Free speech has continued to be in the news as of late.
Most recently we have addressed digital free speech and the
left’s persistent attacks focused on regulating the last bastion of truly free
speech available to citizens of this country. For free speech advocates who
were listening to Republican Nominee Donald J. Trump’s speech on July 21, 2016,
we heard something out of this candidate that should make everyone celebrate.
Trump vowed to repeal the IRS restriction on churches’ free speech.
He told GOP delegates on
Thursday night that “the evangelical and religious community” has “so much to
contribute to our politics, yet our laws prevent you from speaking your minds
from your own pulpits. An amendment, pushed by Lyndon Johnson, many years ago,
threatens religious institutions with a loss of their tax-exempt status if they
openly advocate their political views.”
“Their
voice has been taken away,” Mr. Trump said. “I am going to work very hard to
repeal that language and to protect
free speech for all Americans.”
President
Johnson pushed Congress to pass the Johnson Amendment during his fierce primary
battle against Dudley Dougherty. The IRS explains that
the rule means that religious institutions that receive a tax-exempt status may
not "participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or
distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in
opposition to) any candidate for public office."
As the DNC convention moves forward with Hillary and
several speakers continuing their unjust assault on the Citizens United decision seeking to silence those who would otherwise
voice opposition to her vision of America. This is a “solution” she proposes to
fix our country. Limiting speech and ideas is clearly a step down the wrong
path. Still she proposes to do just that either through judicial
appointments or constitutional
amendments. It is extremely refreshing to see a nominee seeking to expand
freedom of speech in our country, not squash it.
No comments:
Post a Comment