank you for taking the time to explain to me why you are deleting certain comments from the Congressman's blog.
As to your other points, remember what one person feels is "vitriol" another sees as a shot of much need truth.
I will post your letter on The SideTrack for the benefit of our Utah readers, so that they may review for themselves, in light of Mr. Cannon's avid support for retro-active immunity for telco's, despite our Constitutional protection against such things.
PS- There is nothing intellectual (your word) in silencing a dissenting voice.
Regards,
Jason Williams
thesidetrack.blogspot.com
Posts
8 comments:
I don't think Cannon has been "bought" by the Telecos. In fact, the telecos couldn't care less about retroactive immunity. Why? Because they undoubtedly already got immunity from the Feds before they agreed let the NSA tap into their systems.
Cannon is a ultra-partisan. If George W. Bush says we need retroactive immunity, then gosh darn it, we need retroactive immunity or the terrorist win...or the trial lawyers win! Since trial lawyers seem to donate disproportionately to Democrats, they are bad in Cannon's eyes too.
Cannon's trouble isn't ethics, it is lack of ability/willingness to go against his party, no matter how wrong headed a member of his party has been.
Ironic, isn't it? That corruption could actually give Cannon a bit of personality. Instead he remains a lackey for the big boys, a puppet for their every whim.
As taxpayers, we pay for that site and consequent blog. Shouldn't we then have final say on how it is moderated?
I am not comfortable with deleting or editing comments from a government blog meant for (I assume) the dissemination of ideas.
This reaks of a fear of open government from Chris, which is consistent with his general lack of principle as a congressman.
Does he have a challenger in '08? I hope so
Looking at his campaign contributions, it seems "bought" was a reasonable assessment. Bought and paid for even.
As much as I abhor Cannon's taking money from Telcos, I seriously doubt that he is bought and paid for. Cannon is a partisan lackey, plain and simple. Bush tells him to jump off a cliff, Cannon jumps. Bush tells him to drink the koolaid, Cannon's a willing guzzler.
The fact of the matter is, Republicans fear what would be exposed in lawsuits more than telcos fear settlements against them. Cannon as well as the rest of the Republican delegation are involved in obstruction of justice more than anything else.
jason,
thanks for shining the light here. someone has to...
at the very least, you should have the right for the comment to be deleted in its entirety, not edited for content.
So ol' Chrissy is editing the words of taxpayers now? I wish I was surprised. And that is a lot of money from AT&T in those contributions you've linked to. No wonder he supports giving them a free pass.
Surprising. Thanks for posting the original E-mail messages.
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