Posted on 12/12/2018 2:14:40 PM PST by Red Badger
Rep. Ted Lieu (D., Calif.) said he would "love to be able to regulate the content of speech" during an interview Wednesday, noting he was prevented from doing that by the First Amendment.
Lieu got attention a day earlier when Google CEO Sundar Pichai testified at a House Judiciary Committee hearing, assailing conservative claims of the tech giant's bias against them by reading positive and negative stories about Republican Reps. Steve Scalise (La.) and Steve King (Iowa), the latter of whom has repeatedly courted controversy with racially charged remarks.
After CNN host Brianna Keilar praised Lieu for the "clever" stunt, she wondered if Democrats should have used more of their time to question the Google leader about how it and other tech companies can work to prevent the spread of conspiracy theories and other online trolling.
"It's a very good point you make," Lieu said. "I would love if I could have more than five minutes to question witnesses. Unfortunately, I don't get that opportunity. However, I would love to be able to regulate the content of speech. The First Amendment prevents me from doing so, and that's simply a function of the First Amendment, but I think over the long run, it's better the government does not regulate the content of speech."
He added he would urge private companies to regulate their platforms more themselves but repeated the government shouldn't play that role.
Lieu blasted the hearing as a waste of time perpetrated by Republicans and backed the right of corporations to free speech. He backs a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court decision Citizens United, however, which confirmed that right.
Lieu tweeted Tuesday he would like to regulate Fox News but said the fact that he couldn't was "a good thing in the long run."
I agree there are serious issues, but the speech issues are protected by the First Amendment. Would I like to regulate Fox News? Yes, but I can't because the First Amendment stops me. And that's ultimately a good thing in the long run.
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) December 11, 2018
And the definition changes on a dime to suit present needs.
Not fascist. Not at all.
Freaking dirtbags
Isn’t it grand to know that the immigrant tyrant reluctantly allows that our Constitution prevents him from being the thug he really is?
It’s so wonderful to hear he plans to allow us this.
Hanging upside down at a gas station.
Or simply put up against a wall.
The First Amendment is a chink in the armor, of his wants!
He’s an excellent argument for abortion.
No real American would EVER SAY SUCH A THING!..............
This is why the most important amendment is the Second or this a-hole and the other leftist scum would not spout what they would do, they would just do it.
This fool is an anti-Free-America, anti-Free-American nitwit. “I would love to” see this fool be exiled after being thrown out of Congress for being such a fascist wannabe.
I believe we once called such people “traitors” or something like that.
It should be very obvious that liberals are showing their true colors...open fascism. The Bill of Rights means nothing to them. The First and Second Amendments are their current targets, but as we saw with the Kavanaugh hearings the Fourth and Fifth Amendments would be quickly swept away.
Li-peu has been taking Swallowswell lessons, it seems.
Maybe they’ll be able to abrogate the 1st Amendment after his buddy nukes some gun owners.
And maybe not.
Maybe he’s taking Occaisional-Cortex lessons on trolling for a Twitter-spanking.
I’m thinking lamp post.
Head-down.
“,,, we once called such people “traitors” or something like that.”
More like Domestic Enemies.
Comment obviously correct but why can’t more see the rats true colors?
[More like Domestic Enemies.]
Works for me.
But then, there was a book on the table in an episode of “Burn Notice”.......
The men who conceived the Bill of Rights knew that the likes of Ted Lieu would be in political office and they ingeniously set up a way to hinder them. Bless them all.
“Lieu: ‘I Would Love to Be Able to Regulate the Content of Speech’ but First Amendment Stops Me”
I would too, but my aversion to jail stops me.
China PLA undercover plant Lieu weighs in....
There should be gallows set up in town squares all over the country.
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