A Few Thoughts on the Irresponsible Use of Freedom of Speech

I am not a political person. I always try to stay out of political discussions, and I’m not going to argue with anyone about his or her political opinions.

In addition, I am not particularly a fan of Pres. Trump. You can ask my wife—I have waxed eloquent in frustration about him numerous times. His presidency was chaotic, and his public statements are often cruel, cockeyed, irresponsible, and inflammatory.

There is no question that his rhetoric has been a factor in the degeneration of civil political discourse in America.

Nonetheless, I am not surprised at all that there was an assassination attempt on him yesterday. Why?

If you were of a certain unbalanced mindset and you believed all the foolhardy, overblown statements regarding Trump made by politicians and pundits and celebrities over the past few months, you too might decide that assassination was justified.

What statements am I referring to? Let’s look at just a few recent examples from three online sources.

 

To Democrats, it’s not just their nominee but democracy on the ballot

Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY

July 11, 2024

Democrats have centered the 2024 race around how they believe former Donald Trump’s return to the White House could spell the end of American democracy, saying that he’ll be an autocrat who dramatically expands executive power and serve his own interests over the country’s.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., . . . said, “With so much at stake, the American people need to understand what a serious threat a second Trump presidency would be to our democracy, our fundamental freedoms, and their livelihoods.”

 

James Carville Warns Trump Win Would Mean “The End of the Constitution”

Marco Margaritoff, HuffPost

July 13, 2024

Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville . . . argued Friday that a second Trump term would mean “the end of the Constitution.” . . .

“Lawlessness on a scale that we can’t comprehend,” the 79-year-old strategist said. . . . “They’re already coming out saying they’re going to do it. Christian nationalism is going to take hold in the courts. If Trump wins, he will turn over everything to them.”

“Because if we lose, we lose the Constitution,” he said Friday. “If you think these guys give a rat’s a-- about freedom of speech — freedom of anything — you’re just not living in the world.”

 

Maddow, AOC among liberal media and Dem lawmakers who worry Trump will jail them in ‘massive camps’ if he wins presidency

Hanna Panreck, Fox News

June 19, 2024, 1:23 p.m. ET

. . . “For that matter, what convinces you that these massive camps he’s planning are only for migrants? So, yes, I’m worried about me — but only as much as I’m worried about all of us,” MSNBC host Rachel Maddow said during an interview with CNN’s Oliver Darcy in June. . . .

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., told podcast host Kara Swisher that she was concerned about Trump jailing her if he wins in November.

“I mean, it sounds nuts, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this guy threw me in jail,” she said. “He’s out of his mind. I mean, he did his whole first campaign around ‘lock her up.’[1] This is his motto.”

MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace suggested she also might not be here next year should Trump be elected, arguing he may get rid of freedom of the press.

“Depending on what happens in November, seven months from now, we can’t say for certain that there would even be a White House Correspondents’ Dinner or even a free press or even a White House press corps. Right? You don’t have to have one. Could be another norm Trump blows up,” Wallace said in April while discussing President Biden’s remarks at the White House Correspondents’ dinner.

“While our democracy won’t exactly fall apart immediately without it, the real threat looms larger. A candidate with outward disdain not just for a free press, but for all of our freedoms and for the rule of law itself,” she continued.

 

So, according to those above, if Trump (who is “out of his mind”) is reelected he will

•          Dramatically expand executive power.
•          End American democracy.
•          Turn the country into a dictatorship.
•          End the Constitution.
•          Usher in unimaginable lawlessness.
•          Take away our freedom of speech.
•          Throw political opponents into jail or massive “camps.”
•          End freedom of the press.
•          End “all our freedoms.”
•          End “the rule of law itself.”

Some of us remember when political discourse was based on party platforms and on a candidate’s actual beliefs and agenda. But these types of statements are overblown hype that is intended to obfuscate the true issues and frighten voters. These speakers know their statements aren’t true. No president could sweep into office and make the kind of radical changes they are referencing. Americans wouldn’t stand for it. Our governmental institutions wouldn’t allow it. Even the recent Supreme Court ruling doesn’t give the president that kind of power.[2]

So I’ll say it again: If you were of a certain unbalanced mindset and you believed all the foolhardy, overblown statements regarding Trump made by politicians and pundits and celebrities over the past few months, you too might decide that assassination was justified.

Americans must hold all public figures—all of them, on the right and on the left—accountable for their words, especially those words that are demonstrably untrue. Do I believe that those who make inflammatory comments such as those quoted above bear some of the guilt for the death of Corey Comperatore?

Absolutely.

Copyright 2024 Steven Nyle Skaggs

NOTE: If you care to hear more violent fear-mongering, click here and listen for approximately two minutes. Unconscionable and chilling.

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[1] Those whose knowledge of our country’s history goes further back than the last four years will recall that Pres. Trump did not, in fact, “lock her up” during his presidency.

[2] “Trump asserts a far broader immunity than the limited one we have recognized,” Roberts wrote in the majority opinion, adding, “The text of the [Impeachment Judgment] Clause provides little support for such an absolute immunity.” PBS News, July 1, 2024.