• givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    So you think “free speech” means a foreign leader who is actively committing a genocide must be allowed to speak directly to Congress?

    Do you think Putin should be able to? What about NK or China’s leaders?

    How pissed are you when peaceful protesters are attacked by cops?

    Because that actually is a free speech issue. But no one is entitled to give a speech to Congress.

    • S_204@lemm.ee
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      6 months ago

      I think free speech is the ability for an invited speaker to speak freely in front of Congress. An active campaign to prevent that is absolutely stifling Free speech.

      Nowhere am I claiming that they are intending on putting him in jail for what he’s saying. That would be illegal. Stifling or subverting the intention of Congress is definitely stifling free speech.

      • whotookkarl@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        The speaker does not own the house and does not represent the whole of Congress. Opposing the speaker’s wishes is not the same as opposing free speech and an invite to speak is not a subpoena.

        If it was a subpoena to speak before Congress then it would be a violation to oppose under a contempt charge like any American citizen would get, just like the previous administration violated subpoenas that should have resulted in charges except for Senate Republicans who chose not to do their job and enforce the law.

        The speaker can invite whoever they want and the opposition party can try to prevent that within the bounds of the law if they oppose the invitee.

        • S_204@lemm.ee
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          6 months ago

          No one says they own it, but they are quite literally the speaker of the House. So when they extend an invitation to someone to speak before the American public and that is undermined then they add us quite literally stifling Free speech.

          • whotookkarl@lemmy.world
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            6 months ago

            No, you are equivocating the house speaker and Congress and they are not the same in who they represent. The house speaker represents the majority party and their constituents. Congress, including all of the representatives and senators from both parties, are there to represent the American people.