Free Republic

Free Republic is an eye-searing wingnut message board focusing primarily on United States politics. It is particularly known for its regular posters (generally known as freepers, and not to be confused with readers of the Detroit Free Press newspaper, who are generally moderate-to-liberal), who have a reputation for being bigoted, uninformed loudmouths somewhat to the right of Fox News. Free Republic is a place where members can post articles from moderator approved news and websites for all to read. It acts as a gateway to news articles that may be of interest to members (though members evidently don't even read the articles or studies, especially those they don't like).
If you're a big-spending Republican on the take (see J.D. Hayworth), Free Republic will support you.JD Hayworth Paid More than $101,000 by Indicted Lobbyist Jack Abramoff
In 1998, the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post sued Free Republic for alleged copyright infringement; the forum allowed users to re-post the full text of the newspapers' articles regardless of copyright permission. The next year, federal judge Margaret M. Morrow (who was appointed by the Freepers' much-hated Bill Clinton!) ordered Free Republic to stop publishing full-text copies of newspaper articles and rejected the website's fair use defense.Miller, Greg. "Judge Rejects 'Fair Use' of News Protection." Los Angeles Times: November 9, 1999. This case was L.A. Times v. Free Republic.Original complaint
In 2007, members of the site stalked Graeme Frost after the 12-year-old made a radio address on behalf of the Democratic Party asking President George W. Bush not to cut SCHIP, a children's health insurance program."Graeme Frost: What Would You Do If This Was Snooping Around Your House? (Updated)" Crooks and Liars: October 8, 2007.
Free Republic encountered two more controversies in 2009. In response to a photo depicting President Barack Obama's daughter Malia wearing a peace sign T-shirt, Freepers began talking trash such as calling Malia a "street whore" and even speculated when she'd get her first abortion.Freepers refuse to apologize for calling Malia Obama 'a typical street whore'Parry, Chris. "Conservative Free Republic blog in free speech flap after racial slurs directed at Obama children." Vancouver Sun: July 14, 2009. Also, after James von Brunn killed a security guard at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Liberal media outlets reported that von Brunn allegedly posted birther screeds on Free Republic.Hesse, Monica. "Notoriety's Missing Links." The Washington Post: June 12, 2009. Not shocking but as yet unverified.
==See also==
*New tone
*Haig's Law - this site, particularly the forum, looks like a clown paint-covered zombie from the late 1990's web, with garish bright red and blue against a mostly white background and with an awful and barebones excuse for post "layouts".
==External links==
*This is where they engage in their wingnuttery
*Freep Impact: A collection of the Freep comments' cream of the crap.
*FreeRepublicTXT: A Twitter account that, like Freep Impact, posts crazy quotes from Free Republic.
*Freeper Madness: An inactive site that provides a daily blow-by-blow of the wingnuttiest comments, with weekly profiles of frequent posters.
==References==
Category:Anti-abortion activists
Category:Antisemitism
Category:Atheophobia
Category:Birtherism
Category:Clogosphere
Category:Global warming denialists
Category:Homophobia
Category:Internet hate sites
Category:Internet kooks
Category:Islamophobia
Category:Misnomers
Category:Racism
Category:Webshites