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The criminalization of politics to get Trump is endangering everyone’s rights (First Amendment Violations)
The Hill ^ | 08/30/23 7:00 AM ET | BY BRIAN DARLING, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR

Posted on 08/30/2023 5:23:10 AM PDT by RandFan

The U.S. Constitution is clear: Political speech is protected by the First Amendment.

Also, battles over the acceptance of electors to validate a presidential election are wholly within the political realm and should not be subject to criminal sanctions. Yet our nation is very close to setting a dangerous precedent by criminalizing speech and politics, and one political faction is rushing into this folly headlong.

If the Biden administration is allowed to criminalize speech and politics, we will become a nation where the losers of presidential elections are arrested instead of being sent into retirement with book tours and libraries.

The criminalization of politics is a dangerous game that Democrats used to decry, when they thought the shoe might end up on the other foot. No matter how you feel about former President Donald Trump’s activities after the 2020 election, the reaction of putting Trump in jail for his speech and activities to organize opposition to Congress counting Electoral College votes would degrade our political system and set the precedent that one party can criminalize the political activities of the other.

Notwithstanding all the legal spin you are hearing on a day-to-day basis from talking heads on cable television, it is a fact that the First Amendment to the Constitution vindicates the freedom of political speech. When you hear the talking point that “you can’t yell fire in a crowded theater,” know that the media are trying to gaslight you — to make you believe that there are limits to political free speech, when in fact there aren’t.

If government is permitted to redefine the Bill of Rights as something subjective and not containing inalienable rights, then the government can take anyone’s rights away, including yours.

Yelling fire in a crowded theater has nothing to do with political speech.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: trump; trumppersecution
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1 posted on 08/30/2023 5:23:10 AM PDT by RandFan
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To: RandFan

Democrats want us to be like Canada, where any speech can be called illegal if the government doesn’t like it.


2 posted on 08/30/2023 5:26:18 AM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: Telepathic Intruder

This is in “The Hill”?
Wow!!


3 posted on 08/30/2023 5:29:40 AM PDT by milagro (There is no peace in appeasement! There)
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To: RandFan

BTTT


4 posted on 08/30/2023 5:30:24 AM PDT by nopardons ( )
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To: RandFan

Democrats don’t care. Here’s why:

1) The ends justify the means
2) It doesn’t matter if bad precedent has been set because
a) They will likely keep maintain power
b) Republicans are wusses when they are in power
3) They don’t think that far ahead. They only care about who makes them promises of gifts now


5 posted on 08/30/2023 5:31:03 AM PDT by z3n (Kakistocracy)
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To: RandFan

The left is willing to literally burn the country to the ground and rule over the ashes rather than give up an iota of power.


6 posted on 08/30/2023 5:31:43 AM PDT by Dutch Boy (The only thing worse than having something taken from you is to have it returned broken. )
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To: RandFan

“The U.S. Constitution is clear: Political speech is protected by the First Amendment.”

Hey, give the Democrats a break. All they want is to abolish that antiquated Constitution and replace it with a “Living Constitution” that they can change whenever it suites their fancy.


7 posted on 08/30/2023 5:33:42 AM PDT by antidemoncrat
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To: RandFan

Instead of “the criminalization of politics,” a more appropriate description might be “the politicization of the criminal justice system and the government.”


8 posted on 08/30/2023 5:38:10 AM PDT by RoosterRedux (A person who seeks the truth with a strong bias will never find it. He will only confirm his bias.)
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To: milagro
I was also surprised to see this in 'The (s)Hill'. They've been as bad as the mockingbirds during this lawfare debacle.

I hold their motives in publishing it suspect.
My first thought is its a "hey guys, ignore all that water under the bridge, we're on your side" ploy. No mockingbirds, you're not.

9 posted on 08/30/2023 5:39:38 AM PDT by Tench_Coxe (The woke were surprised by the reaction to the Bud Light fiasco. May there be many more surprises)
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To: RandFan
If government is permitted to redefine the Bill of Rights as something subjective and not containing inalienable rights, then the government can take anyone’s rights away, including yours.

What do you think all the "COVID" stuff was, morons?

10 posted on 08/30/2023 5:40:40 AM PDT by Sicon ("All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." - G. Orwell>)
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To: RandFan
This article has it backwards. The charges against President Trump aren't endangering our 1st Admenment - He is only being charged because he's in the way.

Indicted, Harassed, Charged - they should put that on a plaque. He is being prosecuted for all of us.
11 posted on 08/30/2023 5:45:03 AM PDT by Observator
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To: RandFan

That’s the whole point. If they can do it to Trump they can do it to anyone.

And they will.

L


12 posted on 08/30/2023 5:45:23 AM PDT by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: RoosterRedux
What ever they want to call it things change and have since
time began. Just look at this country called the USA and the
changes since 1492. Evaluation is an ongoing process, jmo.
13 posted on 08/30/2023 5:46:52 AM PDT by deport
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To: RandFan

This is what they want for us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKTltWU1e7w


14 posted on 08/30/2023 5:47:30 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: RandFan

The USG is communists and with the ‘covid money’ have bought control all the way down to the small towns. It’s over folks.


15 posted on 08/30/2023 5:47:48 AM PDT by jdt1138 (Where ever you go, there you are.)
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To: milagro

Ice cold drinks now being served in Hell! Never thought I’d see the day.


16 posted on 08/30/2023 5:59:07 AM PDT by sjmjax
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To: milagro

A Rand Paul person.


17 posted on 08/30/2023 6:04:31 AM PDT by Chickensoup (Genocide is here. Leftist extremists are spearheading the Genocide against conservatives. )
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To: RandFan

https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1696643892253466712/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1696643892253466712&currentTweetUser=TuckerCarlson


18 posted on 08/30/2023 6:06:04 AM PDT by Chickensoup (Genocide is here. Leftist extremists are spearheading the Genocide against conservatives. )
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To: RandFan

The Traitorcrats openly work to destroy the Constitution and with it the United States of America.

Voting for a Traitorcrat, like Biden, is itself an act of giving aid and comfort to the domestic and foreign enemies of the United States.


19 posted on 08/30/2023 6:11:02 AM PDT by Carl Vehse (Hell cannot be made too hot for Traitorjoe and the people who voted for him)
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To: nopardons

It is endangering the Judiciary.

I remember when we mostly believed in the FBI. Now, we are ready to dissolve it. The Judiciary is risking permanent damage to its reputation and to the Rule of Law. It is becoming a joke.


20 posted on 08/30/2023 6:20:13 AM PDT by MMusson
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