Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) is an unapologetic political conservative. And he is also a staunch supporter of free speech. Here, from Michael Williams’ article for CNN, via yahoonews.com, is what happens when the two collide:
GOP Sen. Ted Cruz on Friday denounced Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s threats to pull ABC’s broadcast license as “unbelievably dangerous” and compared some of his rhetoric to “mafioso” tactics.
In an episode of his podcast, “Verdict with Ted Cruz,” released on Friday, the Texas Republican said he was “thrilled” Jimmy Kimmel was pulled off the air by ABC over his comments about conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. But he said he strongly disagreed with the government policing speech, asserting it could come back to bite conservatives when Democrats retake power.
“I hate what Jimmy Kimmel said. I am thrilled that he was fired,” Cruz said. “But let me tell you: If the government gets in the business of saying, ‘We don’t like what you, the media, have said. We’re going to ban you from the airwaves if you don’t say what we like,’ that will end up bad for conservatives.”
“Going down this road, there will come a time when a Democrat wins again – wins the White House … they will silence us. They will use this power, and they will use it ruthlessly. And that is dangerous,” Cruz said.
Responding to (FCC Chair Brendan) Carr’s comments (threatening to take action against broadcasters for political content), Cruz said: “No, no, no, no, no.”
“Look, look, I like Brendan Carr,” the senator said. “He’s a good guy. He’s the chairman of the FCC. I work closely with him. But what he said there is dangerous as hell.”
“He says, ‘We can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way.’ And I got to say, that’s right out of ‘Goodfellas.’ That’s right out of a mafioso coming into a bar going, ‘nice bar you have here. It’d be a shame if something happened to it.’”
My one gripe with what Senator Cruz says? That his concern seems primarily to be that Democrats might “get back” at Republicans by doing the same thing.
That is not the issue. The issue is that, other than the most extreme circumstances (national security, for one), the government has no business interfering with media’s freedom of speech.
That aside, however, his overall point – i.e. that government should stay out of this – is well taken, and correct. I’m glad he said it…and wish other politicians would feel the same way and act accordingly.
