CBS Incites Violence Against Political Opponents

It’s hard to shock me, but I was shocked by the trailer for CBS’s “The Good Fight.”

Nigerian-origin actor Nyambi Nyambi Jr. says this:

I was always taught never to throw the first punch, never instigate, defend, don’t attack. But then I saw a video of the white nationalist Richard Spencer being punched in the face during an interview and I realized that Spencer was in a pressed suit, wearing a tie, being interviewed like his opinion mattered . . . like neo-Nazism was just one political point of view.

And then I realized, there’s no better way to show some speech is not equal. Some speech requires a more visceral response. . . .  It’s time to punch a few Nazis.

The trailer urges viewers to “join the fight.”

Promoting violence in the abstract is not illegal. According to the Supreme Court case Brandenburg v. Ohio, speech is legal unless it “is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action.”

The trailer showed an unprovoked assault against a real person. It told viewers it is time to punch Nazis. If this isn’t a call to violence — at least against Richard Spencer — what is? If the show had named almost anyone else, there would surely be criminal charges.

While we are to attack “neo-Nazis,” communists or non-white extremists are apparently off limits. And who decides who is a “Nazi” and deserves to be punched? Publications from Foreign Policy to The Guardian call the President of the United States a “neo-Nazi sympathizer.” Democrat presidential candidate “Beto” O’Rourke compared the president’s language to something that “you might’ve heard during the Third Reich.” Are these calls to attack the president?

“The Good Fight” implicitly suggested we should. Its twitter account posted an image from one an episode with “target words” including: “Assassinate,” “President” and “Trump.” CBS said the image “created an impression and provoked a reaction that was not intended,” but there would have been outrage if the name were Obama rather than Trump. In 2013, a rodeo clown was fired for wearing an Obama mask because that was supposedly a threat.

Mainstream commentators such as Donny Deutch have compared Donald Trump voters to Nazis. Mark Bray, author of Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook, wrote that antifa should “make it politically, socially, economically, and sometimes physically costly” for Donald Trump voters to express their beliefs. Leftists have threatened or physically attacked Donald Trump supporters and conservatives hundreds of times.

The timing of the trailer is ironic because several commentators are accusing President Trump and Congressman Dan Crenshaw of inciting violence against Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Journalists have also accused President Trump of inciting violence against the media, Hillary Clinton, liberal protesters, the federal government, and other targets. Sarah Palin was accused of inciting violence when her PAC used “targets” to identify Democrats it wanted to remove in future elections. Reporters accused the Tea Party movement of creating a threatening atmosphere.

Democrats can get away with saying virtually anything. Maxine Waters urged supporters to “create a crowd” physically to confront Trump Administration officials. Eric Holder said “when they [Republicans] go low, we kick them.” “Get up in the face of congresspeople,” Cory Booker told supporters. Actors and celebrities have often “joked” about hurting the president.

Talk has consequences. James Hodgkinson opened fire on Republican congressmen in June 2017, seriously wounding Congressman Steve Scalise.  Hodgkinson was a Bernie Sanders supporter and called president Trump a “traitor” on social media. He also posted a cartoon accusing Steve Scalise of racism. Hodgkinson clearly thought violence against Republicans was justified.

It’s especially dangerous when television urges people to follow a real-life example. “The Good Fight” trailer endangers Richard Spencer and all white advocates and right-of-center Americans.

Perhaps Nyambi Nyambi Jr. doesn’t understand free speech. White advocates actually are “just one [more] political point of view.” They are more than that. Our ideas are based in reality and shared by millions. Even those who disagree publicly act privately as if they share our views. Anyone who attacks us only proves his own intellectual bankruptcy.