I am writing to call your attention to how the recent content-based blog censorship by your staff has a chilling effect on constituents, the online community, and all of us as elected officials. I would hope that you agree that freedom of speech and the right to express contrary viewpoints are fundamental values that we should all embrace and defend. This is why your staff's decision to block access to a particular independent, Michigan policy-focused blog because of its critical statements is so disturbing. I hope this is simply a matter of your staff lacking an understanding of the role of new media, and not something more sinister.
I have found that constituents increasingly prefer to communicate with their elected officials via the internet and blogs, as opposed to many traditional methods of communication. As such, many of us as legislators have made a conscious effort to share our ideas and create a dialogue about issues we are working on with these individuals, just as we would with news outlets or concerned citizens who visit our offices. We content that this is a legitimate form of interacting with the public and hope that you would share this vision (as is indeed implied by your own online efforts and new media staff). posting to a blog about legislation is no different than having communications staff work on a news release or opinion column to offer to the mainstream media. Unfortunately, the seemingly evolving explanation from your staff as to the reasons for the censorship and the insinuation that further blogs may be targeted -- particularly ones that "say bad things about you" as reported in one news story -- is cause for grave concern.
I respectfully request on behalf of my caucus members, the aggrieved online community, and our constituents, that you immediately reinstate the ability of Senators and staff to communicate with these blogs and cease any efforts to silence them further. We may not agree with everything they say, but we must defend their right to say it. Also, please know that in the future if you or your staff ever have questions or concerns about how my caucus or staff are engaging the public that my door is always open and that misunderstandings such as this can be easily avoided.
Sincerely,
Mark Schauer
Senate Democratic Leader
Thank you Senator Schauer, for standing up for free speech.
