# Republican official opposes Freedom of Speech **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 27, 2018, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667 "2018-02-27T06:31:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/1 "2018-02-27T06:31:12Z")
Which really surprises me, because Republicans have been saying they’re the Free Speech party. Delta airlines has decided to cut back on its association with the NRA. Not completely; Delta isn’t denouncing the NRA or the Second Amendment. But it’s decided to not donate money to the NRA. At least for a while. Lt Governor Casey Cagle (R) is having none of that. He has publicly said that if Delta doesn’t resume its support of the NRA, he will retaliate against the airline by cutting some of their tax breaks: _“I will kill any tax legislation that benefits @Delta unless the company changes its position and fully reinstates its relationship with @NRA. Corporations cannot attack conservatives and expect us not to fight back.”_ This obviously is a First Amendment issue because another thing Republicans have constantly been telling us is that money is protected speech. So Cagle is telling a private corporation who it must donate money to, which is a government official dictating speech. And threatening them with his power as an elected official if they don’t say what he wants them to say. I guess it’s the Colin Kaepernick rule at work: Freedom of Speech only protects you when you’re backing conservative views. Maybe Delta should announce that its decision to not donate money to the NRA is an artistic expression. [Georgia lawmaker threatens to kill Delta state tax breaks over NRA stance](https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/02/26/georgia-lawmaker-threatens-to-kill-delta-state-tax-breaks-over-nra-stance/23371622/) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/2 "2018-02-27T08:47:17Z")
Not really surprised at the sentiment of the governor. But isn’t what he is doing illegal? Using his office to force a private company to support his cause? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/3 "2018-02-27T13:35:39Z")
The tax break itself was merely a reward for Delta supporting conservative causes. As soon as Delta announced their ending NRA support, conservatives from all over the state immediately started calling on the state senate (which hasn’t passed the jet fuel tax break yet) to reject the bill. So much for “small government” and the “free market” :rolleyes:. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/4 "2018-02-27T13:43:24Z")
Why act surprised that a Republican is opposed to the freedom of speech? The head of that party is on the record saying he’d silence journalists if he could. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/5 "2018-02-27T13:48:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Which really surprises me, because Republicans have been saying they’re the Free Speech party. > > Delta airlines has decided to cut back on its association with the NRA. Not completely; Delta isn’t denouncing the NRA or the Second Amendment. But it’s decided to not donate money to the NRA. At least for a while. > > Lt Governor Casey Cagle (R) is having none of that. He has publicly said that if Delta doesn’t resume its support of the NRA, he will retaliate against the airline by cutting some of their tax breaks: _“I will kill any tax legislation that benefits @Delta unless the company changes its position and fully reinstates its relationship with @NRA. Corporations cannot attack conservatives and expect us not to fight back.”_ > > This obviously is a First Amendment issue because another thing Republicans have constantly been telling us is that money is protected speech. So Cagle is telling a private corporation who it must donate money to, which is a government official dictating speech. And threatening them with his power as an elected official if they don’t say what he wants them to say. > > I guess it’s the Colin Kaepernick rule at work: Freedom of Speech only protects you when you’re backing conservative views. > > Maybe Delta should announce that its decision to not donate money to the NRA is an artistic expression. > > [Georgia lawmaker threatens to kill Delta state tax breaks over NRA stance](https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/02/26/georgia-lawmaker-threatens-to-kill-delta-state-tax-breaks-over-nra-stance/23371622/) So Cagle is going to use tax laws as a weapon against the right to donate as you choose - as a private entity - which is one of the selling points behnd Citizens United (wasn’t it?). Abuse of power? Extortion? Suppression of free expression? Fascism? Fuck Cagle. That airline, and all OTHER companies should heavily donate (under Citizens United) to ANYone who EVER runs against him in the future. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/6 "2018-02-27T13:49:57Z")
Only the 2nd amendment counts to conservatives. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/7 "2018-02-27T13:54:10Z")
“New York is open for business and loves Delta … move HQ to where you’re appreciated?” - New York Lt Governor Kathy Hochul. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/8 "2018-02-27T14:45:54Z")
That is so utterly pathetic, but I have come to expect this kind of boorish, unconstitutional behavior from our current crop of Republicans. Sickening! ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/9 "2018-02-27T15:42:02Z")
I’m not sure the Lt Governor has the kind of power he thinks he has. Is the Lt Governor of Georgia as lame as the Vice President? As I understand it, the Vice President’s responsibilities are to break ties in the Senate and have a pulse. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/10 "2018-02-27T18:56:54Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > I’m not sure the Lt Governor has the kind of power he thinks he has. Is the Lt Governor of Georgia as lame as the Vice President? As I understand it, the Vice President’s responsibilities are to break ties in the Senate and have a pulse. He’s running for governor in November and is favored to win. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/11 "2018-02-27T19:02:57Z")
Other than being ethically suspect, this is just plain stupid. Delta is the biggest private employer in Georgia. If they decide that a city other than Atlanta would make a good hub, they’re taking a huge chunk of Georgia’s economy with them. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/12 "2018-02-27T19:10:20Z")
That is a very expensive proposition. That standard to be applied is subtle and indirect hints, escalated to clear insinuations, then threats, then cave. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/13 "2018-02-27T19:35:06Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > He’s running for governor in November and is favored to win. That may now be in doubt. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/14 "2018-02-27T20:10:39Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Other than being ethically suspect, this is just plain stupid. Delta is the biggest private employer in Georgia. If they decide that a city other than Atlanta would make a good hub, they’re taking a huge chunk of Georgia’s economy with them. Not saying “that’s a nice airport you have there, be a shame if something happened to it” isn’t an interesting negotiating strategy, but Delta built up their Atlanta hub over a long time - I’d imagine it would take a long time for another airport to ramp up to take over that load of traffic. Now, the corporate HQ is presumably easily moved. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/15 "2018-02-27T21:21:45Z")
Cagle is a jackass, and his motivation here is contemptible. On a more general level, however, I’d be quite happy if they decided to stomp on this tax break. The willingness of state and local governments to hand out massive tax breaks to large corporations is part of what is wrong with government in America, and that’s especially the case when the breaks are targeted to benefit specific corporations. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/16 "2018-02-27T21:36:40Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > On a more general level, however, I’d be quite happy if they decided to stomp on this tax break. The willingness of state and local governments to hand out massive tax breaks to large corporations is part of what is wrong with government in America, and that’s especially the case when the breaks are targeted to benefit specific corporations. Especially specific corporations that don’t even pay income tax: > [@https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/02/26/georgia-senate-stalls-delta-tax-break-dispute-over-discounted-fare-agreement-nra/374215002/](#): > > The announcement came just after a once-in-a-generation overhaul of federal tax law. The direct benefit from the reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% was hit-and-miss because several airlines don’t pay income taxes. > > Delta took a one-time charge of $150 million in the fourth quarter because of new tax treatment for foreign earnings and the re-evaluation of deferred tax assets. But executives said during an earnings call last month that the company projects a future all-in book tax rate of 22% to 24%. > > “We obviously are not going to see any cash savings in 2018 from tax reform since we weren’t anticipating paying any taxes, and we still don’t anticipate paying taxes in '18,” said Paul Jacobson, Delta’s chief financial officer. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/17 "2018-02-27T21:55:14Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > “New York is open for business and loves Delta … move HQ to where you’re appreciated?” > > - New York Lt Governor Kathy Hochul. > > 😃 As a practical matter, this looks like something that would involve relocating a major hub. Do either LaGuardia or JFK have the infrastructure in place to accommodate such a move, or would they need to put the screws to other carriers in order to accomplish it? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/18 "2018-02-27T21:58:56Z")
Delta probably isn’t too fond of Republicans these days. The last time they were in the news, their large order of regional jets manufactured by Canadian aerospace company Bombardier was scuttled by Trumpian lunatics who imposed a 292% tariff on them, acting on a complaint from Boeing that it was hurting American industry. This despite the fact that (a) neither Boeing nor any other American manufacturer makes anything that competes with them, and (b) planes for the US market were going to be manufactured in Alabama, and © half the jobs related to that particular aircraft are already in the US. Fortunately, the US International Trade Commission overruled the tariff as unfair and idiotic, to the accompaniment of whiny Trumpian bleating. I’m sure Delta was pleased but may not have been able to respond due to not having the right to speak against Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/19 "2018-02-27T23:26:49Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Not saying “that’s a nice airport you have there, be a shame if something happened to it” isn’t an interesting negotiating strategy, but Delta built up their Atlanta hub over a long time - I’d imagine it would take a long time for another airport to ramp up to take over that load of traffic. > > Now, the corporate HQ is presumably easily moved. They have other hubs - including the one I live in which was a Northwestern hub pre-merger. They have LOTS of employees in the Twin Cities yet as well. JFK was a Pan Am hub before Delta bought them. St. Louis doesn’t have a major hub right now - they were a TWA hub. They can move the corporate office and put emphasis on other hubs they have, while expanding hub capability into states that will give them tax breaks. They probably won’t, but lets not pretend like they are tied to Atlanta too closely. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667/20 "2018-02-27T23:48:46Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Cagle is a jackass, and his motivation here is contemptible. > > On a more general level, however, I’d be quite happy if they decided to stomp on this tax break. The willingness of state and local governments to hand out massive tax breaks to large corporations is part of what is wrong with government in America, and that’s especially the case when the breaks are targeted to benefit specific corporations. I wonder what would happen if the airline held a press conference, announced they were leaving Georgia altogether, and then gave the official reason as “Fuck Cagle”. It won’t happen, but it would be fun to watch. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-official-opposes-freedom-of-speech/809667.md?page=2)