Hillary Clinton on Freedom of Speech
Hillary Clinton has expressed views on freedom of speech that suggest support for its core tenets while also advocating for significant limitations in specific areas, such as political finance and online content regulation.
She has explicitly stated that freedom involves the right for people to assemble, organize, and debate openly, stressing the importance of respecting dissenting views and not jailing citizens for peaceful expression of ideas. This suggests a foundational belief in the right to express political opinions without fear of state retribution.
Conversely, Clinton has strongly opposed the Supreme Court's interpretation in Citizens United v. FEC, which equates corporate political spending with First Amendment free speech rights, even suggesting a constitutional amendment to reverse it. More recently, she has called for stricter regulation of tech companies and suggested that accountability, including potential criminal charges for spreading disinformation, is necessary, which critics argue directly challenges free speech protections.
Context
The discussion around Hillary Clinton and freedom of speech often centers on two major, seemingly contradictory, areas: campaign finance law and the regulation of online speech/disinformation. Her history as a prominent national politician means her statements on these topics carry significant weight regarding potential future policy.
Her focus on combating what she perceives as dangerous narratives and holding entities accountable for online misinformation frames her position as one prioritizing truth and stability over an absolute interpretation of free expression, especially when corporate entities or large-scale online platforms are involved.
Timeline
- Hillary Clinton endorsed pursuing a constitutional amendment to reverse the Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court decision.
- Clinton's disagreement with the Citizens United ruling was highlighted, where the Supreme Court held that corporations' spending to influence elections is a form of free speech.
- Clinton suggested that Americans spreading disinformation should face legal accountability, potentially including criminal charges, to deter propaganda.
- Clinton stated that the First Amendment acts as a 'major block' to stopping outlets that spread 'sick' or agenda-driven disinformation, suggesting the need to 'win the right to govern' to 'hammer these outlets that we don't like out of existence.'
- Clinton stated that repealing Section 230 of federal communications law, which provides liability protection for online platforms, should be a top political priority.
Key Quotes
let me be clear freedom means the right of people to assemble organize. and debate openly. it means respecting the views of those who may disagree with the views of their governments. it means not taking citizens away from their loved ones and jailing them mistreating them or denying. them their freedom or dignity because of the peaceful expression of their ideas and opinions.
We can fix our dysfunctional political system and get unaccountable money out of it once and for all, even if that takes a constitutional amendment.
The late, great journalist Harry Evans one time said that journalists should really try to achieve objectivity. And by that, he said, I mean, they should cover the object. ... Well, the object in this case is Donald Trump, this demagoguery, his danger to our country and the world, and stick with it.
our first amendment stands as a major block to the ability to be able to just you know hammer it out of existence. so what you need what we need is to is to win the ground win the right to govern. it's not win the war of ideas it's win the right to govern win the right to power. so we can hammer these outlets that we don't like out of existence.
Criticism
Constitutional law expert Jonathan Turley called her remarks suggesting arrests for disinformation 'quite chilling' and accused her of being part of an 'anti-free speech movement.'
Commentators argue that her push to overturn Citizens United via amendment erodes the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of expression by specifically limiting corporate political speech rights.
Accused her of not believing in the First Amendment based on her position on Citizens United and her support for gun control measures.
Sources9
Hillary Clinton sees time is ripe to curb free speech
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.