Mr. Obama, Tear Down This Webpost!

Update, below:
President Obama took an oath of office pursuant to Article Two, Section One, Clause Eight of the United States Constitution, to wit:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Now, you really have to wonder how that portion of his obligation to "preserve protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" which, of course, includes protecting our Freedom of Speech, squares with him officially encouraging people to "snitch" on their fellow citizens to faceless political operatives in his Office because someone may have said something "fishy" about health insurance reform!

As we are all well aware, the very First Amendment to our Constitution, contained in a bill passed in the First Congress by then-Congressman, James Madison of Virginia in 1789, and which was thereafter ratified by the American people as of 1791, guarantees to all of us the Right of Free Speech -- among several others in the "Bill of Rights."

Yet, the Obama White House has posted on their official website, a post featuring an "eat-your-peas" looking former ABC reporter named Linda Douglass, who carries on about the so-called "misinformation" being spread, which post, pasted up by one "Macon Phillips," appallingly encourages Americans to snitch on their fellow citizens if they receive or spot any information about health insurance reform that seems "fishy" to them!

That White House webpost specifically recites, in pertinent part . . . and I quote:

There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.

Now, as an aside, I thought this public debate was supposed to be all about "healthcare reform" . . . not "health insurance reform." But let’s not get distracted.

The obvious intended intimidation factor, promoted through the White House official website, is the issue. Senator John Coryn is quite right.

As now reported, Mr. Obama now writes to his followers: "This is the moment our movement was built for."

Well, we say, "not by violating our rights!"

Tear down that webpost, Mr. President!

Update: Ed Morrissey at HotAir examines some of the ramifications in his post today, "Cornyn to Obama: Shut down Snitch Central" including a link to a Byron York piece on possible legal implications re: federal privacy law. York suggests it may not be illegal.

Ed's conclusion:

"Perhaps Congress needs to pass an Enemies List Law, since that’s exactly what this is. Note that only Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee seem concerned by this — even though Leahy chairs that committee."