Finest Hour: Sen. McConnell Eloquently Champions Free Speech for ALL Americans, Including Those Who Speak Out Against ObamaCare (video)
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on September 23, 2009
UPDATE: OCTOBER 21, 2009: Capitol Confidential: Even Left Groups Mobilize Against A Government Takeover of the Internet
Soft tyranny… Medicare Advantage is being used by some in Congress to attempt to target and deny freedom of speech to health insurance providers. They are attempting a gag order against Humana.
Yesterday, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) eloquently addressed on the Senate floor in Washington the “troubling trend of efforts” to deny any company or any person the fundamental American right to discuss legislation, namely ObamaCare, and address that legislation’s impacts. Freedom of speech is the core of the First Amendment’s protection for Americans and it is again in jeopardy. Without that right, we will go the way of Cuba, of Venezuela.
McConnell questioned the using of the “full weight” of the US government to target individuals or companies in an effort to squelch free speech in America.
McConnell raises legitimate concerns when he asked, “Is this what we believe as a Senate — that this body should debate a trillion-dollar health care bill that affects every American while using the powerful arm of government to shut down speech?”
To that, I believe this was one of Sen. McConnell’s finest hours. Thank you, Senator, for adhering to our inherent rights and to those provided by the US Constitution. Thank you for opposing the ongoing Draconian efforts that are taking place in our government. Once any individual or company is denied freedom of speech because their views differ from that of our government, of any government, the door of soft tyranny is opened wide for that right to be denied capriciously to any and all of us. Soft tyranny then inevitable evolves to hard tyranny.
Sen. McConnell, you’re a great American… one of the good guys.
Sen. Mitch McConnell: End Federal Gag Order on Medicare Cuts | September 22, 2009
Transcript of Sen. McConnell’s address on freedom of speech:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday regarding free speech in the health care debate:
“I rise to call my colleagues’ attention to a disturbing development in the health care debate.
“A colleague of ours has called for an investigation into a major health care company because this company informed its customers of its concerns about health care legislation that this colleague of ours introduced.
“As a result, the federal government has now told all companies that provide Medicare Advantage to seniors to stop communicating with their clients about the effects of that legislation — even telling them what they can and cannot post on their websites. This gag order, enforced through an agency of the federal government at the request of a Senator, is wrong.
“It started when a company based in my hometown of Louisville — Humana — had the temerity, in the eyes of some of our colleagues, to explain to its customers that if Medicare Advantage is cut, as the chairman’s mark requires, it may have to reduce benefits, which, of course, is a common sense conclusion.
“Mr. President, this is America: Citizens, either as individuals or grouped together in companies, have a fundamental right to talk about legislation they favor or oppose. That is the core of the First Amendment’s protections on speech. Unfortunately, this is part of a troubling trend of efforts to dismiss the concerns raised by the American people over the past few months.
“Over the summer, we saw American citizens who raised concerns about the health care proposals before Congress dismissed as ‘un-American’ by leaders in Congress. That’s bad enough, but using the full weight of the federal government’s enforcement powers to stifle free speech should trouble all Americans — and all of us — even more.
“We cannot allow government officials to target individuals or companies because they do not like what they have to say.
“This latest effort to squelch free speech raises several serious questions:
“Is this what we have come to as a country — that an individual or company can no longer factually advocate their position on an incredibly important public policy issue?
“Shouldn’t customers have a right to know the potential impact of a Congressional action?
“Is this what we believe as a Senate — that this body should debate a trillion-dollar health care bill that affects every American while using the powerful arm of government to shut down speech?
“Is this how citizens and companies can expect to be treated if health reform passes? That any health provider that disagrees with a powerful Senator will be subject to an investigation and a gag order?
“How is this any different than what the Washington Post and New York Times have done in lobbying for a reporter shield law? Would we stand by if the Judiciary Committee asked the FBI to investigate the media for taking positions on pending legislation we don’t agree with? Of course not.
“Humana is headquartered in my hometown of Louisville, and yes, I care deeply about its 8,000 employees in Kentucky. But this gag order now applies to all Medicare Advantage providers.
“I would remind my colleagues that I have spent my career defending the First Amendment rights of people to criticize their elected officials, including me. I would make the same argument if this were a company based in San Francisco or Helena or Chicago.
“The right to free speech is at the core of our democracy. Free citizens have a First Amendment right to petition their government for a redress of grievances. This gag order on companies like Humana and those in all our states, in my view, is a clear violation of that right. It’s wrong.
“Employers that warn their customers about the effects of legislation aren’t the ones who should be getting warnings here. Senators who threaten Americans’ First Amendment rights are.”
UPDATE FROM OBAMA ADMINISTRATION: Call your congressmen… this is an outrage. Let’s not forget this promise from May: Obama Revises His Promise on Bills Being Available Online for Public Scrutiny… Let’s Hope He Follows Through on Newest Promise, Since He Hasn’t So Far
“Most transparent administration ever,” Mr. President? I beg to differ.
From Michelle Malkin, Dems lied, transparency died: Senate Finance Committee nixes Obamacare online disclosure:
The Senate majority’s contempt for the American people rears its ugly head again. The Senate Finance Committee just voted down a GOP amendment requiring that Obamacare legislation be available online 72 hours before the panel votes. Instead, the Democrats offered to make “conceptual language” available…
“Conceptual language.” Translation: “vague, specifics-lacking, gaping-holed ObamaCare PR spin.”
Related reading:
Riehl World View: Feds Use Intimidation To Silence Critics On Health Care Reform
Just Americans Making Ethical Statements Weblog: Fundamental Right…to Favor or Oppose
Dan Mitchell, Big Government: The Problem Is Spending, Not Deficits
Sister Toldjah: CBO contradicts Obama on healthcare – again
Doug O’Brien, Big Government: NEA Conference Call: Get ‘em While They’re Young, Mr. President
Frugal Café Blog Zone: Embarrassment – Dems Have Lovely Chat with Fidel Castro… Blame America for Cuba’s Poverty Because of Embargo and The Sham of Socialism: Save America While There’s Still Time and Foreign Press: Up to 2 Million Attended 9/12 March on Washington (time-lapse video of march) (Updated) Mark Levin Supports Rep. Joe Wilson: “So What if He Called Obama a Liar? HE IS… Pelosi Called Conservatives Nazis, Reid Called Conservatives Evil” (video) and and Statists, Left-wing Extremists: If They Ignore the Cries of Cubans, It’s Easy to Shut Their Eyes to the Evils of Socialism
Michelle Malkin: Hmmm: Is the AARP getting “kickbacks” from Obamacare? and Corporate Shills for Hope and Change and The K Street tax cheat who’s lobbying to save Obamacare and What happens when you ask politicians how they’ll pay for Obamacare and U.N. declares Castro a “World Hero of Solidarity” and Race-baiter Democrat Rep. Diane Watson praises Cuban health system, Castro & Guevara who “kicked out the wealthy”
Goodtimepolitics: Video – Congressional Budget Office – Medicare Benefits Could Be Cut- UPDATED: 24 SEPT and Here Goes Freedom of Speech (Conservatives, if the Radical Liberals want a fight we have to give it to them!)
The Elephant’s Trumpet: The Fire-Fight for Freedom of Speech
Gateway Pundit: Arguing With Dictionaries Won’t Win Over Obamacare Critics and McCain: Carter Has Earned Place as Worst President of 20th Century If Not In History and Breaking: Patients With Terminal Illnesses Die Early Under British Health Care System
The B.S. Report: Running Banks, Car Companies, Housing Market And Health Care Not Enough; Obama Wants Control Of The Internet!
Ztower: Axelrod video all but confirms Obama not interested in quick, easy and cost-effective solutions to health care.
Get Liberty: Utopia: The Land of Ideal Health Care
Doug O’Brien, Big Government: And You Thought This Was All About Health Care
American Thinker: Human Rights Watch on Cuba
Big X, Big Hollywood: Why Wasn’t I Invited to the NEA Conference Call?
Thomas Sowell, Real Clear Politics: A New Push to Play God from Washington
American Thinker: Obama as Leninoid
Track-A-’Crat: Lenin: Still Killing People and Another Health Care Victim
Ohiobelle: Obama has out-and-out lied about his healthcare plan!
Moonbat Patrol: Obama’s Plan, Sell The Smile, Detract, Confuse, Media Blitz A Ploy To Kill Momentum Against Health Care Plan
RedState: Obama Brownshirts Try to Silence Glenn Beck
John Nolte, Big Government: Propaganda, Health Care and ACORN: Full context of NEA Conference Call Reveals Disturbing Pattern
Noel Sheppard, NewsBusters: Schumer: Talk Radio Needs to be Regulated Like Pornography
The Jawa Report: Obama Seeking Absolute Control of Internet
1Autolatry: Move to Squash Freedom of Speech
Pumas Unleashed: Obama caught behind closed doors making deals with Big Pharma…
Wall Street Journal: Pull the Plug on ObamaCare
Gerald Warner, Telegraph.co.uk: President Pantywaist in retreat: Barack Obama hoists the white flag over Stalinist health care proposals
GayPatriot: Another Day, Another Democrat Insults Obamacare Opponents
Spitfire Murphy: Beautiful! Moonbats Boycott Whole Foods Because CEO Does Not Support ObamaCare
Heritage Foundation: The Public Health Care Plan: What Seems to Be the Problem?
American Spectator: Dems on Capitol Hill Getting Nervous and Support For Health Care Bill Drops Even Further Without Gov’t Plan
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