The Constitution exists to protect you from people like #Resistance darling and Internet tough guy Rep. Ted Lieu, the California Democrat himself explained this week in a somewhat remarkable moment of clarity and self-awareness.
The moment occurred as the congressman spoke to CNN’s Brianna Keilar following Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s testimony this week before the House Judiciary Committee. The CNN host began first by praising Lieu’s performance at the hearing, but she then moved on to asking the California lawmaker whether his Democratic colleagues should have spent more time pressing Pichai on Silicon Valley’s plans to fight fake news.
“It’s a very good point you make,” Rep. Lieu responded, stressing that he’d rather see private companies self-censor than see the government impose its will. “I would love if I could have more than five minutes to question witnesses. Unfortunately, I don’t get that opportunity.”
He added, “I would love to be able to regulate the content of speech. The First Amendment prevents me from doing so, and that’s simply a function of the First Amendment, but I think over the long run, it’s better that the government does not regulate the content of speech.” The congressman reiterated this same point later on social media, responding to one fan by saying, “I agree there are serious issues, but the speech issues are protected by the First Amendment. Would I like to regulate Fox News? Yes, but I can’t because the First Amendment stops me. And that’s ultimately a good thing in the long run.”
Lucky us.
I’d be more impressed if he supported both the First Amendment and the culture of free speech – if he said, “Even if there were no First Amendment, I wouldn’t want to regulate the content of speech.” But Lieu deserves points for honesty, and maybe a few more for understanding America’s system of checks and balances and explaining why we need them. Still, I’m not about to get too excited for a congressman looking me right in the eye and saying, “I’d love to crush you, but the law stops me from doing that. And that’s a good thing.”
Hooray, I guess.
