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Loretta Lynch: We will prosecute hateful rhetoric about Muslims that "edges towards violence"
Hot Air.com ^ | December 4, 2015 | ALLAHPUNDIT

Posted on 12/04/2015 7:13:52 PM PST by Kaslin

Via BuzzFeed. To be honest, I’m not sure my headline captures what she’s saying. Watch the clip and ask yourself if she’s talking about hateful acts or hateful speech. Not so clear, is it? She mentions speech and rhetoric and the First Amendment but she keeps coming back to prosecuting actions. If all she’s saying is that she’ll charge anyone who acts violently towards Muslims, that’s not newsworthy. That’s her doing her job. If what she’s saying is that she’ll charge anyone who speaks violently about Muslims, that’s something else. She could have spoken perfectly clearly on this subject if she wanted to. The fact that she didn’t means she intended to be vague. How come?

You have the right to say you hate a particular person or a particular group. You don’t have the right to try to harm that person or group. One is speech, protected by the First Amendment, the other is action. The gray area is when someone uses speech to encourage someone else to act violently. Even then, speech is usually protected. You can say, e.g., “let’s kill the atheists” without fear of going to jail. If you say that, though, to someone who seems like he really does want to kill some atheists and there just so happens to be some atheists nearby at that moment, then you can be prosecuted for saying it. That’s incitement. The rule courts follow in analyzing a case like that is whether the speech was intended to produce, and likely to produce, imminent lawless action. Because of that, it’s almost impossible to be guilty of incitement in most situations. If you’re addressing an angry mob, you’re in the danger zone. Anywhere else — especially if your speech consists of writing, not spoken words, since writing can’t trigger “imminent” action — and you’re safe. Threats operate similarly. If you say “the atheists should be killed,” courts will chalk that up to hyperbole or political grandstanding and refuse to let the state prosecute for it. If you say it, though, to a group of atheists while your hand rests uneasily on your holstered semiautomatic, well, that’s different. That threat seems real. You can go to jail for that.

So, with that as background, what does this mean?

"Now obviously this is a country that is based on free speech," she said. "but when it edges towards violence, when we see the potential for someone lifting that mantle of anti-Muslim rhetoric or, as we saw after 9/11, violence against individuals when we see that, we will take action."…

"I think it's important that as we again talk about the importance of free speech we make it clear that actions predicated on violent talk are not America. They are not who we are, they are not what we do, and they will be prosecuted," she concluded.

Actions will be prosecuted? Yup, that’s typically how law enforcement works. Speech that “edges towards violence” will be prosecuted? That’s … sometimes how law enforcement works, if it meets the rule I described above about threats or incitement. If it doesn’t, though, then she’s talking out of her ass — or at least, she is for the moment. Some Democrats are jonesing for a new legal standard that would let the state charge people with “hate speech.” Is Lynch one of them? Is she going to try to prosecute someone for writing “kill all the Muslims” or whatever on Facebook, hoping/expecting that the Supreme Court will revisit its rules for free speech and allow that conviction to stand? Or is she just pandering to her audience (a Muslim advocacy group) by floating some legal gobbledygook about speech that “edges towards violence,” when in reality all she means are the threats and incitement that are already criminal under the law?

TRUNEWS VIDEO: AG Loretta Lynch to Prosecute 'Anti-Muslim Speech'


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: 1stamendment; attorneygeneral; brandenburg; doj; firstamendment; hateful; highcrimes; incitement; lorettalynch; lynch; muslim; obama; rhetoric; treason; waronfreespeech; waronmuslimwomen
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To: Kaslin

It’s obscene! Two Muslims just slaughtered a bunch of innocent people, and SHE is more concerned about violence against Muslims???? In what sane world is that a reasonable response to actual events?

I’m 100% for violence for Muslims who want to commit acts of violence. If this sad excuse for an AG wants to investigate someone, start with the mosques! Deport or imprison any Muslims who advocate jihad, and terminate with extreme violence any who dare attack peaceful Americans.

In no way should private citizens take up arms against Muslims! But it’s the responsibility of this AG and our government to protect ALL Americans, including Christians, Muslims, atheists, etc., against terrorists. Do your job Ms Lynch and find those who are doing or planning actual violence!


41 posted on 12/04/2015 7:33:39 PM PST by CitizenUSA (Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.)
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To: Lurkinanloomin

What a find Lurk! Thank you for posting. Truth is punishable now days.


42 posted on 12/04/2015 7:33:47 PM PST by RitaOK ( VIVA CRISTO REY / Public education is the farm team for more Marxists coming)
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To: RitaOK

The most dangerous period in American history. Hope we survive.


43 posted on 12/04/2015 7:34:34 PM PST by doc1019 (Out of my mind ... back in 5)
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To: marron

That’s kind of what they try to imply.

Of course it comes from that Allah of theirs who always seems to have a chip on his celestial shoulder.


44 posted on 12/04/2015 7:34:44 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

I hope we are all around to discuss this after dust settles.


45 posted on 12/04/2015 7:36:02 PM PST by SpaceBar
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To: Kaslin

I think in my lifetime I am going to see an angry mob drag one of these elitists down and beat them silly right on TV...


46 posted on 12/04/2015 7:36:25 PM PST by Mad Dawgg (If you're going to deny my 1st Amendment rights then I must proceed to the 2nd one...)
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To: QT3.14
Clown on CNN, before the facts were in stated a right wing group had to be responsible.

But the interview got better...

**What information do you base that on?**

**It*s based on no information. It*s just a hunch.**

47 posted on 12/04/2015 7:36:35 PM PST by St_Thomas_Aquinas ( Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 16:19, Revelation 3:7)
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To: CitizenUSA

Citizens should be willing as always to be ready for defensive acts.


48 posted on 12/04/2015 7:36:49 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: Kaslin

The Islamic world is at war against us!


49 posted on 12/04/2015 7:37:33 PM PST by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to to God!)
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To: TexasGator

It’s like Moochelle’s netheregion— how it edges toward a violent fall out, on both sides of any chair on which she sits..... you know.. Also known as flop-over, or on Southwest it’s a “two seater”, slightly related to a “two bagger”. tee hee.


50 posted on 12/04/2015 7:37:53 PM PST by RitaOK ( VIVA CRISTO REY / Public education is the farm team for more Marxists coming)
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To: Kaslin

The Republicans who voted to confirm Lynch:

The Senate voted 56–43 in favor of Lynch, approving her with help of Sens. Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), Thad Cochran (Miss.), Susan Collins (Maine), Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Orrin Hatch (Utah), Ron Johnson (Wis.), Mark Kirk (Ill.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky)


51 posted on 12/04/2015 7:38:26 PM PST by savedbygrace (But God!)
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To: Kaslin

Start with me. Islam is antithetical to notions of freedom and justice. Proclaiming the “Prophet” should result in deportation.


52 posted on 12/04/2015 7:38:39 PM PST by freedomjusticeruleoflaw (Western Civilization- whisper the words, and it will disappear. So let us talk now about rebirth.)
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To: grey_whiskers

It’s easy enough to look through anyone’s posting history. I’ve found it useful to get a read on where somebody’s coming from.
I sort of understand the suspicions, but some take it a bit far, I know that consideration caused me to delay joining.


53 posted on 12/04/2015 7:38:43 PM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Islamophobia? It is not irrational to fear evil)
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To: Lurkinanloomin

Welcome aboard our ship trying to steer out of this spiral toward the drain hole with 0bamas floating all around us.


54 posted on 12/04/2015 7:38:51 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: doc1019

Infiltrated by illegal aliens from mexico and latin america by the tens of millions, in debt to the tune of almost four light years worth of dollars, and islamic jihad is smiling in the window. We got the bastards surrounded.


55 posted on 12/04/2015 7:39:17 PM PST by SpaceBar
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To: Lurkinanloomin

Excellent post. The contrast between Islam and Christianity couldn’t be more extreme, and John Quincy Adams apparently understood. Some people will take the wrong message and think that all religions are a problem, but Christ called us to be better people both in this world and the next. The existence of spiritual evil in this world is further proof, in my book, of the existence of its opposite. It really looks like a spiritual war between the forces of good and evil if you ask me, and that means we shouldn’t be neutral. We should be picking the side of good.


56 posted on 12/04/2015 7:39:42 PM PST by CitizenUSA (Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.)
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To: Kaslin
If it's speech and not actual violence that the Obama-Holder-Lynch Department of Just Us is talking about then Patrick Henry has a reminder:

The questing before [you] is one of awful moment to this country . . . in proportion to the magnitude of the subject [there must] be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that [you] can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should [you] keep back [your] opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, [you] should consider [your]self as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which [is] above all earthly kings . . . Are [you] disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? . . . whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, [you must be] willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

Those pukes are committing treason. Round 'em up and send 'em off to camp, Mr. Next President.
57 posted on 12/04/2015 7:41:16 PM PST by WilliamofCarmichael (If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!)
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To: Kaslin; All
The Left is insane. We have this threat from DOJ, but elsewhere The Gov says: See something, Say Something!!

Remember Clock Boy? Zero, praises him. Some may face legal action for doing something.

How about the neighbor in CA that saw the odd activities late at night in the garage of the terrorists? Kept quiet for fear of being labeled.

58 posted on 12/04/2015 7:42:31 PM PST by QT3.14 (Zero has compassion and American values for refugees. What about the 50k homeless vets?)
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To: SpaceBar

Thank God we Americans are airheads. We’re just not falling for it. Heck, I think F. Chuck Todd is going wobbly. He talks of a friend who has nothing to do with guns, discussing which one to get. Phenomenal utterance, coming from Todd.

This was in a discussion about Trump and true leadership, in a presidential vacuum.


59 posted on 12/04/2015 7:42:52 PM PST by RitaOK ( VIVA CRISTO REY / Public education is the farm team for more Marxists coming)
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To: Jim Robinson

The Islamic world is at war against us!

********************************************

Has been since 622 A.D., not just us, the entire world.
ALL muslims are commanded by their prophet and their book to subjugate, convert or kill ALL unbelievers.
There can be no peace until there is only Islam, according to their book.
Mad Mo made it so.


60 posted on 12/04/2015 7:44:23 PM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Islamophobia? It is not irrational to fear evil)
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