Speaker Pelosi Extends Government Censorship to the Public

Pelosi actions renew need for congressional investigation into Islamic-oriented censorship

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following Speaker Pelosi's call to investigate the supporters of the anti-Ground-Zero-Mosque movement, Pajamas Media CEO Roger L. Simon today renewed his call for a congressional investigation into the government's censorship of Islamic-oriented terminology.  Simon explained Pelosi's actions are an extension of previously reported censorship inside the U.S. government relating to Islamic-oriented discussions by law enforcement and intelligence analysts.

"Speaker Nancy Pelosi has attempted to expand censorship into the public sphere with her threat to 'investigate' those who oppose the mosque.  By using her name and office, Pelosi has tried to muzzle first amendment free speech, crossing the line in impinging on a sacred trust for all Americans," said Roger L. Simon, CEO of Pajamas Media.  "So far, it has been internal government documents that have been sanitized of Islamic terminology such as 'Islam' and 'Sharia.'  Now, the government is expanding that censorship to sanitize the public conversation.  Shouldn't Congress be investigating the financial backing of the mosque, as opposed to the 61 percent of Americans, including Majority Leader Harry Reid and Howard Dean, who are opposed to the mega-mosque?"

PJTV has been at the forefront of this issue, exposing in an April 2010 video how the federal government and FBI have removed all Islamic references from the Fort Hood report and other national security documents.

CEO Roger L. Simon later suggested a four-part congressional investigation into the degree to which government documents were being sanitized of relevant religious identifiers.  And when the attempted bombing of Times Square occurred, PJTV urged officials to avoid censoring reports, so as to provide the public with the most accurate depiction of the offenders.

"Given these new circumstances, I would like to renew my call for a congressional investigation," continued Simon.  "In addition to the original request which urged Congress to investigate the possible censorship of Islamic terminology among government workers, I would like to request an examination of whether freedom of speech on similar matters is potentially being restricted – intentionally or unintentionally – by Members of Congress."

Roger L. Simon's article regarding this topic can be found here.

About Pajamas Media and PJTV

Pajamasmedia.com, a division of Pajamas Media, receives more than 16 million page views per month.  Launched in 2005, it provides commentary and analysis in text, video and podcast form created by correspondents in more than 40 countries.  Its blogs cover politics, government, culture, the economy and finance, national security, the Middle East, media, and education, as well as breaking news and current events. 

PJTV, a division of Pajamas Media, is the first center-right online television network, providing commentary and analysis via video over the Internet.  PJTV's video segments cover politics, government, culture, the economy and finance, national security, the Middle East, media, and education. PJTV's main studio is located in El Segundo, CA, with remote studio locations in midtown Manhattan in New York City, blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C., and web cam locations around the world.

Contact: Tom Kise

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SOURCE Pajamas Media