RFK Jr. Slaps Back at Censorship, during Subcommittee Hearing: “The Weaponization of the Federal Government”.
July 20, 2023, Kennedy Jr. delivers an emotional address at the hearing for Subcommittee: “The Weaponization of the Federal Government”. After House Democrats tried unsuccessfully to remove Kennedy from the hearing, claiming he was in violation of House rules to prevent defamatory or degrading testimony, Kennedy passionately defends the First Amendment and calls for respectful debates in a thriving democracy. Kennedy shares his personal experience of being de-platformed by YouTube during a campaign speech without discussing controversial topics, condemns censorship and rejects pejorative labels. He staunchly denies any racist or anti-Semitic behavior and pledges to continue fighting for meaningful conversations and democratic values despite attempts to silence him.
Key Talking Points
- In his address to the Chairman of the Subcommittee, “The Weaponization of the Federal Government”, Kennedy expresses gratitude.
- He emphasizes the Democratic Party's responsibility to address issues directly affecting the American people (rising prices of groceries, war in Ukraine, inflation, border issues, and other national concerns).
- He highlights the vital role of the First Amendment.
- Kennedy recounts a personal experience when YouTube de-platformed him during a speech in which he was discussing campaign-related matters only (without mention of vaccines or controversial topics).
- He believes that censorship is antithetical to the Democratic Party and that respectful debate acts as the fertilizer, water, and sunlight for US democracy, and we need all need to talk to each other.
- The First Amendment is made for speech that no one likes you for. He notes that Democratic letter submitted to try to have him removed shows that "this is an attempt to censor a censorship hearing."
- He discusses being censored on social media by both the Democratic and Trump administrations and the invention of the term "malinformation" by the Biden administration to justify their censoring action. Kennedy notes his social media posts were based upon scientific facts with cited references.
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- Kennedy reviews a newer form of censorship known as "targeted propaganda," where pejorative labels like "anti-vax," "anti-Semitic," and "racist" are applied to stifle his voice on important issues such as war, groceries, inflation, and the struggles of the middle class.
- He vehemently denies ever uttering racist or anti-Semitic phrases throughout his life, emphasizing his lifelong fight for Israel's protection, and objecting to the Biden administration's financial dealings with Iran.
- He notes that any person who signed a letter to have him banned from the hearing knows that he is not Antisemitic.
- Kennedy concludes by highlighting the need to protect free speech, even when the topics discussed are unpopular or discomforting to those in power.
Key Data and Evidence Points
- Kennedy in June 2023, announced he left YouTube for Rumble after the platform censored an interview with media commentator Jordan Peterson, removing a one-hour and thirty-five-minute wide-ranging video discussion that also covered COVID vaccinations.
- Some originally believed the censorship was due to comments on transgender issues and our greater exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals. However, a spokesperson for Google, YouTube's parent company, told Newsweek the 95-minute podcast was removed for violating the platform's terms of service regarding vaccine misinformation.
- Kennedy appeared on Fox News Thursday, where he addressed former President Donald Trump and said he had censored him for “malinformation.”
