The Bully President: Freedom of Speech

From the Constitution of the United States of America: Amendment 1 which says, Congress shall make no law respecting 

• an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, 
• or abridging freedom of speech, or of the press; 
• or the right of the people to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 

The definition of “Abridging” is: diminish, reduce, or curtail (the right of free speech), thereby limiting its scope while often retaining its essential elements.

There has been no change in this constitutional law. What is changing is the ethical power of the Executive Branch. The Founding Fathers set up three EQUAL branches of government—Executive (President), Legislative (Congress), and Judicial (Courts)—so no one branch could take over. They wanted to protect the people from unfair rule, like the kings in England had done before the Declaration of Independence.

The Supreme Court Case titled Citizens United said corporations (and unions) share in the First Amendment right to free political speech, because they are associations of individuals. That’s where the idea of “corporations being the same as individuals” in the political speech context comes from. Since this is the law, it is illegal for the FCC to threaten or bribe corporations with consequences if they do not abridge, diminish, reduce or curtail their free speech.

Regarding the firing of Television Comedians, corporations may hire and fire employees as they wish. The U.S. Government does not currently control that. But the President of the United States is using the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to control corporations through fear when they want to merge or buy each other. Companies are scared that if they don’t shut down TV programs that the President doesn’t like, they could lose billions of dollars if the FCC doesn’t approve their mergers. Because of this, some are starting to censor comedians on TV, so they don’t upset the President.

This isn’t a law passed by Congress. Instead, it’s the President using power in secret ways, almost like bribery, to stop free speech. That goes against the INTENT of the First Amendment of the Constitution, which clearly says that every American has the right to free speech, including comedians on late-night TV. Never before in the United States has the President bullied corporations to stop making jokes about him.

But now, Congress is staying quiet instead of speaking up. The courts move too slowly to stop what’s happening. That leaves the President holding too much power. When that happens, our democracy doesn’t really represent the people anymore, especially the 50.09% majority who didn’t even vote for him.

Worried about this topic? Contact your Congressman. CD4 Bill Huizenga

Author: Kristen G.