Say Anything Blog

I find this incredible and more than a little frightening.

The Obama campaign, in conjuction with several law enforcement agencies in Missouri, have formed what they are calling “Truth Squads” and are theatening the prosecution of anyone who lies or distorts the truth in a political ad.

I know the phrase “Stalinist” is thrown around quite a bit and is used whenever someone wants to paint another as a totalitarian monster, but in this case the term applies and applies well.

If you think this is an alarmist stretching of the truth of the issue on my part, check out this video in which two high profile Missouri prosecutors gleefully tell us that they want this campaign to be about “the issues” and that they’ll be watching the other side with the power of their office.

The report also says that sheriffs from across the state will join these “Truth Squads”.

Folks, when law enforcement willfully joins an overt attempt at suppressing freedom of expression, it’s time to be afraid. Very afraid. And before anyone starts with, well, the ads should tell the truth, let me say this: Of course they should. But who determines what the truth is? Will one campaign or the other be able to point and say, “You’re lying,” and have their law enforcement lackeys come and get you? This is, without any stretching of fact or truth, truly and frighteningly Orwellian.

People will not want to voice dissent because they can be accused of lying. And, just like in the former Soviet Union, the accusation alone will be enough to complicate your life.

The Governor of Missouri has blasted this in a recently released statement, which I’m quoting in its entirety:

JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Matt Blunt today issued the following statement on news reports that have exposed plans by U.S. Senator Barack Obama to use Missouri law enforcement to threaten and intimidate his critics.

“St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Bob McCulloch, St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer, and Obama and the leader of his Missouri campaign Senator Claire McCaskill have attached the stench of police state tactics to the Obama-Biden campaign.

“What Senator Obama and his helpers are doing is scandalous beyond words, the party that claims to be the party of Thomas Jefferson is abusing the justice system and offices of public trust to silence political criticism with threats of prosecution and criminal punishment.

“This abuse of the law for intimidation insults the most sacred principles and ideals of Jefferson. I can think of nothing more offensive to Jefferson’s thinking than using the power of the state to deprive Americans of their civil rights.  The only conceivable purpose of Messrs. McCulloch, Obama and the others is to frighten people away from expressing themselves, to chill free and open debate, to suppress support and donations to conservative organizations targeted by this anti-civil rights, to strangle criticism of Mr. Obama, to suppress ads about his support of higher taxes, and to choke out criticism on television, radio, the Internet, blogs, e-mail and daily conversation about the election.

“Barack Obama needs to grow up. Leftist blogs and others in the press constantly say false things about me and my family.  Usually, we ignore false and scurrilous accusations because the purveyors have no credibility.  When necessary, we refute them. Enlisting Missouri law enforcement to intimidate people and kill free debate is reminiscent of the Sedition Acts - not a free society.”

Bear in mind these are the same people who would see this society disarmed. And this is exactly what the Second Amendment is all about. When they start coming after you because of the perception of a lie on your part and they’re the ones who decide what is a lie and what isn’t it brings up all the very worst images of 1984, Farenheit 451, and any number of other suddenly not-so-futuristic novels about political absolutism and oppression.

“Truth Squads”. The very name should get your attention.