Is Free Speech in Trouble?

Never in the history of the United States has the right of “freedom of speech” been so challenged as in the last decade or so. If you have an opinion that does not comply with a certain group or groups, you might become subject of abuse, censorship, and even threats of physical harm. The sector of the population most susceptible to this denial of free speech are the conservatives and people of religious faith, who have been targeted for repression of their views, thoughts, and ideas. A perfect example is the recently admitted IRS (Internal Revenue Service) attacks against conservative groups prior to the 2012 election. After repeated lawsuits, the IRS finally has agreed that they “illegally” targeted these groups and have now agreed to reimburse these conservative groups for the IRS harassment of denying or delaying their petitions for tax exempt status. But, there have been no meaningful penalties against the perpetrators of this prejudicial action, including the past IRS supervisor, Lois Lerner, who got away “scot free” and was allowed to retire with a very nice government pension.

Over the past decade or so, persons espousing conservative views have been denied the opportunity or chance to speak at various colleges and public events by people mainly representing the left, who disagree with their views and, sometimes, to their personal animosity ttoward the speaker. The so-called “free speech universities” have been some of the more egregious venues where the suppression has taken place. The University of California at Berkeley is a prime example of the stifling of free speech. This was the school back in the 60's and 70's that was home to the “free speech movement” (of course, even back then the speech that was “free”, was liberal speech).

Very seldom, if any, do you read about conservatives (or Republicans) shutting down a liberal speaker, it is always the other way around ( ex: Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Dinesh D'Souza, Alan Derschowitz (a Democrat and supporter of Israel), Pamela Geller, and certain authors of controversial books that the left has deemed unacceptable).

Today, “political correctness” has taken hold in many areas of our society. These “unelected” protectors of what should or not be allowed to be expressed in public (the P.C Police), have taken over many college campuses across the country, led by radical professors and brain-washed students. If you don't comply with what they deem a proper position of the issues, they will disrupt you and try shut you down from speaking. The trend today, is that if you espouse a conservative or religious viewpoint, you will be called a “racist” or a “bigot”, only because you challenge the viewpoints of the “P.C. Police”.

The word “racist” is being used constantly by the “liberal left” as a catchphrase for anybody whose views are deviating from the accepted liberal playbook. Two of the greatest practitioners of using the word “racist” are the two liberal “race-baiters”, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, both Democrats, who are masters of the “racial shakedown”. These phony “civil rights” leaders are nothing but con artists and shakedown specialists. Their glory days were during the 8 years of the Obama Administration, as they both had unlimited access to the White House. Now, with Pres. Trump, residing in the White House, they don't have that access or platform to further their “race hustling”.

So, in conclusion, our 1st Amendment rights are under attack, but with Pres. Trump in charge and in the White House, you have someone who isn't afraid to take on these “free speech” suppressors. The biggest obstacles to these anarchists being able to continue on their attacks on free speech, are the media, who should be in the forefront of preserving free speech, but are noticeably absent because most of the members of the 4th Estate” are politically left-leaning liberals, therefore they generally turn a blind eye to the plight of conservatives and people of faith.

Conservative commentary by Chuck Lehmann