McHenry watchdog site removed from internet
By
McHenry EXPOSED, a McHenry watchdog site Pat Go Bye Bye just partnered with this week was shut down at 3 p.m. this afternoon by the host.
Click here to see the server’s message.
We received this email from the site administrator:
In an apparent attempt to silence the message of Patrick McHenry Exposed, our website was disabled today around 3:00pm EST. This effort was undertaken by our host provider, AlphaOne Tech (aka 4Gays Hosting). While no further information is available at this time, we do know that someone contacted the host and made them aware of the site. This person’s complaint was that the information contained on the website was false, misleading and potentially in violation of corporate libel and slander laws. The hosting company is not providing any further details and acted only to protect their own interests – they are not the enemy.
But not to worry, Congressman:
[The site administrator is] currently working with an ally out of the country to arrange for hosting. . . . The new website will have a totally different look – not sporting the McHenry for Congress theme… at the request of my own attorney. Once back online, the United States Government will not be able to remove the site, outside of petitioning Sweden to do so (the site of our new server).
Be sure to check out this take on the situation from McHenry EXPOSED partner Interstate Q.
Crossposted at Pat Go Bye Bye and BlueNC
8 Comments
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Pardon my French, but how the fuck do “corporate slander and libel laws” apply to a public figure whose salary is paid by US taxpayers? Little Patricia is not a private citizen. Perhaps he should wear a cup? Oh, right. To wear a cup you need balls.
The site’s original design, if it is indeed parodying McHenry’s campaign site, is clearly protected by Fair Use, so I don’t see what the problem is there.
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May 23rd, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Threatening people works.
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May 23rd, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Please recommend at Kos.
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May 23rd, 2007 at 10:55 pm
From the comment thread at Kos:
“
I’m pretty sure that this isn’t a valid reason to terminate a hosting contract – the courts have generally held that web hosts are common carriers and aren’t liable for what their subscribers post on those sites (additionally, it says this in pretty much any site’s TOS).
Specifically, from their TOS:
Even if it’s not that, however, the ISP can take down any site when it feels like it:
Funny thing is that their AUP opens with:
Short answer is that the guy’s webhost is being an asshole. I like DreamHost, and ASmallOrange as hosts, but even Blogger is generally good about ignoring these messages.
“The NSA offers exciting work for recent graduates in computer science. Pick up the phone, call your mom, and ask for an application.”"
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May 23rd, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Jesus! Do 4Gays Hosting not understand free speech and fair use? They get scared by a call. Did they even bother to contact their attorneys?
This is such Bullshit! Can you even begin to count the sites that parody and mock officials?
What I saw of Patrick Mchenry Exposed showed facts and hadn’t even got the ball rolling yet.
O’wait.. that’s the problem. Silly me! I always forget what age we live in. Facts are bad!
Moving overseas,while understandable, seems a drastic measure. This is Mchenry not RIAA.
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May 24th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Petulant sez:
I seem to recall one in particular…
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May 24th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Did Lyle Rashorda ever get threatened?
And Petulant, I just learned that 4 Gays Hosting is very small and was hosting for free and can’t afford attorneys . . .
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May 25th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
Maybe Patty is “friends” with one or more of the 4 Gays?
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