By Clarice Feldman
On the internet the big story seems to be the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel by ABC. I confess to being somewhat at a disadvantage. The last time I looked at network television my set had four dials: on/off, vertical, and horizontal, volume, and channel. In this I’m not alone. Kimmel’s show had fewer viewers than a number of online podcasters, sponsors were fleeing, and local stations represented by affiliates Nexstar and Sinclair wanted out. The great Iowahawk nailed the flight from network television:
“Anyway, I see people debating who should replace Kimmel in the coveted late night talk chair, and it's like debating who should move into the empty Spencer Gifts at the abandoned Twin Pines Mall.”
A Little History of Democrats and Free Speech
Before discussing the specifics of Kimmel’s suspension, let’s review a little recent history about the Democrats and free speech. Do you remember when Roseanne Barr had her show cancelled by ABC on the false charge that a tweet she made linking Valerie Jarrett to Iran was “racist”? Did you know who was behind axing what was one of the most popular shows on ABC?
“In an interview with the Sunday Times Magazine in 2019, Barr revealed that Michelle Obama personally pressured ABC executives to axe her.
Former ABC president Channing Dungey, who carried out her firing, worked directly with the Obamas at Netflix.”
Roseanne was but one example of the Democrat cancel culture ruining the careers of anyone who disagreed with them.
This is a pattern of cancel culture. Conservatives have been targeted and canceled by the same leftist mob:
Gina Carano -- fired from The Mandalorian for “wrongthink.”
Megyn Kelly -- fired by NBC for Halloween costume commentary.
Dave Chappelle -- targeted by Netflix employees for “transphobia.”
Joe Rogan -- smeared and nearly canceled over COVID discussions.
Tucker Carlson -- taken off Fox News after advertiser pressure campaigns.
Parler -- wiped off the internet by Apple, Google, and Amazon.
J.K. Rowling -- blacklisted for defending women’s rights.
Mike Lindell -- banned from Twitter and retailers for supporting Trump.
The Gateway Pundit was banned on Google AdSense, Amazon Ads, and PayPal for reporting on election fraud and COVID.
And the list goes on.
Former congressional candidate Jack Lombardi also slammed Obama, reminding him that it was under his own presidency that the government waged direct war on the free press:
October 2009: The White House tried to exclude Fox News from a pooled interview -- other networks refused to participate until Fox was included.
May 2013: DOJ secretly seized two months of AP reporters’ phone records, an intrusion AP called “massive and unprecedented.”
May 2013: DOJ labeled Fox’s James Rosen a “co-conspirator” in a leak probe to obtain his emails and phone records.
Feb–Mar 2014: The FCC floated a “Critical Information Needs” newsroom study, later scrapped after a First Amendment backlash.
Even President Donald Trump’s voice was muzzled by Democratic action when Twitter threw him off the site.
Obama administration censorship was followed by the Biden version:
Read the rest at the link |