Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) is getting a lesson on the Constitution after he falsely claimed during a Senate hearing that those who “espouse hate” online may not be protected by the First Amendment.
His comments came during closing statements on ways a fascist alliance between the private sector and the United States government could regulate free speech on the internet.
What?
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD): "If you espouse hate, if you espouse violence, you're not protected under the First Amendment. So, I think we can be more aggressive in the way that we handle that type of use of the internet." pic.twitter.com/TvVcBfFyrS
— Mariana (@lonestarherd) December 29, 2022
“It is incredibly valuable part of our fabric and can be used for good, and we know that it can be used for bad,” Cardin said. “I admire your desire for the private sector to do what’s right. We do hope that’s the case, but I do think there’s a role for government consistent with our First Amendment. For us establishing parameters, if you espouse hate, if you espouse violence, you’re not protected under the First Amendment.”
“I think we can be more aggressive in the way that we handle that type of use of the internet,” the senator continued. “We know that Europe has done things, I think we have to learn things from each other. I hope we can figure out the strategy that we need everybody united on it.”
Twitter was quick to point out the many things wrong with Cardin’s take on inalienable rights.
“Everything that @SenatorCardin says here about the First Amendment is a demonstrable lie,” stated independent journalist Glenn Greenwald. “But this shouldn’t be surprising since a core plank of the Dem Party – not an ancillary one but a core – is state greater censorship of online political speech.”
Everything that @SenatorCardin says here about the First Amendment is a demonstrable lie.
But this shouldn’t be surprising since a core plank of the Dem Party – not an ancillary one but a core – is state greater censorship of online political speech: https://t.co/3cClnPr0o1
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) December 29, 2022
“There is no ‘hate speech’ exception to the First Amendment,” noted the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
“Incorrect,” National Review journalist Claude Thompson stated simply.
There is no “hate speech” exception to the First Amendment. https://t.co/qoieTeFCy3
— FIRE (@TheFIREorg) December 29, 2022
Given that the world has now seen via the explosive “Twitter Files” exactly how agents of the government, including the FBI and CIA, have used such subjective terms as “hate speech” to censor and outright ban those on Twitter who dared to contradict the Democrats’ carefully constructed narratives, users online are not keen to allow Sen. Cardin to define what is or isn’t allowed.
Turley: ‘Twitter Files’ revelations are an ‘indictment of Congress’ encouraging censorship https://t.co/xrL2F5gYU5
— American Wire News (@americanwire_) December 17, 2022
“I don’t think it’s Sen. Ben Cardin’s place to decide the boundaries of free speech,” tweeted one user. “That’s for the courts to decide.”
“Well, it’s a good thing we can all agree on what ‘espousing hate’ and ‘espousing violence’ look like!” Pluribus editor Jeryl Bier sarcastically exclaimed.
Still others are calling for the removal of Sen. Cardin from Congress.
“.@senatorcardin should be impeached and removed from congress for violating his oath of office and attempting to subvert the constitution,” one user tweeted.
.@senatorcardin should be impeached and removed from congress for violating his oath of office and attempting to subvert the constitution.
— Castem Ember (@CasteMember) December 29, 2022
On Thursday, Cardin attempted to defend his comments, stating, “For those interested, here is a longer version of the video referencing hate speech from our recent hearing.”
“Hate speech is protected under the #FirstAmendment, unless it incites violence. #context,” he added.
“I discussed this issue in one of my recent letters to Marylanders on the critical need to publicly stand up to antisemitism, which you can read in full, here,” he said in a follow-up tweet.
I discussed this issue in one of my recent letters to Marylanders on the critical need to publicly stand up to antisemitism, which you can read in full, here: https://t.co/GKrs6jkce3 pic.twitter.com/xUaDUZKK6f
— Senator Ben Cardin (@SenatorCardin) December 29, 2022
The “context” did nothing to bolster his unconstitutional case.
You STILL got it wrong. You’re a lawyer for God’s sake. Only conclusion at this point is you know you’re wrong, and you’re lying.
— Codfish Johnny (@CodfishJohnny) December 29, 2022
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