The Weekly Standard noted Senator John Cornyn sent a letter to Barack Obama asking him to intervene in the flag@whitehouse.gov matter.
Senator Cornyn notes ….
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,” Sen. Cornyn wrote. “You should not be surprised that these actions taken by your White House staff raise the specter of a data collection program. As Congress debates health care reform and other critical policy matters, citizen engagement must not be chilled by fear of government monitoring the exercise of free speech rights.
But wait . . . there’s more. Imagine, if you would, cross referencing those forwarded emails to the White House with another database the Obama Administration has ordered set up.
Congress adopted the Broadband Data Improvement Act in 2008 to compile of map of the nation showing which areas have broadband and which do not. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is getting the information, but the Obama Administration has decided to use the NTIA to get more than the law requires.
Beyond the general data on which parts of the nation have high speed internet access and is it cable or DSL, Obama wants to know down to the individual what the individual has and how much the individual pays. Specifically, the NTIA is now requiring internet provides to give the government “average revenue per end user and data regarding type, technical specification or location of broadband infrastructure,” i.e. your home address, IP address, how much you pay, and where the connection is at your house.
The law does not require it. Congress does not want it. The NTIA admits the information will not be used to compile the map of national broadband, but Barack Obama still wants it.
We have a White House asking neighbors to turn in neighbors by forwarding emails — some of which will contain IP address information. And we have the White House demanding internet providers provide them with the home addresses corresponding to those IP addresses. Lastly, we have a White House that has thus far been extremely opaque despite pledges of transparency and a White House that has not hesitated to use private citizens information when it benefits them.
Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn sent a letter today to President Obama asking him to disband the Internet Snitch Brigade run out of the health care czar’s office immediately.
The Hill
Cornyn worried White House collecting personal data
by Eric Zimmermann
August 5, 2009
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) is worried that the White House will use a new media outreach program to collect the personal data of its political opponents.
Yesterday, the White House asked supporters to forward “fishy” claims or rumors about the President’s healthcare plan to a White House email address as a way to respond to “disinformation.”
Cornyn says this practice would let the White House collect personal information about people who oppose the President.
“By requesting citizens send ‘fishy’ emails to the White House, it is inevitable that the names, email, addresses, IP addresses and private speech of U.S. citizens will be reported to the White House,” Cornyn wrote in a letter to Obama. “You should not be surprised that these actions taken by your White House staff raise the specter of a data collection program.”
Cornyn asked Obama to cease the program immediately, or at the very least explain what the White House would do with the information it collects.
“I am not aware of any precedent for a President asking American citizens to report their fellow citizens to the White House for pure speech that is deemed ‘fishy’ or otherwise inimical to the White House’s political interests,” Cornyn said.
FULL Letter HERE
Great letter, thank you Sen.Cornyn .
Wild Thing’s comment……
Well so they are going after our medical records too and with ACORN in charge of the census and his own personal czar squads in charge if the IRS and other authoritative federal agencies …..just double darn!
This guy is pure evil.
Hel;en Thomas had her birthday the same day Obama did. He gave Helen Thomas a cupcake. It will be her last birthday if Obamacare is enacted. She’ll be counseled about being a burden to society and all. She’s 89. The “talks” will begin at 65.
The Love Boat for Seniors. It goes out to the middle of the Pacific, and comes back empty.
Yeah, no end to their intrusiveness. Doesn’t that health bill have provisions for them to be able to access your bank accounts? I presume their excuse for that has something to do with payments or co-payments, but when it’s put into the mix with all these other personal liberty violations and considering how vague the bills are written, who knows?
It’s all about trust, and who could trust anything this administration and congress proposes?
Yes Eden they can access your Bank Account.
“For those who have amassed assets enough to take care of themselves in their old age will have these assets conficaated in the name of fisacl responsibility, because by this time, every citizen will be entered into a National database under the guise of improved efficiency. This database will be run by a type of ‘Star Chamber’ appointed by the president, that will determnine whether or not you deserve the much needed operation your personal doctor thinks you need.”
I read a note that said the first 100+ people had been recruited in New York City for obama’s civilian defense corps or whatever he calls it. Some of them came through the AmeriCorps organization. Soon we will have the basic communist three man cells set up in every neighborhood to spy on other citizens.
obama is moving rapidly to set up a socialist state in America. he is doing it in different ways through legislation passed by the Democrat majority Congress. All the bills are lengthy and complicatednd and are pushed in a hurried manner. Whether it is a stimulus bill, a health bill or a climate bill they all have inclusions both overt and covert to control American citizens in our everyday lives.
Buy that gun and that ammo.
Amen Tom, let’s also not lose sight of the fact that those Democrat’s Republican brothers, have been working hard for the Democrats in getting it done.
The time will come to saddle up. I’m not that old and I remember the drill. Still, an army of Obama metrosexuals won’t be much of a challenge.
I have never in my life wished for a POTUS to expire while in office (not even that asshole commie Carter)but if the current POTUS were to croak, there would be one big drunken celebration in my household.
Does anyone remember the term “Death to Traitors?” Just askin.
Those that may think about being Obama snitches or tattletales may want to take a moment and contemplate that their information may well also be entered into the Obammunist database. Heil Obama.
It appears to me that this creep has taken the worst from fascism and socialism and combined them to create his Obammunist agenda.
Unfortunately my wife’s health precludes me from going to any town hall meetings unless it is within 5-10 minutes from home. The best I can do is keep posting. I have set up another blog for NY’s 20th congressional district, of which i am a part.
Keep the faith.
Bob A.
Snitch on anything “fishy”, school will be open soon. Will the public schools be teaching or encouraging our children to report anything against this s%$mb%g president and his administration’s plans. It has happened in the past, not here but elsewhere.
Thank you everyone so much. I appreciate
your being here and your input.
This obamacare is freaking me out.