A REMINDER ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH: ROSEANNE AND DUCK DYNASTY, TWO OF A KIND.

DO YOU REMEMBER...BLAST FROM THE PAST.

I AM NOT GOING TO ADDRESS ROSEANNE BARRS TWITTER POST THAT LED TO HER BEING CANCELLED BY ABC. IT WAS DISTURBING ENOUGH THAT IT DESERVES ITS OWN ARTICLE. THIS POST ADDRESSES "FREEDOM OF SPEECH," AS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT. 

                                                       REMEMBER...

"DUCK DYNASTY" CONTROVERSY, AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH. PT 1.

( FIRST PUBLISHED ON 12/22/2013.)

This past week the A&E network announced that it was suspending Phil Robertson, star of their reality T.V show "DUCK DYNASTY", indefinitely. This action was in response to statements made by Robertson in a GQ MAGAZINE interview to be published in January. Quotes taken from the interview, which indicate he believes Homosexuality to be "Sinful" and not "Logical", were reported in different media outlets to have offended Same-Sex rights activists and groups.

What is written in the above paragraph is considered to be factually accurate, and neither Robertson or GQ has claimed any inaccuracy in the words or quotes reported to be in the body of the interview, or that certain statements were taken out of context. So where is the controversy?

It is amazing that no matter how apparent the flawed reasoning of certain individuals can be, there are those who will seek to justify it. The following is a prime example;

ACCUSATION- BY SUSPENDING ROBERTSON, A&E HAS VIOLATED HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

Question- Did Robertson make these statements?

Answer- Yes, that is not in dispute.

Question-- Are Robertsons comments protected by the 1st amendment,

in that he cannot be prosecuted or punished criminally?

Answer- Yes, his words are protected.

Question- Because A&E suspended Robertson, his Constitutional Right to

Freedom of Speech has been violated.

Answer- Absolutely not.

To even have to address this issue is silly, for it has been covered and ruled upon (Judicially), many times.

However, certain political pundits and commentators are trying to score points with the public at large by claiming that the "DUCK DYNASTY" star has been punished contrary to Constitutional Law.

The simple answer to this claim is the following; TO HAVE YOUR RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH OR EXPRESSION VIOLATED, IT MUST DONE BY AN ENTITY OF THE GOVERNMENT. PRIVATE CITIZENS OR GROUPS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THIS PART OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

Legally, there are restrictions on how an individual may exercise their right to freedom of speech. Slanderous or Libelous statements can lead to legal sanctions, but that is because the truth of these claims are called into question. Time, Place and Location is also a factor when judging whether or not one has the right to speak or act freely, but that is because such acts may infringe upon the rights of other individuals.

ROSEANNE BARR, LIKE EVERY OTHER PERSON, REPRESENTS THEIR EMPLOYER BOTH ON AND OFF THE JOB. WHILE RACIST SPEECH, (ALONG WITH SPEECH THAT ENDORSES  XENOPHOBIA, HOMOPHOBIA, RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY etc.,) MAY BE PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE TO DONALD TRUMP AND THE "NEW" REPUBLICAN PARTY, MOST AMERICANS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH PUTTING MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF THOSE EMPLOYING THE INTOLERENT, THE IGNORANT, AND THE STUPID. GUESS WHAT? NEITHER ARE THE SPONSORS.

BREAKING: Welle for Congress Earns Endorsement of College Democrats.

Hi David,

Team Welle is excited to announce the endorsement from The College Democrats of New Jersey. This is their first Congressional endorsement in the state before the June 5th Primary Election.

 President, Megan Coyne, announced the endorsement at a Welle Get Out the Vote Rally in Hamilton last night: “With Congressional District 4 being competitive for the first time in years, it is crucial that the party is united behind the strongest candidate possible - Josh Welle is that candidate. He has continuously put public service above self. As a millennial himself, Josh understands the issues that are most important to young people. In Congress, he will vigorously advocate on behalf of this generation whose concerns are often ignored in Washington.”

 

 

The College Democrats of New Jersey encourage and develop the participation of young Americans in the political process and promote the principles of equality, opportunity, social justice, and freedom within a just and strong society. It is so crucial that we listen to and engage with the next generation of leaders in order to address issues of affordable housing, affordable college education, and accessible training for 21st century jobs.

We’re excited to welcome a  coalition of young voters to this campaign.

Service First,

Team Welle

Gibbs the Ghost. CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE KEN HARBAUGH.

David,

 

Congress is out-of-session this week, which means our representatives should be getting out in the community, talking to constituents, and holding public events.

Have you seen my representative, Bob Gibbs?

Nope. Me neither.

As we travel around the district, folks have lots of questions for Gibbs:

• Why did you vote to take health care away from 30,000 Ohioans?
• Why did you support a bill that gave large tax cuts to wealthy corporations instead of working families?
• Our roads and bridges are in disrepair. Where are those infrastructure jobs?

But nobody can ask Bob Gibbs anything.

We haven't seen Bob Gibbs advertise any public events in months. He skips the meet-the-candidates nights we attend. He has not agreed to debate. True to form, he’s just not showing up.

Ken Harbaugh is running for Congress because he believes that our representatives have a responsibility to talk to the folks they represent.

We have this old-fashioned idea that our elected officials should be accountable to the people who elect them.

If Gibbs wants to hide from Ohio voters, that is his business. We just don’t think he should hide in the United States Congress.

In service,

Esosa Osa

Chief of Staff

Meeting Malokhat. Joanna Ewart-James, Freedom United.

Dear David, Just two weeks ago I was sitting outside under the warm Uzbek sun with the stylishly dressed Malokhat Eshonkoulova, hearing about her continuing struggles. Well-regarded for her journalism, previously employed by state television, due to her monitoring and reporting of forced labor in cotton fields, she is still feeling persecuted. She faces ongoing hurdles get her legal registrations in order. Call on the Uzbek government to end the harassment and drop the charges. The President and Prime Minister of Uzbekistan have both made strong statementsregarding their wish to see an end to the systematic use of forced labor in cotton production. Both have acknowledged the role of civil society in the solution. However, Malokhat, between taking calls on her cellphone, explained to me that she is still enduring a protracted legal process in the court system to secure the documentation required to travel, which she believes is in retaliation for her human rights work. She was prevented at the airport from attending a regional seminar earlier this year. Malokhat confirmed that the legal advice, paid for by Freedom United supporters, has been invaluable. What’s particularly heartbreaking for Malokhat is that her daughter, in whose home she is currently living, is also suffering. Court bailiffs have come to her apartment six times. During an extended 11-hour search, one bailiff pressed her daughter to turn in her mother’s phone and notebook, which contained information from her monitoring of forced labor. Now after several applications,  her daughter is being denied an exit visa on the basis that she allegedly previously traveled abroad, committed an offense, and was deported back to Uzbekistan. This is not true— her daughter has never traveled abroad or received an exit visa. ...show Malokhat your support. Whilst in Uzbekistan with the Cotton Campaign, I heard senior government officials declare their aim for a cotton harvest without forced labor. They invited civil society to roundtable discussions and encouraging them to report cases, but Malokhat told me that she is yet to feel optimistic about the situation on the ground.   Malokhat said: “Whilst in the 2017 harvest there were positive changes with the end of the systematic use of students, despite the high-level government decree to allow us to monitor the cotton fields, in at least two places Elena and I were harassed and searched. It was clear that the local authorities didn’t want us there… We don’t have the structures in place to eradicate forced labor.” There is still a long way to go. As part of the Cotton Campaign’s recommendations,Freedom United is pushing for the government to engage with civil society. We are asking them to allow unfettered access to fields for local, independent civil society monitors to document forced labor during this year’s cotton harvest and drop all remaining charges against human rights defenders.[1] Show the government of Uzbekistan that we stand strong with Malokhat.

In solidarity,

Joanna and the team at Freedom United