This should disturb everyone. Whether you’re Republican or Democrat, you should be for free speech. And what is free speech? Look at the tag line for this little blog: “If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.” That was be uber-Leftist Noam Chomsky. He also wrote “Goebbels was in favor of free speech for views he liked. So was Stalin. If you’re really in favor of free speech, then you’re in favor of freedom of speech for precisely the views you despise. Otherwise, you’re not in favor of free speech.â€
It isn’t for speech we approve of. Are there limits? Sure. When you’re threatening people with violence. Who has a problem with ISIS and al Qaeda sites being shut down? But, this was about Infowars and Alex Jones being removed from social media platforms, simply because they are pretty wacko. And how does a sitting U.S. Senator, who took an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution, respond?
Infowars is the tip of a giant iceberg of hate and lies that uses sites like Facebook and YouTube to tear our nation apart. These companies must do more than take down one website. The survival of our democracy depends on it.
— Chris Murphy ???? (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 6, 2018
Democrats brand everything that doesn’t accord with their beliefs as “hate”. And rather than rebutting it, they want to censor it. Shut it down. Those of us on the right could say there’s lots of hate emanating from the left towards us. But, we do not attempt to shut them down, because we believe in free speech. It’s vastly disturbing that Chris Murphy would advocate for companies to censor users like this. It may not violate the letter of the 1st Amendment, but it sure violates the spirit.
There’s quite a bit of support for Chris’ call for acting like the Chinese government, and then there’s tweets like this (more at Twitchy)
Nothing says freedom like a member of congress calling on companies to silence speech and dissent. https://t.co/6VJYn3D2Oa
— BTME (@btme87) August 7, 2018
CNN is also upset about something else
InfoWars app still in Google, Apple stores after companies move against other content
Big tech made a show on Sunday night and Monday of moving against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and his media company InfoWars. But Apple and Google are both still selling its app, which contains some of the same type of content that both tech giants have pulled from elsewhere on their platforms.
Both stores categorize InfoWars as “news.” On the Apple App Store, InfoWars’ app has gone as high as #23 among free news apps, ahead of offerings from legitimate news outlets like the Associated Press, CBS News, USA Today, NPR, Bloomberg, MSNBC, Washington Post, NBC News, Politico and the Financial Times.
InfoWars and Jones regularly traffic in conspiracy theories, including the claim that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax and that the September 11, 2001 terror attacks were an inside job.
It’s also disturbing that a major media outlet would be narcing in a way meant to get Infowars and Jones pulled. Because of wacky conspiracy theories. Ones which really do not do more than, at worst, cause a few people some hurt feelings.
Your “president” calls our free press “the enemy of the people” because they report on his blunders and antics. He blocks certain reporters from his performances.
Do you view platforms such as Facebook, Google, twitter and YouTube as public utilities to be regulated by the government or private companies with editorial discretion?
Alex Jones makes the argument that he’s not a serious commentator but is a mere entertainer. His followers (cough, cough… tRump) beg to differ.
You cherry-pick and side with the tech companies because they’re doing your bidding, otherwise you’d be saying bake the cake, provide the contraceptives, hire X, etc.
Former CBS anchorman Dan Rather tweeted:
At least when the Russians hacked the DNC and Clinton campaign, they used real documents, the discovered emails. The left are aghast at that, but the use of forged documents? No problem at all, not if they’re targeting a Republican!
Always remember that we don’t know who hacked the DNC as they will not turn over there computers. Then the fact that the horrible aftermath was the American people discovering the truth about the liberals.
Dave,
None of that is true. It was the Russians and the servers have been thoroughly examined.
Trump threw his own son under the bus by admitting collusion with the Russians. Trump further obstructed justice by crafting a lie about the meeting. Much, much worse than lying about oral sex.
Much of what the NuCons believe is not true.
Jeff
You are wrong, as usual. Now state the law against collusion. Read the book on the Russian hoax. It is above high school level, so you may have problems.
dave,
That’s your stake in the ground? Collusion is not a crime? Conspiracy is. Obstruction of justice is. And if he is interviewed under oath, tRump will discover that perjury is. And working with the Russians to fix an election is worse than lying about a blow job.
tRump will most likely resign after pardoning Jr and his son in law. But first he’ll work a deal with the prosecutors to avoid indictment after he resigns.
Red state Missouri just shot down Right to Work nearly 2 to 1, with more Dems turning out for this primary than for the 2016 Prez primary! If Dems turn out for the Nov election the House will turn.
Will he pardon Manafort or let him go to prison.
Your “president†calls our free press “the enemy of the people†because they report on his blunders and antics.
Funny, when Zippy was preezy, nobody said he wasn’t.
And he’s not calling the press the enemy, he’s calling fake news the enemy. And it is. It’s been getting people killed since at least ‘Nam.
Do you view platforms such as Facebook, Google, twitter and YouTube as public utilities to be regulated by the government or private companies with editorial discretion?
When they all act together to stifle free speech, it’s kind of like the corporations that colluded to fix prices, innit? BTW Ma Bell could be considered a private company, but it’s regulated like a public utility.
As always, little Jeffery opens mouth, inserts foot.
Alex Jones makes the argument that he’s not a serious commentator but is a mere entertainer.
When little Jeffery can’t come up with anything else, he lies.
Conservatives do not take Jones seriously, but, if Zuck and the rest censor him, who’s next?
First they came for the Jews…
Are you one of the Republicans who think Trump should be able to close news outlets?
https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2018-08/media_trust_topline_080618.pdf
So you DO think the government should dictate content to Spotify, twitter, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE? Would you also indemnify them against libel suits brought by those slandered?
Should these companies post whatever they’re sent?
Big stretch there Jeff. I got one feel they should lose their broadcast license when found lying, how would you handle it as you have little concern for truth.
dave,
If they lie, they should lose their license? Interesting idea. But note that most news is now cable or internet. Would you want to shut down all websites that lie?
Do you think there are more lies on NBC than FOX?
You probably think Trump tells fewer lies than did other Presidents.
Did The Donald ever say such a thing? Don’t think so.
you DO think the government should dictate content
Straw man. GFY.
But all the social media organs are acting in concert to deny people their right of free speech. That’s a civil rights violation. That Constitution thingy all you Lefties hate has this crazy guarantee people are allowed to express themselves and guess what?
Spotify, twitter, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE have yet to specify what rules Jones broke. So it;’s all a con.
Funny how the people going around calling Conservatives cons are the real con men.
Murphy couldn’t be any more un-American: a sitting senator calling for speech he disagrees with to be vanquished. What a piece of shit – he makes me embarrassed to be Irish.
Probably Russian.