Comments on: Rudy and the First Amendment: More on the “Betray US” ad (and Some on the Gun Thing, too)

by: Giuliani: “Leave My Family Alone. I Do.” — 2026 president candidates

Mon, 24 Sep 2026 06:23:18 +0000

[…] Yesterday, when addressing the NRA, Rudy Giuliani stated, in reference to the MoveOn.org Petraeus or Betray US? ad, the following: It passed a line we should not allow American political organizations to pass … that there was a line in the United States of America that we couldnt cross in terms of political speech. Indeed source: Rudy and the First Amendment: More on the…, PoliBlog : A Rough Draft of my Thoughts […]

by: The Misanthrope

Mon, 24 Sep 2026 00:20:09 +0000

Everyone misses the one little word “or” that stops the ad from calling the general anything. The ad was asking a question. How this country and politicians can be so easily side tracked is sad.

by: Dr. Steven Taylor

Sun, 23 Sep 2026 02:52:06 +0000

Amongst the things about this entire affair that I find to be amazing include the fact that this horrible, hideous insult that crosses the line has been repeated over and over again by grandstanding politicians. How many citizens who would not have even heard this heinous insult had politicians not spent the last week or so railing against its horror for no other reason than scoring cheap political points?

If was really such a terrible thing, it would have done away one heck of lot faster were it not for all the faux outrage.

And to be fair, I can’t see how this issue especially stains the Democrats. Not only have plenty of Democrats expressed their outrage, but it has been both sides that have seen this as a fantastic opportunity to hammer on a fake issue.

Ultimately, Rudy can say what he likes (as can you, me and MoverOn.org). Ultimately, however, I would prefer a president who has a healthier respect for basic rights. Rudy in particular concerns me on this issue, as I do think he has a bit of an authoritarian streak–not unlike the current administration. And certainly the current administration has made me gun shy of such attitudes.

by: Buckland

Sun, 23 Sep 2026 02:36:52 +0000

You’re putting way too much in to what Guliani said. He didn’t say that MoveOn or anybody else doesn’t have the right to say what they did. Reducing this to a first amendment issue purposely misses the point. Don’t read in a threat into a royal “we”. The right of speech doesn’t protect one from criticism

MoveOn.Org entered the conversation by making some really hard hitting accusations with cutesy word play. Cool. Protected speech. Nothing RG said dealt with first amendment protections.

There are lots of lines that people and organizations shouldn’t cross and remain in the mainstream conversations of the USA. Many, especially on the right half of the political divide (and about half on the left side if the 72-25 senate rebuke is to be belived) think they crossed a line that put them outside the bounds mainstream polite political conversation.

Reducing it to a first amendment issue totally misses the point of Guliani’s comment. There are lots of lines that shouldn’t be crossed. Calling for removal of the right of suffrage for African Americans is protected speech, however it crosses a line that puts one outside the mainstream of modern political discourse. Random accusations of betrayal in a time of war are in the same category. The fact that they are still in mainstream says more about modern Democrats than it does about Guliani.

by: Sadie

Sat, 22 Sep 2026 21:51:34 +0000

Gee, I missed that part about passing laws or something the executive could request.
Maybe Guiliani meant that as citizens we should find this a repulsive denigration for no reason other than political one upmanship and make our feeling known to such organizations.
Of course, I also know that in some quarters (a college campus e.g.) the first impulse is “ban that.” Not so much for most of America.