“Network news has become so partisan, distorted and fake that licenses must be challenged and, if appropriate, revoked. Not fair to public!” Trump wrote. Sasse responds, ““Are you tonight recanting of the oath you took on Jan. 20 to preserve, protect, and defend the 1st Amendment?”
Now let’s see. Trump’s suggestion was based on using the government’s regulatory approval process to shut people up. There’s nothing constitutional about that licensing process. [“NO law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press” the Constitution says.] So Sasse’s response is criticizing Trump for using a non-constitutional means to shut up the media? I doubt that’s what he meant!
The criticism is that Trump should protect the constitution by defending – but not using -the unconstitutional regulatory licensing currently in place. If licensing is right and constitutional, then why isn’t it’s use by Trump also right and constitutional?
In essence, Sasse is saying, preserve free speech by allowing the infringement of free speech to remain in effect.
Trump’s tweet leads down a dangerous path. But Sasse’s response proves the adage that a weak defense is to play into the enemy’s hands. Few people are better at that than the so-called Republican conservatives! (Note that the true answer to Sasse’s question is, “No, I recanted my oath when I did not immediately eliminate the FCC on my first day in office.”)
It is time to renounce ALL forms of government control over free speech and a free press!
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