OPINION:
Oh, the horror! In yet another instance of billionaires driving the liberal elites mad — that is, when it’s a billionaire not doing their bidding — leftists and censorship apologists have taken strong issue with Elon Musk daring to buy Twitter. You can almost hear the drips of sweat come off the left’s brow as it envisions a world where Big Tech’s vice grip over the online public square loosens.
First, let’s point out the irony. The Washington Post is owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos. Bloomberg News is, of course, owned by billionaire Michael Bloomberg. So really, liberals don’t care if billionaires own the platforms of information or serve as the so-called guardians of what we define as “news.” It only matters if that billionaire is one of them and thinks as they do.
Liberal Washington Post opinion author Max Boot even went on Twitter to say he was “frightened by the impact on society and politics if Elon Musk acquires Twitter. He seems to believe that on social media, anything goes. For democracy to survive, we need more content moderation, not less.”
It is the height of hypocrisy to witness someone whose job is protected by the First Amendment’s freedom of the press advocating that certain Americans be stripped of their freedom of speech, blatantly calling for censorship of anyone he does not agree with.
Yet, this is the reality in which we currently live. Liberals and leftists no longer think it is necessary to debate those with opposing viewpoints. They become triggered by it, shut down the discussion and silence anyone who dares to question their preferred narrative. If they can’t win the argument, they turn to censorship and cancel culture to silence any dissent. While it is entirely appropriate to disagree with this Mr. Boot’s opinion, it is equally important to respect his right to express it — no matter how ill-conceived.
For democracy to truly survive, we must get back to a point in our nation where we respect everyone’s right to free speech and freedom of expression, even if they are wrong.
A few years ago, C-SPAN/Ipsos released a poll showing that 6% of Americans thought the Apollo 11 moon landing was fake. Clearly, this is not in the mainstream, and it has been disproven many times over. However, those 6% have a right to their opinion, even if it’s wrong! We shouldn’t silence, censor or cancel them. We should just keep referring them to the facts, and either they will eventually get it or they won’t.
The same should hold true in other debates involving politics or other aspects of our lives. People disagree. It is their right. We don’t all have to think exactly the same way about everything. Liberals and leftists claim to celebrate diversity and stand as champions against intolerance. Yet, they are intolerant of any diversity of thought and are willing to exact personal and economic damage from anyone who dares oppose them.
In the movie “The American President,” the fictional president played by Michael Douglas, said, “America isn’t easy. America is advanced citizenship. You’ve got to want it bad, cause it’s gonna put up a fight. It’s gonna say, ‘You want free speech?’ Let’s see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who is standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.”
This statement is absolutely correct. If only America had more leaders who would stand up in reality and say the same thing.
Whether it is around the dinner table with friends and family, in the public square, on the opinion pages, and yes, even on Twitter and social media — everyone in America has the right to free speech, even if they are wrong.
• Marc Lotter is chief communications officer at the America First Policy Institute. He previously served as special assistant to President Donald Trump and press secretary to Vice President Mike Pence.
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