By admitting Wednesday that he would love to regulate free speech, one top Democrat just gave emphatic credence to a longtime theory that what the left truly desires is control over everyone’s lives.
In a feeble attempt to clarify after major backlash, he made it even worse.
“I would love to be able to regulate the content of speech,” Democrat Caucus Assistant Whip Ted Lieu said during a discussion on CNN regarding Google CEO Sundar Pichai testimony to the Judiciary Committee earlier in the day.
“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. I would urge these private sector companies to regulate it better themselves.”
Listen:
While Lieu conceded that the First Amendment prevents him from regulating free speech — and acknowledged that this is for the better — the fact that he professed an interest in controlling speech struck many as yet another clear-cut sign of the left’s authoritarian tendencies.
Nor did it help that he concluded his statement by urging tech companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter to impose the left’s dubious standards of decency on the American people’s speech.
The Democrat congressman issued the admission after being asked by CNN’s Brianna Keilar whether he and his peers should have confronted Pichai about the alleged conspiracy theories that frequently show up on the internet, including in Google’s search engine.
“[H]ave you thought that maybe you and other Democrats have missed opportunities to use your time to press Google’s CEO at a time when these large tech companies are struggling to manage content perpetuating conspiracy theories, they’re so vulnerable to outside interference?” she asked.
It should be noted that what the demonstrably left-wing media classify as “conspiracy theories” are often legitimate concerns and facts that simply belie their Democrat narrative.
“So it’s a very good point you make. I would love, if I could have more than five minutes, to question witnesses. Unfortunately, I don’t get that opportunity,” Lieu initially replied before admitting that in an ideal world he’d possess the power to regulate speech.
The backlash to his remarks was immediate and scathing, with Twitter users blasting him for his “scary” “authoritarian desires.”
Look:
Ok, that’s scary
— Kambree Kawahine Koa (@KamVTV) December 12, 2018
This level of authoritarian control scares the hell out of me! These fools want no Constitution, no boarders, no second Amendment, no freedom unless they determine what my freedom is! God save us! MAGA! ??
— Robert J. Turnbull (@Shamus1969x) December 13, 2018
The future of USA under the authoritarian rule of the anti-American socialist-communist Left is on full display in these words by @RepTedLieu! Be afraid, America, be very afraid. The Leftists are coming for our Constitution and our Rights. pic.twitter.com/riy5HhDCRR
— USA PATRIOT TODD ?⚖️?? (@Rational_Vision) December 13, 2018
What a douchebag. Why didn’t he just say, I wanna be Stalin when I grow up?
This jerk is a friggin tyrant. The Democrat Party is the enemy of American Constitution. We can’t let them run the country again.— Mugly Other (@sbc406) December 13, 2018
The Constitution was written to protect people from tyrannical types like @tedlieu.
— #XenaRN_??#MAGA?? (@joahnna_budge) December 13, 2018
@tedlieu you would be much happier living in China, Cuba, or Iran where you can have your sick wish of speech regulation…but yours too will be regulated unless you’re the brutal dictator speaking without fear of prison…is that your goal?
— Marlene Hudson (@MarleneHudson2) December 13, 2018
Spoken like a true dictator or the sock puppet of google. Take your pick.
— John Eades (@jmeadesjr) December 13, 2018
You see what these people believe in. It’s control of you.#MAGA
— Stephen (@01splcheck) December 13, 2018
Lieu tried pushing back against the criticism in tweets posted early Wednesday evening, arguing that his statement amounted to a defense of the First Amendment.
“I would love to regulate your speech, but thank goodness the First Amendment prevents me, @POTUS, and Republicans from doing so. Get it? I’m defending the First Amendment,” he wrote in one tweet that he inexplicably directed at President Donald Trump.
Look at his tweets below:
I would love to regulate your speech, but thank goodness the First Amendment prevents me, @POTUS, and Republicans from doing so.
Get it? I’m defending the First Amendment.
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) December 12, 2018
The CNN question is in response to my defense of Google’s right to free speech at the Judiciary hearing. I was pointing out that government, and specifically Republicans alleging Google was biased, cannot regulate the content of speech. Get it? I’m defending the 1st Amendment.
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) December 12, 2018
I took one oath before becoming a Member of Congress and that was to the United States Constitution. I intend to follow that oath.
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) December 12, 2018
Unfortunately for the Democrat congressmen, nobody “got it” and his excuses only drew more backlash:
“Your express desire to say ‘I would love to regulate your speech’ in the first place, regardless of the existence of the First Amendment, displays your predisposition for tyranny and your contempt for natural rights,” one caustic critic fired back.
Others followed suit.
Look:
Your express desire to say “I would love to regulate your speech” in the first place, regardless of the existence of the First Amendment, displays your predisposition for tyranny and your contempt for natural rights. https://t.co/UxP8ng5cC3
— Elliott Hamilton (@ElliottRHams) December 12, 2018
“I will grudgingly abide by the terms of the constitution” is still a terrible look, dude.
How about trying “I believe in the *principles* behind the First Amendment and have no interest in regulating/censoring speech”
— Allan (@AllanRicharz) December 13, 2018
Your type of thinking is literally the reason we have the 1st Amendment.
Come to think of it, it’s also the reason we have the 2nd Amendment.
— DJ (@DJNYified) December 13, 2018
You want to silence us but are prohibited by law. This is not the stirring defense you imagined.
— Anthony Bialy (@AnthonyBialy) December 13, 2018
If you would love to regulate my speech then you’re not defending anything but tyranny.
— Rick Moore (@RickMoore) December 13, 2018
This must be one of those instances were democrats just can’t get their message across because they’re so damn smart.
— Jeff Fithen (@jfithen) December 12, 2018
The latter tweet was in reference to a recent claim by Democrat Sen. Mazie Hirono that Democrats fail to connect with voters because they “know so much.”
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V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.
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