How the Left Tries to Subvert the First Amendment

One of the greatest constitutional protections we enjoy in this nation is the first amendment, which ensures freedom of speech. The free expression of ideas and opinions promotes diversity of thought and is a core principle of any free and self-governing society. Conversely, silencing dissent and opposition historically leads to authoritarianism and the eventual destruction of a society. Unfortunately, the flow of information through mainstream media and Big Tech platforms is rigged against conservative views and seeks to eliminate dissent and diversity of thought, often by pretending to combat “misinformation” or prevent “hate speech.” Ironically, the first amendment also protects the right to a free press, and yet our current press is complicit in the destruction of our first amendment right to free speech, which further stacks the deck against dissent and diversity of thought.

Who gets to decide what is “misinformation” or “hate speech?”The Biden Administration and their radical leftist allies apparently think they do, as they recently announced (and then quickly abandoned) a so-called “Disinformation Governance Board,” which would have been tasked with combating public mis- and disinformation. Critics of Biden’s shockingly Orwellian Ministry of Truth warned that they would simply bring it back under a new name. And sure enough, NPR, a largely government-funded “news” organization and perhaps one of the closest things we have to official State media, recently announced that they have launched a “disinformation reporting team,” aimed at identifying and combating disinformation. Well, it’s disinformation according to them and the leftist politicians and narratives which they support.Likewise, media “fact checkers” have almost limitless power to arbitrarily cherry-pick facts or even label personal opinions as “misinformation” to discredit a story or individual they don’t agree with. The current administration, leftist mainstream media, and Big Tech have a disturbing track record when it comes to identifying and combating misinformation. It seems that every few weeks, yet another so-called “conspiracy theory” is proven to be completely accurate, or so-called “misinformation” is proven to be entirely truthful.

One glaring example is the COVID lab-leak theory, which was once sweepingly “debunked” by leftist mainstream media and heavily censored by their allies in Big Tech as a dangerous and racist conspiracy theory of misinformation. It is now largely verified as the only reasonable and provable explanation. And yet, for more than two years, conservative voices were silenced and conservative opinions discredited in the name of combating “misinformation” that wasn’t misinformation at all.

Another excellent example is the Hunter Biden Laptop story. As soon as The New York Post broke the scandalous and incredibly relevant story of a potentially compromised and criminal political family, both the leftist mainstream media and Big Tech conspired to bury the story to protect their preferred presidential candidate. They didn’t investigate or report on the allegations and they didn’t allow the American public to openly discuss the subject so they could make an informed decision about the presidential election. Instead, leftist mainstream media immediately flooded the information airwaves with content supposedly debunking and discrediting the story as “Russian disinformation,” and vilifying any conservative voices who dared to discuss the story. Simultaneously, Big Tech launched an impressive censorship campaign to block all mention of the story, effectively hiding relevant information from the American public under the guise of “misinformation.” As usual, it was the unsuspecting and overly trusting citizens who suffered from this coordinated and politically motivated censorship.

Most recently, Twitter announced their newest censorship effort to crack down on use of the word “groomer” by making up new rules about it being hate speech against the LGBTQIA+ community. Apparently, it doesn’t matter that anyone of any sexual orientation can be a “groomer” simply by engaging in the abhorrent behaviors which groom someone, often to be a victim of a person or ideology. Lately, conservatives have been speaking up about the behaviors and social policies promoted by radical woke leftist activists which reasonably qualify as grooming behaviors. They point to real stories of child sex crimes enabled by those behaviors and social policies, and committed by those radical individuals. Notably, activists have been helping school children to deceive their parents about sex-related conversations and behaviors, and fighting to teach age-inappropriate sexual content to young children. Big Tech has taken it upon themselves to use censorship to control public discussion by banning a relevant and accurate descriptive word used mostly by conservatives to explain their concerns. Meanwhile, the leftist mainstream media is coordinating to vilify any conservatives who express concern about grooming behaviors and policies. Because these days, the concerns and opinions of conservatives are valued less than the reigning leftist narrative.

Our constitutional republic and the foundational American principle of free speech are under attack. Public discourse is being intentionally manipulated and dissent actively suppressed by leftist mainstream media and Big Tech. They have become the propaganda arm of the radical woke leftist political movement. Americans need Representatives who are willing to stand up to the establishment leftist media and Big Tech companies who seek to use their unchecked power to thwart our First Amendment free speech rights. We need Representatives who will block Big Tech’s efforts to regulate public discourse through censorship and information manipulation. We need Representatives who will fight for the rights of all Americans to express their concerns and opinions, and to publicly disagree with those in positions of power, which is what sets this great nation apart from others. As the Representative for Missouri’s 4th Congressional district, I will fight to safeguard fundamental constitutional rights and protect Americans from powerful institutions that seek to undermine their rights.

Kyle LaBrue is running for U.S. Congress to represent Missouri’s Fourth District, specifically to put American interests before globalist and special interests, to hold those who have defiled America accountable, and to curb inflation and out-of-control government spending that is directly affecting the livelihoods of the people of Middle Missouri.