"Trump and MAGA appear to be working from a definition of “free speech” which means that the president is free to say anything—which effectively means the president can order anything, or do anything, without consequences. Reversing free speech to mean freedom for the president rather than freedom from the president effectively becomes an argument to allow the president—or at least a certain president—to ignore the constraint of law." - well said! If only the Dems would all say the same thing loudly and in unison...
Aug 14, 2023·edited Aug 14, 2023Liked by Noah Berlatsky
Not merely actions, because those actions resulted in leaving legally executed document trails, in the knowledge that the contents were untrue. Not tweets, not interviews, not a rant at a rally. At Trump's behest, those documents were signed, repeatedly, with a specific intent.
As you say, no one is after his free speech rights, no one is coming for anyone's free speech rights, despite Trump's high rotation assertion; and Fox news. But sign lots of false statements, knowing that they're false? Different ballpark.
Here are some illegal things you do only with speech--defraud someone, order someone to commit a crime on your behalf, threaten to murder a public official, and yes, incite people to riot.
I forget who first said it, but I hear it a lot online (and use it myself sometimes), "Freedom of Speech does not equal Freedom from Consequence".
You can say whatever you like, that's your "Free Speech Right". And MY Free Speech lets me tell you that you're a lying sack of shit. So we've both exercised our First Amendment rights....
"You" in this instance being a general "you", not you personally, Noah, nor anybody presently responding here.
"Trump and MAGA appear to be working from a definition of “free speech” which means that the president is free to say anything—which effectively means the president can order anything, or do anything, without consequences. Reversing free speech to mean freedom for the president rather than freedom from the president effectively becomes an argument to allow the president—or at least a certain president—to ignore the constraint of law." - well said! If only the Dems would all say the same thing loudly and in unison...
Not merely actions, because those actions resulted in leaving legally executed document trails, in the knowledge that the contents were untrue. Not tweets, not interviews, not a rant at a rally. At Trump's behest, those documents were signed, repeatedly, with a specific intent.
As you say, no one is after his free speech rights, no one is coming for anyone's free speech rights, despite Trump's high rotation assertion; and Fox news. But sign lots of false statements, knowing that they're false? Different ballpark.
Long wait to see how all of this plays out.
Here are some illegal things you do only with speech--defraud someone, order someone to commit a crime on your behalf, threaten to murder a public official, and yes, incite people to riot.
I forget who first said it, but I hear it a lot online (and use it myself sometimes), "Freedom of Speech does not equal Freedom from Consequence".
You can say whatever you like, that's your "Free Speech Right". And MY Free Speech lets me tell you that you're a lying sack of shit. So we've both exercised our First Amendment rights....
"You" in this instance being a general "you", not you personally, Noah, nor anybody presently responding here.
I truly fear for us. The media is full of such bullshit narratives. I simply cannot believe this.