Free Republic
Free Republic is a noted right-wing American activist organization and website.
It was founded in 1996 by Jim Robinson of California as a conservative discussion site during the Clinton years. Members would copy articles from other news sources and then the community would discuss them. The group first came to prominence during the Clinton impeachment controversy when protests and write in campaigns were organized. The group also played an important role inthe controversy over the 2000 election where it again organized protests, including the creation of the famous "Sore/Looserman" signs. The group has also played a role in organizing pro-war demonstrations across the United States during the Iraq disarmament crisis.
The community as a whole is united on certain issues, such as guns, abortion, and a hatred for Clinton. On other issues it is quite divided. Three main groups can be observed. The moderate Republicans, who are very pro-Bush and the Republican Party, the Christian-conservatives, and the staunch libertarians. Divisive issues include evolution, gay rights, and the legalization of soft drugs. The organization has a strong policy of not permitting any racism or antisemitism. The website also removes any leftwing view points from its discussion boards.
It has been obsevered that the group has borrowed many of its behaviours from traditionally leftist organizations. The mass demonstrations are one example. The organization of boycotts, such as that against France over the Iraq crisis, is another. The group is funded through quarterly donations drives which mimic public television and PBS.
Because of its policy of copy and pasting whole news stories to its discussion boards it has been sued by a collection of major newspapers, including the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. Many members view the lawsuit as a conspiracy by the leftist media to stiffle the organization.