Looks Like Henry McMaster Is Upset About His Lost Craigslist Photo Op As Well

from the oh-come-on... dept

Thu, May 14th 2009 3:07pm — Mike Masnick

Yesterday, Craigslist caved in to the demands of various state Attorneys General, and agreed to pre-moderate all of the "adult" ads that go on their site. This appeared to be exactly what many grandstanding AGs had been asking for... but it appears that more than a few of them were upset that Craigslist did this without granting the AGs a chance to take credit for it. First, we had NY AG Andrew Cuomo's petulent statement about how Craigslist never should have done this without first getting approval from Andrew Cuomo, and now the EFF points out a similar complaint from South Carolina AG Henry McMaster, who says that he's going to continue his plan to throw Craigslist management in jail unless they remove all sexually explicit material from the site.

It's difficult to know where to start on this, but McMaster's understanding of the law doesn't seem to have anything to do with the actual law. First off, plenty of sexually explicit material is not illegal. Second, even if the material is somehow illegal, the liability is on those who posted it, not Craigslist.

Oh yeah. It's probably worth noting that a similarity between both Cuomo and McMaster? Both are apparently (definitely in McMaster's case) seeking their respective state's governorship... You would think that abusing a high-level gov't position for grandstanding and censorship would disqualify one from getting to run a state, but apparently not.

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Filed Under: andrew cuomo, attorney general, grandstanding, henry mcmaster, south carolina
Companies: craigslist

21 Comments

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Freedom, 14 May 2009 @ 3:20pm

Got a better idea...
Got a better idea... block Craiglist's in their states and put the pressure back on this a**holes for them to explain why. Hell, you can even spin it and say you are trying to help the classifieds in these states recover. Time for these sites to stand up to this sort of BS.

Of course the real reason Cuomo and McMaster don't like these ads is that they don't want any competition - you know, there can be the only "one" whore in town and that's them.

We complain that other countries would dare to try and toss Google Execs into jail, but we get AGs in this country trying to do the same to Craiglist Execs and folks are "ok" with this????

Freedom
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AnonCow, 14 May 2009 @ 4:10pm

It is sad to see websites like CL or Amazon on the Kindle folding to misguided, wrong-headed, or just plain stupid people using them for press ops to move forward their own stupid agendas.

It is a slippery slope and the U.S. is standing on two banana peels at the top of the really steep part of that slope.

The correct answer from Craig and others in similar situations should be a hearty "fuck you" with a chorus of "you tell 'em Craig" that drowns out these misguided simpletons.

Threats to throw Craig Newmark in jail should be met with abject derision that drives the deliverer of the treats right out of his elected offices.
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Anonymous Coward, 14 May 2009 @ 4:30pm

Creg's List and all others have the concept completely wrong.

1.Creg's List is a business and the fight that the free speach grop believes in cost money, to Creg's List. If Creg's List fights then there is a loss of money due to: mad customers, state fines, and or lawyers fees.
2.The Pirates Bay has the right idea. Place the server in some location that is immune to legal harassment.
3.Let it be known that there is such a list operating in a legal friendly environment. Do not link directly from Creg's List to the new site. Just place a notice that adult list may be viewed at (blank) sites, that such sites are not affiliated with Creg's List, and that they operate under the law of what ever country.
4.Presto more money. Money from a clean Creg's List and money from the legal adult entertainment and no body mad.

Should not have to be this way but the only other option is to loose money.

PS. This is why almost all world shipping is registered with flags of convenience. Same idea. Runaway government.
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Anonymous Coward, 14 May 2009 @ 5:06pm

Re:
Hey moe-ron - the correct spelling is in the article. Could you at least know how to READ before posting your drivel?
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DJ, 14 May 2009 @ 5:38pm

Re: Got a better idea...
two words: Bobby McGee
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DJ, 14 May 2009 @ 5:40pm

Re:
Yes, but unfortunately the cattle of America will simply "Moo" right along with Cuomo and McMaster.
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DJ, 14 May 2009 @ 5:56pm

Re: Re:
Pet peeve of mind IRT writing -- can't let it go:

Loose: 1. Not fastened, restrained, or contained

Lose: a. To be deprived of (something one has had)
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downwithfreedome, 14 May 2009 @ 5:58pm

freeeeedoooome!
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DJ, 14 May 2009 @ 5:58pm

Re:
what's a free-dome?
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DJ, 14 May 2009 @ 6:01pm

Re: Re:
Hey AC, apparently you're cool enough to have your IDENTITY trolled on here. WTG man!
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Anonymous Coward, 14 May 2009 @ 9:56pm

Voters
You would think that abusing a high-level gov't position for grandstanding and censorship would disqualify one from getting to run a state, but apparently not.

Says a lot about the people of those states, doesn't it?
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Dan, 15 May 2009 @ 12:05am

Craig's list needs to call the AG's bluff and file a Rule 11 complaint against the AGs. Then of course there is the counter suit in federal court for damages and restriction of interstate commerce. Its time to show these assholes what a new asshole feels like. Apparently the AG's don't understand the Section 230 protections so maybe public humiliation might work better. Nothing like an AG that does not know the law, personally I don't think any of them has the balls to charge or try to indite because they know its a loosing proposition.
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Dan, 15 May 2009 @ 12:05am

Craig's list needs to call the AG's bluff and file a Rule 11 complaint against the AGs. Then of course there is the counter suit in federal court for damages and restriction of interstate commerce. Its time to show these assholes what a new asshole feels like. Apparently the AG's don't understand the Section 230 protections so maybe public humiliation might work better. Nothing like an AG that does not know the law, personally I don't think any of them has the balls to charge or try to indite because they know its a loosing proposition.
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Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 1:32am

NC is a backward state run by backwards leaders.

You know your a redneck if you have no idea how law works but still try to push your bullshit thinking.
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Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 4:27am

Re:
Awesome comment. I love the giant sentence changing typos in an insult.

Either way, no one should ever point a finger at a politician. They are the product of the people's desires. That's right, I'm saying that most people want to be lied to.

If we didn't constantly vote for these cats, they'd act differently.
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Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 5:18am

I was under the impression that the act of censoring/editing your site's content eroded your protection from being held responsible for your user's actions.

Does it? If it does, would it affect them site-wide, or only in the areas they've chosen to moderate?
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InSC, 15 May 2009 @ 7:14am

Re: Redneck
First it is SC not NC.

I live there and it's not the rednecks that have a problem, it's the lawyers with their neckties tied so tight to keep their foreskins from slipping over their heads. Do you think that the AG gets his hookers from CL? Doubt it!
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Kirk, 15 May 2009 @ 11:22am

Re: Re:
Though I completely agree with your sentiments, I could not resist.

"I love the giant sentence changing typos in an insult."

I think meant to say:

"I love the giant sentence-changing typos in an insult."
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Anonymous Coward, 15 May 2009 @ 3:55pm

the AGs aren't after them because the ads are sexually explicit, it is because it advertises an illegal act, prostution. basic conspiracy and facilitation.
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Easily Amused, 16 May 2009 @ 12:17pm

Re: Dan
Dan, I am guessing that you are just parroting legalese that you don't understand. I find it very hard to believe that anyone who really knows what Rule 11 and Section 230 mean would have to spell 'indict' phonetically.
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Joe McMaster, 21 Jun 2009 @ 5:42pm

My uncle
Hey dont hate me, im his 16 year old nephew I totally agree its not the sites fault I have nothing against porn
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