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Senate Democrats blunt free speech
Los Angeles Daily News ^ | 2/26/17 | Janet Nguyen

Posted on 02/26/2017 2:48:05 PM PST by Mark

FREE SPEECH

Senate Democrats blunt free speech

By Janet Nguyen

When I spoke on the floor of the California state Senate on Thursday, little did I know that my efforts to provide my colleagues with a different historical perspective regarding former Sen. Tom Hayden would become a national news story.

Two days earlier, the Senate honored Tom Hayden, who served in the Legislature but who also had a long history as an outspoken supporter of the communist North Vietnamese government during the Vietnam War.

Some might ask why, over four decades after the war ended, there remains so much emotion surrounding Hayden’s actions. Let me explain. I was born in Vietnam and my father and uncle served in the South Vietnamese Army. My uncle was executed by the communists and my father was sought for a “re-education” camp.

As a result, we fled on a 10-meter wooden boat across the South Asia Sea to find freedom and were fortunate to find refuge in the United States, a nation founded on the principles of freedom and democracy.

It was in the interest of representing the residents of the 34th state Senate district, home to the largest community of Vietnamese outside of Vietnam, that I felt compelled to tell my colleagues what Sen. Hayden’s support of the communist regime meant to the Vietnamese-American community.

Prior to my speech, I notified the Senate Pro Tem’s Office of my desire to speak on this subject matter and followed protocol. The majority party was well aware of my plans and out of respect to his family and to my colleagues, I chose to step out of the chamber on Tuesday during a ceremony in his honor and waited for another time to make my comments. Nevertheless, when I spoke on Thursday I was forcibly removed from the chamber by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

I am deeply disappointed with the actions of the Democratic majority’s leadership because they didn’t just silence my voice, they silenced the voices of the more than 930,000 residents I represent. Their actions were not the result of some arcane Senate rule or the fact I didn’t follow protocol but because some senators did not like what I had to say.

In Vietnam to this day, free speech does not exist and on Thursday, I caught a glimpse of what that must be like. The freedoms we enjoy in this country are worth defending and I am proud to have been a part of that fight. As an American, I am committed to continue to fight to protect first amendment rights for the residents of my district and for the residents of the great state of California.

Janet Nguyen is a state senator representing the 34th district which includes the communities of Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Los Alamitos, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Westminster, unincorporated communities of Midway City and Rossmoor and portions of Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Long Beach and Orange.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; censorship; freespeech; hatespeech; tomhayden; vietnam
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I am deeply disappointed with the actions of the Democratic majority’s leadership because they didn’t just silence my voice, they silenced the voices of the more than 930,000 residents I represent.
1 posted on 02/26/2017 2:48:05 PM PST by Mark
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To: Mark

Not surprised.


2 posted on 02/26/2017 2:58:11 PM PST by Biggirl ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5)
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To: Mark

It’s thoughtcrime to speak poorly of a Democrat hero.


3 posted on 02/26/2017 3:02:11 PM PST by DBrow
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To: Mark

Hayden was a traitor. Nonetheless, I think it is very poor form and classless to attack a dead person. She could have made her point more effectively by refusing to even mention his name in her speech.


4 posted on 02/26/2017 3:03:53 PM PST by Az Joe
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To: Az Joe

Hitler is dead and attacked on a regular basis.


5 posted on 02/26/2017 3:09:31 PM PST by Mark (Celebrities... is there anything they do not know? -Homer Simpson)
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: Az Joe

From what the article says she was speaking as part of the regular activities of the legislature. She was not interrupting any ceremony honoring the commie.


7 posted on 02/26/2017 3:18:13 PM PST by arrogantsob (Check out "CHAOS AND MAYHEM" at Amazon.com.)
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To: Az Joe

Get a life....


8 posted on 02/26/2017 3:21:18 PM PST by Shamrock-DW
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To: Az Joe

Sounds like you are a Democrat protecting a Democrat. Grow up.


9 posted on 02/26/2017 3:21:42 PM PST by Mark (Celebrities... is there anything they do not know? -Homer Simpson)
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: Mark

I dig you and your speech was slot on but, “A Point of Order” was called and you ignored it.

You knew what the outcome would be, given the subject and how many of his friends would be in session.

No big deal though, baby.

You are amazing.


12 posted on 02/26/2017 3:23:35 PM PST by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH-pk2vZG2M)
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Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: Az Joe

So your insult of the other poster is unwarranted.


14 posted on 02/26/2017 3:26:22 PM PST by arrogantsob (Check out "CHAOS AND MAYHEM" at Amazon.com.)
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Comment #15 Removed by Moderator

Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: Az Joe

” I think it is very poor form and classless to attack a dead person.”


Why ?

.


17 posted on 02/26/2017 3:29:50 PM PST by Mears
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

Comment #19 Removed by Moderator

To: Mark

Screw tom hayden and the fonda whore he rode in with.


20 posted on 02/26/2017 3:32:07 PM PST by onedoug
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