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Fox News: If You Support Taxing And Regulating Pot You Must Be An “Internet Troll!”

FrostyMcFailure

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Fox News: If You Support Taxing And Regulating Pot You Must Be An “Internet Troll!”
Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:38:01 By: Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director

On three separate occasions, the White House has asked the public to provide them with feedback on the top public policy questions facing the nation. And on three separate occasions, the leading question for the new administration — as chosen on and voted by the American public — pertained to the legalization of marijuana.

One might examine these results and conclude that marijuana law reform is an issue that is becoming increasingly popular with America’s voters. Of course if you’re Fox News, you interpret these results another way.

Obama’s Effort at Online Transparency Stymied by Internet Trolls
via Fox News

“Three and a half million people participated in the event, but the ‘trolls’ had their way: Following a coordinated campaign by marijuana advocates to vote their topic to the top of the list, questions on the future of the U.S. dollar and the rising unemployment rate were superseded by questions about legalizing pot as an economic remedy.”

Got to hand it to the folks at Fox. (PS: For the record, Wired makes the same accusation!) National polls show that the public’s support for legalization has never been greater. Leading political and media pundits are now demanding that we end the criminal prohibition of pot. Yet despite all evidence to the contrary, the old guard at Fox News cynically clings to the notion that nobody supports taxing and regulating marijuana aside from a handful of “Internet trolls.” We report, you decide, huh?

Of course, Fox News didn’t come up with this spin on their own. After all, it was White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs — yes, the same Robert Gibbs who couldn’t come up with one valid reason to oppose regulating pot besides “uh” — who initially tried to downplay the popularity of marijuana law reform, telling the New York Times that “advocates for legalizing marijuana, … includ[ing] NORML, had mounted a drive to rack up votes for the question.”

So let’s set the record straight shall we. On the afternoon of March 25, with only a few hours left for voting in the White House’s poll, I posted the following blog to NORML’s homepage: “Obama ‘Open For Questions’ About The Economy — Ask Him To Support Taxing And Regulating Marijuana.” Here’s what I wrote in my post:
The topic of this week’s forum is the national economy, and not surprisingly, many of you have already put forward questions to the President regarding the taxation and regulation of cannabis.

For example, the most popular question in the category “Budget” is: “With over 1 out of 30 Americans controlled by the penal system, why not legalize, control, and tax marijuana to change the failed war on drugs into a money making, money saving boost to the economy?”

Similarly, under the topic “Financial Stability,” most asked question is: “Would you support the bill currently going through the California legislature to legalize and tax marijuana, boosting the economy and reducing drug cartel related violence?”

Marijuana-related questions also top the “Green Jobs and Energy” category, and are among the top vote-getters on the site overall.

That’s right, the questions pertaining to marijuana law reform were already the top vote-getters before NORML ever put pen to paper!

Further, NORML at no time engaged in any sort of “coordinated campaign” (to quote Fox) to “rack up votes” (to quote the Obama administration). NORML did not list-serv news of the White House poll to our tens of thousands of e-zine subscribers, nor did we publicize the poll to the hundreds of thousands of people that have joined us on Facebook and Myspace. And to the best of my knowledge, no other marijuana law reform group did so either.

In short, there was no orchestrated “campaign” and there is no grand conspiracy. The simple explanation for the White House poll results is this: Marijuana law reform is immensely popular with the public. That’s why we win initiatives — time and time again. And that’s why when the public is asked whether they support ending prohibition they say ‘yes’ — in overwhelming numbers!

As my colleague Scott Morgan writes at stopthedrugwar.org: “This is a movement, and it isn’t going away. Our issue is bigger than the organizations backing it.” He’s right.

Americans are demanding a serious and objective political debate regarding the merits of legalizing marijuana. They have come to this conclusion on their own — simply by witnessing the failure of the drug war all around them.

President Obama, the time for adolescent jokes and giggles is over. Fox News, the time for insults has long passed. The public is serious; why aren’t you?

http://norml.org/
 
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fox news blames ROUND 2 on a "coordinated campaign of internet trolls". I really doubt they are talking about my posts on BL but their hasnt been any "coordinated campaign of internet trolls" I call Shenanigans because they are blatantly FULL OF SHIT.
 
How can they expect people to believe this? Why even ask us any questions if they're just going to blame it on "trolls??""

Dangit.

Fox news IS a troll.

They say it's because of trolls. But they have no evidence to back this up!! They offer no proof whatsoever.

when will this be taken seriously!!

/rant.

One last thing... Why would trolls want this issue to be number one?? This accusation doesn't even make sense!!!
 
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Why do politicians see this as such an untouchable issue? There is obviously tremendous support for legalization. Why don't they just hide behind the decriminalization angle instead? It just makes me made that people can be so ignorant. There is a special place in hell for elected officials that ignore the people who elected them. I would almost give my left arm to hear Obama explain to an interviewer why he feels marijuana should remain illegal, but that he should not be a convicted felon. Obama is an admitted former cocaine and marijuana user, but he supports locking people up for doing the same. I support a lot of his positions, but this issue really makes me question if I would vote for him again. It just sucks that you basically get a choice of two people for president and have to pick the one who sucks less. All I can do is hope that if enough people bring up the issue it could make our "leaders" quit acting like cowards. And fox news, what can you say? That is one business that I hope fails. I don't care about the little people there at all. If you work for them you deserve to lose your job. I just hope the people that cling to the old stigmas and propaganda are continually squeezed out. Stuff like this makes me want to be a libretarian.
 
Fuck fox news, right-winged idiots barely ever have "news". Seriously all they do is cry about Obama being elected. I don't see why marijuana legalization can't be taken seriously, those dumbasses just look at us as stupid potheads. I'd rather be a pothead then some stupid drunk anyday.
 
What is a troll?!?!?! Somebody tell me please, once and for all.

Someone who deliberately makes a controversial statement to start flaming and arguing (usually over the internet). They're mostly jerks that try to ruin forums and get people yelling at each other. They also never have good points to put out, and when they do give a point at all, it's infuriating to read.
 
Paul seems insecure, even if he does have a point; especially if he does have a point.

Peace,
PL
 
Honestly i expect this kind of junk from fox news, but when the president makes the same kind of statement thats pretty shitty. It does suck that the president or some of, i say some, of the media doesnt take this issue seriously. The drug war in general.
 
Frosty, I hope you don't mind that I changed your title and cleaned up the article a bit to make everything more readable to others - I removed nothing except the unnecessary copy/paste digg links, etc. The content is all the same. :)

Of course Faux News is full of trolls. I'd love to get into it with Greta Van Facelift and the biggest troll of all, Ann Coulter. It is no secret that Fox News reports biased takes on controversial issues.

If you want marijuana legalized, get out and peacefully protest, sign petitions, get the word out within your own network. There is definitely a sea change in the works regarding attitudes to marijuana. I know of no one whose life was ruined by weed - but mine came damn close by drinking, I agree with the person who posted that.

Frosty, Fox News is not talking about your posts when they refer to "internet trolls" - might want to find a nice indica strain that doesn't give rise to paranoia. ;)

I'm most concerned about Obama ending the DEA raids that are depriving small businesses of their well-being in this shaky economy. I'll try to find the link to the petition I signed - which has already received something like double the signatures expected. :)

Keep fighting the good fight :)
 
Reading this made me somewhat sad and angry. They sure have a lot of nerve to call this many people 'trolls'. I mean what the fuck? This is just completely retarded, they're basically saying "if this is your opinion you are full of shit" to a LOT of people.
 
So people would go on the internet and try to get marijuana legalized even though they didn't want that to actually happen?

I'm so glad I don't live in america, even though it'll be legal there first.
 
I've given up on media almost completely. The only source I get my news from is slashdot... and the occasional arXiv blog.
 
Someone who deliberately makes a controversial statement to start flaming and arguing (usually over the internet). They're mostly jerks that try to ruin forums and get people yelling at each other. They also never have good points to put out, and when they do give a point at all, it's infuriating to read.

I would describe a troll as someone who deliberately posts provocative and controversial material for the sole purpose of firing up debate. Sometimes the troll holds a position directly opposite of what they are posting, and are doing it as satire and to show the illegitimacy of the position. (think Stephen Colbert)

I actually support trolls who follow this definition, I have found that trolls can create a surprisingly insightful discussion on a controversial subject that usually would not have taken place under normal circumstances.
 
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