Freedom Of Speech Or Political Payback?

The Hamilton Co, Ohio republicans are attempting to shut down a website. They say the name is too close to their own. It's a situation similiar to whitehouse.org. The website is similiar in name to the White House's official website but is highly critical of the Bush administration. The name issue has never been given creedance by the official White House website, I believe mainly because doing so would A: Let them know the anti governmental website is effective and B: would call more attention to the negatives on the opposition's page.

Hamilton Co Republicans haven't thought things through. They filed a lawsuit seeking to shut the offending website down. A huge mistake IMO.

First, by taking this action they made sure the issue hit the papers. Now those who had never heard of www.HamiltonCountyRepublicanParty.com are running to their computers, typing in an address and reading every iota of information to see what the big fuss is about. Americans are nothing if not curious.

Second, they've sent a loud and strong message to the opposition that the criticism worked! That only strengthens the resolve of those attempting to make a point with their opposing views.

And last, the entire issue of Valerie Plame's outting has centered on the question of censorship. Was Plame outted in order to silence Joe Wilson from speaking out. If the people in Hamilton Co have made this connection in their minds, then it will spill over to Hamilton Co Republicans as they attempt to silence the voice of their opposition.

One attorney deemed the lawsuit "frivolous". I think a better term for the effect it's going to have on Hamilton Co Republicans might be "disasterous".

Read the story here:
http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051119/NEWS01/511190330