Tulsi Gabbard Wants to Protect Free Speech on Social Media. She’s Polling Near the Bottom.

  |  
May 14, 2019

The only 2020 presidential candidate who has voiced her support for First Amendment protections for social media users is polling at the bottom of the Democratic Party primary field.

“There’s just been news recently about Facebook banning certain individuals from having Facebook accounts because of their speech – they disagree with the speech that they’re using or the things that they’re talking about – the ideas that they’re pushing forward,” Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) said on The Joe Rogan Experience. 

“First Amendment rights going completely out the window,” Gabbard said.

Rogan challenged Gabbard, noting that the typical argument (usually from pro-censorship leftists and used only in this specific debate) is that the giant tech companies are private, and thus can behave as they wish.

“Yes, but they’re trying to get the best of both worlds,” Gabbard replied. “The fact that they’re claiming to say ‘Hey, you know, this is a free space for open communication for everyone,’ while at the same time going ‘Well, actually Joe, I don’t like what you’re saying about this so we’re gonna ban you and whoever your friends are from this conversation.’ I think that’s a big problem.”

Gabbard is the first Democratic Party candidate to openly discuss de-platforming on social media, which has been largely dismissed by left wing media and other Democrats.

Unfortunately, Gabbard is lagging in the polls. Several upstart candidates like Mayor Pete Buttigieg and entrepreneur Andrew Yang have garnered more support. Still the most support is reserved for deeply entrenched and experienced politicians like former vice president Joe Biden, and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.).

WATCH:

https://twitter.com/jakemerci/status/1128129830699061248

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