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Witness says Americans broadly support free speech despite partisan pressures
Summary
In an exchange during a hearing-style discussion, a questioner asked whether Americans across 'all walks of life' still broadly support free speech. The witness replied that while Americans generally value free expression, a 'free speech but' mindset and partisan pressures lead some to deny rights to groups they dislike.
A questioner opened by asking whether Americans ‘‘from all walks of life’’ still broadly support free speech or whether partisan divisions mean people want free expression only for those they agree with. The questioner asked, "In your conversations, I'm sure you have a lot of conversations with people all from all walks of life. Americans, do they when you talk to them, do you feel like there is this just broad support?"
The witness responded that many people claim to support free expression but apply it selectively. "I do think we unfortunately have a a prevalent free speech but ideology," the witness said, calling it "a global issue" in which people assert general support for free speech yet carve out exceptions for those they view as undeserving. The witness added that some people believe certain groups "don't deserve speech rights," and cautioned that such exceptions threaten the principle of equal expression.
The witness also defended broader public commitment to free expression, saying, "I do think Americans understand and they care about these values and they take pride in the idea of this being a place where you can express yourself and there shouldn't be consequences from the government just because what you say isn't what your neighbor says or what your community believes." The witness said that preserving that commitment will require continued effort and education. "We're always going to need to do a little bit more work to try to make sure people remember why, they believe that and what it is they actually believe," the witness said, while expressing optimism that people can be persuaded to support more inclusive free-speech norms.
No formal action or vote was recorded in the exchange; the segment captured a question-and-answer discussion about public attitudes toward free speech, partisan pressures that can limit tolerance, and the need for civic education to sustain commitment to free expression.
