Vice President Kamala Harris’s continuing attacks on free speech have largely flown under the radar. Harris has consistently sought to undermine the freedom of speech of those who dare to disagree with her.
This is a real problem, as now more than half of Americans are afraid to speak their mind due to fear of retaliation, according to a 2022 Sienna poll, with 84% of respondents saying it’s a problem when Americans do not exercise their right to free speech out of fear. (RELATED: Tim Walz Confirms He’ll Keep Advancing Biden Admin’s Censorship Regime)
Poll after poll has shown this effect as “cancellation” and violence around politics chills speech. Multiple assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump are lowlights that exemplify the problem.
The fervor whipped up against Supreme Court justices led to a threat of assassination. Former FCC Chair Ajit Pai had activists outside his home harassing his family. Dogpiles from online activists have led to firings and “cancellations” for a variety of people who have supported a right-of-center cause in the past.
From her time as California’s attorney general to her vice presidency, Harris has imposed laws and fought in court to cripple nonprofit advocacy groups that disagree with her. And Harris is not even pretending she’s changed her values on these issues.
As California’s attorney general, Harris demanded right-of-center nonprofit organizations disclose their donor lists to the government – leading to public leaks of this sensitive information. (RELATED: ‘In Complete Fear’: Kamala Harris Reportedly Berated Staff As California Attorney General)
Other Democrat leaders followed Harris’ scheme. Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo spearheaded a disclosure law that went so far as to limit nonprofit groups’ ability to speak to the press. Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed a similar law.
While these laws were declared unconstitutional in court, that has not stopped these states and others from trying again.
California’s policy led to a Supreme Court decision, AFPF v. Bonta, in which the court ruled it violated the First Amendment, and clarified that privacy is required for Americans to exercise their rights to free speech and association.
As vice president, Harris has continued supporting measures to attack speech.
Harris issued a statement of support for H.R. 1 and S. 1, Congressional Democrats’ top priorities once President Joe Biden took office.
The bills would force disclosure of donors to nonprofits who speak publicly on legislative issues, let the federal government police online speech they declare “promotes,” “attacks,” “supports” or “opposes” a possible candidate, and have the federal government override state election integrity measures.
Democrats are also attacking the Supreme Court. Democratic Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse continues to push legislation to force organizations that submit amicus briefs on cases before the court to reveal their supporters.
Harris also signaled support for packing the Supreme Court, saying during the 2019 campaign, “I’m open to this conversation about increasing the number of people on the United States Supreme Court,” and according to Whitehouse, being supportive of his bill to rig the court.
The contrast with Trump is stark.
It was Trump who nominated Supreme Court justices who have defended our constitutional rights. Trump stood up for advocacy groups across the spectrum and put a stop to the IRS collecting unnecessary personal information of contributors to 501(c)4 advocacy groups.
This information would be at real risk of a leak given the IRS has been hacked and seen numerous leaks and instances of unauthorized access to thousands of taxpayer records.
Republicans should especially be wary of any push to give the IRS more power over nonprofits under the IRS union-endorsed Harris. Many will recall when the IRS discriminated against Tea Party-type groups applying for nonprofit status, smothering many in the cradle. A senate investigation found that only one – yes, one – conservative group was granted nonprofit status in a politically key three-year period.
Americans know their ability to speak out is being curbed in the current climate. A Harris presidency would turbocharge government monitoring and punish center-right voices.
Grover Norquist is president of Americans for Tax Reform.
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