It seems Senator Dick Durbin has a hankerin’ to abridge him some free speech.
He’s none too happy with an ‘uptick in hate speech’, which was explained by Twitter’s Yoel Roth as a coordinated effort by some 300 accounts. (We wrote about some major red flags with Yoel Roth.)
Durbin also didn’t like new Twitter boss, Elon Musk, trading conspiracy theories with Hillary Clinton about the attack on Paul Pelosi, as we reported here.
In the days since Musk took Twitter private, the platform has seen an uptick in hate speech, and Musk himself used the platform and his influence to spread a baseless conspiracy theory about a violent attack on an elected official’s family member.
— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) November 1, 2022
Durbin did not stop at expressing his disappointment. The 39-year fixture of Congress went on to show a complete lack of understanding of the body’s founding document – The Constitution of the United States.
Free speech does not include spreading misinformation to downplay political violence.
— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) November 1, 2022
To be fair, Durbin’s disinformation is undoubtedly deceptive. He knows. He just hopes the people he’s grandstanding for don’t know.
Twitter users were quick to call him out.
Yes, it does.
— Damin Toell (@damintoell) November 2, 2022
https://twitter.com/danieltobin/status/1587613647362314241?s=20&t=Gc4dF2xBIFbuycYIEifFNQ
Straight to the point. Nice.
You just described CNNpic.twitter.com/4OHvKnh63u
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) November 2, 2022
Dick likes his political violence fiery, but mostly peaceful.
The First Amendment literally prohibits lying and offensive speech, Governor Durham. I swear some people have never read the Declaration of Independence
— Three Year Letterman (@3YearLetterman) November 2, 2022
LOL. This guy’s always good for a laugh.
And which one of you goons gets to decide what is misinformation and what isn’t?
— Arthur Boreman Once Held His Breath for 30 Seconds (@ArthurBoreman) November 2, 2022
Sorry, Durbin, it’s not you.
It literally does.
See, the problem with your horrific and unconstitutional take is that whoever gets to decide what "misinformation" is, or gets to decide what is "downplaying" de facto gets to control Speech. This is antithetical to the entire concept. You should know this.— Jim Kruta jr (@idiott47) November 2, 2022
Hey, Dick Durbin, you want to know how you get more political violence? You smother free speech.
Lolwut?
— Boomieleaks (@Boomieleaks) November 2, 2022
Accurate.
Maybe it would just be easier if you made a list of what you think the First Amendment DOES protect.
— Casey Mattox (@CaseyMattox_) November 2, 2022
We’re guessing Dick could scrawl his list on the back of gum wrapper.
I mean it very much does, in a constitutional sense.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) November 2, 2022
When you’ve lost Chris Hayes …
This is misinformation to downplay infringement of Constitutional rights
— Caesar Pounce (@caesar_pounce) November 2, 2022
Magnifique!
Let me make an introduction… pic.twitter.com/ctpbiHLmVx
— S.Kinny (@SkinnyFilter) November 2, 2022
HAHA!
Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee with a *very* questionable statement … https://t.co/AvAcCa5Xhb
— Chris “Subscribe to Law Dork!” Geidner (@chrisgeidner) November 2, 2022
Another liberal weighs in. This is not going very well, Durbin.
Yes it does, and you ought to know since that’s what you did for 2 years while this country burned. https://t.co/Sot9ozJzGw
— Joel Berry (@JoelWBerry) November 2, 2022
Babylon Bee guy spitting straight fire!
Gee, why was anyone bothered by DHS's plan to establish a "Disinformation Governance Board"? https://t.co/ipFSExUtEl
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) November 2, 2022
I believe Dick Durbin is exhibiting those ‘authoritarian tendencies’ we heard about so often when Trump was president.
It does. https://t.co/zdZs7uIBbV
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) November 2, 2022
Bill Friggin’ Kristol. Twitter is having a real kumbaya moment around Durbin’s Constitutional misinformation.
Democrats are not bringing their best 🤡 https://t.co/TBx2CEKgrv
— Jen DinNJ (@JenDinnj) November 2, 2022
LOL. Fact check: True.
*laughs in 2020 BLM and Antifa riots* https://t.co/ulYgneiFpy
— Eric Spencer (@JustEric) November 2, 2022
Right? We think Rand Paul would like a word about downplaying political violence.
— Kevin McMahon (@Kevin__McMahon) November 2, 2022
That’s the one. That’s the tweet!
It’s right there in the First Amendment, Dick. Just gotta look it up.