The Russia collusion hoax is the single dirtiest political trick in the history of American politics. We now know that it was entirely concocted by the Hillary Clinton campaign and ruthlessly used by partisans in the FBI to affect the 2016 election and then to undermine the legitimately elected president of the United States.
Mr. Schiff’s active role in promoting this hoax is disgraceful and damning.
But that is not the question before us. The question before us is whether a member of Congress should be censored and fined for speech, even outlandish speech, during the public policy debate. We have gone much too far down this road and it is time we turned back.
The entire purpose of this Capitol is for the people’s representatives to freely debate the issues that affect the nation’s welfare. Except for the simple rules that promote civility in that debate, no one should be censored for errors of opinion or fact. The sole arbiters of these issues should be the constituents of the representatives, through the votes they cast in an election. The Founders reserved all legislative powers to the Congress because they wanted the issues of the day held up to every conceivable light and for every voice in the nation to be heard through their elected representatives. Unfettered freedom of speech is central to this process.
We need not fear false statements as long as freedom of speech allows them to be contested by the truth. How else are we to separate truth from falsehood but to expose one to the other? How else are we to separate folly from wisdom but to expose one to the other? How else are we to separate malice from the better angels of our nature but to expose one to the other?
There are only two ways to resolve the differences between us. There is reason and there is force. Americans have built a republic of reason and the central organ in that republic is the institution that we are entrusted to preserving. As Thomas Jefferson said long ago, “error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is free to combat it.”
Our oaths of office obligate us to defend this institution and to preserve the freedom to challenge each other in open debate. The elements in this resolution rely on coercion to punish egregious errors of opinion and fact. If we continue down this road, we will destroy this institution and the freedom of debate that is the most important tool we have to guide our way in an uncertain world.
We have already done so on too many occasions, and it needs to stop.
My opposition to this resolution in no way condones so many of Mr. Schiff’s statements and representations in this matter. On the contrary, I condemn them strongly. It is precisely because of the freedom of Congress — and indeed of every American — to debate without fear of persecution or punishment, that his veracity and judgment can be weighed in the balance and found wanting. There is no greater disgrace than that. We can only disgrace ourselves by denying to Mr. Schiff the freedom of speech and debate that protect us from the damage such people as he can do.
View Comments (33)
Shiff and Co. used fabricated evidence in collusion with foreign agents to try and overthrow a rightfully elected president.. In my book that is TREASON. Defending treason and one of the most vile persons in American history using "freedom of speech"? Putrid.
I agree CW. Lives have been devastated and upended by the lies that Schiff et al concieved.
I guess Mr. McClintock does not hold much respect for the voter or the Trump family.
It is a travesty.
Yep. I rate this screed as a 3 barf bag read. 🤮 🤮 🤮
Right on! McClintock is our Congress Coward! Dump our Congress Coward!
TF
Oakhurst CA
Rep. Tom McClintock and Rep. Kevin Kiley are both traitorous RINOs who refused to censor or condemn a corrupt treasonous serial liar like Rep. Adam Schiff and they instead voted with their Democrat cronies to protect Schiff. They also both voted for irresponsible Fiscal Responsibility Act which will increase the national debt by trillions. Traitorous RINOs like Tom McClintock are the reason why the Biden regime and Democrats are in power? He voted to certify the stolen 2020 presidential election for Biden and he refused to investigate or even acknowledge any of the blatant voter fraud. Both McClintock and Kiley are part of the deep-state establishment RINOs who are all talk when it comes to conservative principles when running for office but who are no action after they are elected? We might as well vote for Democrats? It's the corrupt uniparty? No doubt they both have amassed some wealth while being in office like other RINOs have?
Never forget that Tom McClintock attacked President Donald Trump on Jan. 6 claiming that his rhetoric about the stolen election was “utterly irresponsible,” and claimed that Trump “betrayed” the trust of his supporters. So much for standing in solidarity with a fellow Republican? He instead stands in solidarity with House Democrats to protect Schiff and then he tries to justify it by claiming he wants to protect open debate. House Democrats have censured many Republicans in the past. Democrats voted to censure Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona in 2021 stripping him of his two committee assignments because he dared to criticize AOC and Biden in a video. Sadly Tom McClintock is a RINO like most Republicans in California? Maybe he's installed with voter fraud and rigged voting machines just like most Democrats are? It's no wonder that so many of us have left the Republican party to become Independents?
Schiff put Trump, his supporters and the country through hell with his fake allegations of Russian collusion. If a Republican had lied, made misrepresentations, and abused sensitive information like Schiff did, Democrats would quickly fine, censure and permanently expel that Republican from Congress. That Republican might even end up dead under suspicious circumstances? McClintock's justifications for siding with Democrats to spare Schiff were lame and ridiculous. McClintock is not my representative and I would never vote for him!
Tom McClintock was the representative for my home district for decades until he was re-districted out and replaced by Kevin Kiley and I dutifully voted for him every 2 years. But both of them have now proven that they are abject failures and are nothing more than your typical GOP establishment types who only love being the opposition party. They have no interest in actually pursuing matters of importance such as holding the Democrats accountable for their blatant abuses of power. Rather, they cave and let the Democrats walk all over them (and by extension the rest of us). This is NOT a free speech issue. Pencil Neck Schiff was not engaging in a "debate over opinions". He was pushing a known hoax (which McClintock acknowledges) in order to undermine and destabilize the presidency simply because Democrats did not like the results of the 2016 election. He was constantly on the propaganda press channels spreading lies and deceit day after day after day. Talk about seditious behavior. Censuring and fining Pencil Neck would have been a slap on the wrist for the crimes he has committed. He should be arrested for treason.
I used to really like McClintock but he is full of it here -- Schiff --> cost taxpayer money <--- and he KNEW that it was all a hoax and said NOTHING! it was all about going after political opposition. He was incharge of this and could have spoken with honesty but he did NOT and we need to hold people accountable.
McClintock is holding NO ONE ACCOUNTABLE! we the people are tired of Adam Schiff and his lies --- He needs to held accountable and to set an example of what happens when congress fails to hold up to oath of office.
This whole Russia hoax began with Obama SPYING on Trump --- no one indicted for this
FBI used FAKE dossier for FISA warrants to spy ---- no one indicted for this
Mueller investigation all based on lies -- bankrupted several people for reasons not associated with his role --- held public to portray Russian hoax as real.
NO ONE INDICTED for this entire HOAX --- GOP is spineless weasels at best or they are playing the wimps in this tyranny take over.
Lets not forget Kevin Kiley ---- he is another two faced scumbag that sits with RINOs on this -- They seem to think its OK for Democrats to LIE, CHEAT, DECEIVE the people and spend TAX MONEY to carry on persecutions on party opposition.
It is fine to lie to each other in congress, I guess. But he sullied all congress critters by going on TV saying basically "I saw the investigations into Trump, and he is guilty ". He said these things on any talk show that would have him. He should be censured and expelled, and charged for leaking classified information to the press
Not surprisingly he is a former US attorney, and every case he won as US attorney should be re investigated. Liars like him are what gives DoJ its North Korean conviction rate.
And the sick (bleep) will feel right at home as a US Senator.
It is fine to lie to each other in congress, I guess. But he sullied all congress critters by going on TV saying basically "I saw the investigations into Trump, and he is guilty ". He said these things on any talk show that would have him. He should be censured and expelled, and charged for leaking classified information to the press
Not surprisingly he is a former US attorney, and every case he won as US attorney should be re investigated. Liars like him are what gives DoJ its North Korean conviction rate.
And the sick -o will feel right at home as a US Senator.
I live in a neighboring district that is hopelessly Democrat but I'm not surprised that McClintock voted with Democrats to let Schiff off with no consequences. He's originally from Southern California and I was always skeptical of him. He's typical of California Republicans who are mostly RINOs? Other California RINO representatives who voted with Democrats include Kevin Kiley, Young Kim, Jay Obernolte, David G. Valadao. Darrell Issa voted present. The Gateway Pundit has a list of the RINOs who voted with Democrats: (https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/06/update-20-republicans-vote-democrats-refuse-censure-serial/)
If McClintock is lifelong politician originally from Southern California, then McClintock and Schiff are probably old buddies--maybe even groomer buddies? There's got to be some connection between those two for McClintock to give Schiff a pass after the hell he caused with his fake allegations? It's just weird?