The threat to democracy in the United States is not, as some might claim, the actions of former President Donald Trump, but rather the increasing willingness of Democratic Party leaders to use the power of the federal government to silence speech they disagree with. This trend is alarming, and their lack of understanding of Supreme Court precedent on the matter is even more concerning.
During a recent vice presidential debate, Democratic candidate Tim Walz claimed that Trump was a threat to democracy, but his opponent, Sen. J.D. Vance, countered that the real threat lies in the Democrats’ desire to use government power and big tech to silence dissenting voices. Vance argued that this is a threat that will outlast the current political moment and have long-term consequences for democracy.
Walz responded by referencing the Supreme Court’s ruling in Schenck v. United States, which upheld the conviction of a man for opposing the military draft during World War I. However, what Walz failed to mention was that this ruling was later overturned in Brandenburg v. Ohio, which established a much narrower test for limiting free speech. Under this test, the Democrats’ efforts to censor hate speech and misinformation are clearly unconstitutional.
The Democrats’ desire to silence dissenting voices is not limited to hate speech and misinformation. They also seek to suppress any information that contradicts their preferred narrative on issues like climate change. For example, former Secretary of State John Kerry has called for the First Amendment to be repealed in order to “hammer out of existence” disinformation about climate change. This is a chilling statement that highlights the Democrats’ willingness to suppress dissenting voices.
For example, during the vice presidential debate, CBS moderator Nora O’Donnell asserted, “Scientists say climate change makes these hurricanes larger, stronger, and more deadly” while discussing climate change. Some scientists do say that, but they are in the minority. The actual consensus is that climate change has not made hurricanes worse. However, if Harris, Walz, Kerry, and O’Donnell got their way, anyone who disagreed with the Democratic Party’s preferred narrative on climate change and hurricanes would be censored by the federal government.
The Democrats’ efforts to censor information they don’t like are not limited to government action. They also enlist the help of big tech social media platforms and nongovernmental organizations to pressure advertisers to boycott outlets that publish information they disagree with. This is a clear threat to democracy and the free exchange of ideas.
It’s not just climate change where the Democrats are trying to suppress dissent. They also tried to censor the Hunter Biden laptop story and the debate over the origin of COVID-19. This is a disturbing trend that highlights the Democrats’ willingness to use power to silence their opponents.
The real threat to democracy is not Trump or his supporters, but rather the Democrats’ desire to use government power and big tech to silence dissenting voices. This is a threat that must be taken seriously, and it’s up to all of us to defend our First Amendment rights and ensure that the free exchange of ideas is protected.
