Senator John Cornyn (R -TX) criticized today a White House request for citizens’ help in tracking false claims about the Administration’s health care reform initiative.
“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,” Cornyn wrote in a letter to President Obama.
Cornyn, a member of the Republican Senate leadership since 2006, wrote his letter in response to a message on Tuesday from White House director of new media, Macon Phillips, who requested on an official White House blog for the people to forward questionable claims to his office.
“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,” Philips wrote.
Cornyn said he is concerned that opponents of health care reform, such as teaparty-goers, might be “chilled by fear of government monitoring the exercise of free speech rights,” according to Associated Press. 
“I can only imagine the level of justifiable outrage had [former President George W. Bush] asked Americans to forward emails critical of his policies to the White House,” wrote Cornyn. “I suspect that you would have been leading the charge in condemning such a program — and I would have been at your side denouncing such heavy-handed government action.”
Cornyn’s position is an apparent reversal for himself and the Republican Party. Cornyn was a Republican Senate leader during the Bush Administration’s campaign for warrentless wiretapping, which gave the Bush Administration the unfettered ability to spy on Americans and thereby create their own watch lists without the public’s knowledge or consent. He was also a Republican Senate leader at the time the Bush Administration sought to stifled free speech through media black outs, through limiting White House press access to right wing groups only, and through softening antitrust laws to allow media consolidation.
Cornyn challenges President Obama directly, asking: “Do your own past statements qualify as “disinformation”? For example, is it “disinformation” to note that in 2003 you said: ”I happen to be a proponent of a single-payer universal health care plan?” Cornyn asks President Obama. Given his history with the GOP, Cornyn’s question not only shows support for health care reform disinformation, but a lack of respect for the Obama Administration and the Office of the President.
Cornyn’s letter follows below in full:
“Dear President Obama,
I write to express my concern about a new White House program to monitor American citizens’ speech opposing your health care policies, and to seek your assurances that this program is being carried out in a manner consistent with the First Amendment and America’s tradition of free speech and public discourse.
Yesterday, in an official White House release entitled “Facts are Stubborn Things,” the White House Director of New Media, Macon Phillips, asserted that there was “a lot of disinformation out there,” and encouraged citizens to report “fishy” speech opposing your health care policies to the White House. Phillips specifically targeted private, unpublished, even casual speech, writing “rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation.” Phillips wrote “If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.”
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.
By requesting that citizens send “fishy” emails to the White House, it is inevitable that the names, email addresses, IP addresses, and private speech of U.S. citizens will be reported to the White House. You should not be surprised that these actions taken by your White House staff raise the specter of a data collection program. As Congress debates health care reform and other critical policy matters, citizen engagement must not be chilled by fear of government monitoring the exercise of free speech rights.
I can only imagine the level of justifiable outrage had your predecessor asked Americans to forward emails critical of his policies to the White House. I suspect that you would have been leading the charge in condemning such a program-and I would have been at your side denouncing such heavy-handed government action.
So I urge you to cease this program immediately. At the very least, I request that you detail to Congress and the public the protocols that your White House is following to purge the names, email addresses, IP addresses, and identities of citizens who are reported to have engaged in “fishy” speech. And I respectfully request an answer to the following:
* How do you intend to use the names, email addresses, IP addresses, and identities of citizens who are reported to have engaged in “fishy” speech?
* How do you intend to notify citizens who have been reported for “fishy” speech?
* What action do you intend to take against citizens who have been reported for engaging in “fishy” speech?
* Do your own past statements qualify as “disinformation”? For example, is it “disinformation” to note that in 2003 you said:” I happen to be a proponent of a single-payer universal health care plan”?
I look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator”
Sen. Cornyn serves on the Finance, Judiciary, Agriculture and Budget Committees. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.