| | Before suffering a resounding rebuke of his leadership,<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/02/AR2010110208183.html?hpid=opinionsbox1 For Mr. Obama, a rebuke and a chance to right himself], [[Washington Post]]</ref> his party, and the progressive liberal [[ideology]] in the [[2010 midterm election]]s, Mr. Obama urged partisan backers to exact revenge on their 'enemies'.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/28/AR2010102806270.html The great campaign of 2010], [[Washington Post]]</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/02/AR2010110205027.html Obama's message for the day after], [[Washington Post]]</ref><ref>[http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/250919/did-president-united-states-describe-some-americans-enemies-kathryn-jean-lopez Did the President of the United States Describe Some Americans as Enemies?], [[National Review]]</ref><ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-latinos-punish-your-enemies-voting-booth_511932.html Obama to Latinos: "Punish" Your "Enemies" in the Voting Booth], [[Weekly Standard]]</ref> The president suggested, | | Before suffering a resounding rebuke of his leadership,<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/02/AR2010110208183.html?hpid=opinionsbox1 For Mr. Obama, a rebuke and a chance to right himself], [[Washington Post]]</ref> his party, and the progressive liberal [[ideology]] in the [[2010 midterm election]]s, Mr. Obama urged partisan backers to exact revenge on their 'enemies'.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/28/AR2010102806270.html The great campaign of 2010], [[Washington Post]]</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/02/AR2010110205027.html Obama's message for the day after], [[Washington Post]]</ref><ref>[http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/250919/did-president-united-states-describe-some-americans-enemies-kathryn-jean-lopez Did the President of the United States Describe Some Americans as Enemies?], [[National Review]]</ref><ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-latinos-punish-your-enemies-voting-booth_511932.html Obama to Latinos: "Punish" Your "Enemies" in the Voting Booth], [[Weekly Standard]]</ref> The president suggested, |
| | + | In July 2009 the [[White House]] began soliciting from its immense social media networks and the general public that if they were to "see something on the web about [[Obamacare|health insurance reform]] that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov."<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/facts-are-stubborn-things/ Facts Are Stubborn Things], [[White House]]</ref><ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27655039/ Congressman: Obama wants Gestapo-like force], [[MSNBC]]</ref> |
| | + | Under the [[Privacy Act of 1974]], which was passed after the [[Richard Nixon|Nixon administration]] used federal agencies to illegally investigate individuals for [[political]] purposes, prohibits any federal agency from maintaining records on individuals exercising their right to [[free speech]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/07/white-house-collect-fishy-info-health-reform-illegal-critics-say/ White House Move to Collect 'Fishy' Info May Be Illegal], [[FoxNews]], August 07, 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/08/mark_your_calendar_flagwhiteho_1.asp Snitch List to be Released in 2018 (or 2022)?], [[Weekly Standard]]</ref> |
| | + | Sen. [[John Cornyn]] of Texas stated in a letter to the White House, "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."<ref>[http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=InNews&ContentRecord_id=ebc2c77d-802a-23ad-4ae4-6ccf4c7a255c Sen. Cornyn Sends Letter To President Obama About "Fishy" Activities Program], Office of Senator [[John Cornyn]]</ref> |