“However, defamation claims can be used as a weapon to silence political enemies—and the claimed pain and suffering of the alleged victims can always be used as an argument by the plaintiff.”
Then it would seem that people who want to engage in political debate should be, unlike Mr. Jones, especially careful not to engage in defamation, so that weapon can’t be used against them.
You are assuming your adversaries are going to play fair.
They are not.
You will be silenced—if they want to silence you.
It is kinda like saying that folks should obey the speed limit in a town full of speed traps where the speed limit signs are hidden behind bushes.