Attorney General Pam Bondi, in my opinion, made a huge mistake recently by using the term “hate speech,” which is a left-wing talking point.
After she suggested the DOJ would target people who engaged in hate speech, which, yes, is protected by the First Amendment, she drew ire from both sides of the aisle.
This led to the media approaching Trump for his two cents on the matter.
On multiple occasions, Bondi suggested unleashing the DOJ on individuals who were found to have used “hate speech” against people.
After much outrage, she tried to clarify her comments with a social media post, writing, "Hate speech that crosses the line into threats of violence is NOT protected by the First Amendment. It’s a crime."
She continued, "For far too long, we’ve watched the radical left normalize threats, call for assassinations, and cheer on political violence. That era is over. Free speech protects ideas, debate, even dissent but it does NOT and will NEVER protect violence."
The issue has come before the Supreme Court before, and it has ruled that hate speech is free speech, period. Having said that, Bondi is also right in that sometimes free speech has consequences, which is why you can be charged with inciting violence. In a case like Kirk’s, however, how do you pin that assassination on any one comment or person?
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has been about as loyal as one can be to this administration, but even he pushed back on Bondi’s comments.
Cruz stated, “The First Amendment absolutely protects speech.
“It absolutely protects hate speech. It protects vile speech. It protects horrible speech. What does that mean? It means you cannot be prosecuted for speech, even if it is evil and bigoted and wrong.”
Here’s the thing… It’s easy to defend free speech until it’s not. By that, I mean it is our duty as Americans and constitutionalists to defend free speech even when it goes against everything we stand for. We don’t defend our freedom when it is convenient; we must defend it when it is uncomfortable as well.
Trump was asked about Bondi’s comments, and I would have to rate his answer as a huge fail, but it will likely play well with his base.
When the reporter asked Trump about Bondi’s statement, Trump responded, “They’ll probably go after people like you. Because you treat me so unfairly, it’s hate. You’ve got a lot of hate in your heart. Maybe they’ll come after ABC.
“Well, ABC paid me $16 million recently for a form of hate speech. Your company paid me $16 million for a form of hate speech, so maybe they’ll have to go after you. Look, we want everything to be fair. It hasn’t been fair. And the radical left has done tremendous damage to the country.”
This was a horrible response. People may not like reading that, but I am not here to pacify anyone. And let’s be honest here, Trump has thrown some pretty nasty nuggets out there, so this is the pot calling the kettle black. Trump could have been far more diplomatic about this, but he just comes off angry and unsettled here, as though he has the attitude of “how dare you challenge me.” It is statements like that which will continue to have Democrats attacking him as an authoritarian. He has to be better.
