Deep Sigh…John Kerry Opens His Mouth

Hey, folks! Guess what just resurfaced in my inbox from late last year? That’s right: our ever-radiant climate envoy, John Kerry, back at the World Economic Forum on September 29, 2024, treating us to more of his rhetorical fireworks. I couldn’t resist giving it a spin for you.

Watch the video here if you need a reminder of just how spectacularly absurd this gets.

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So, for the impatient or anyone still recovering from jaw-drop shock after 30 seconds of Kerry-speak, here’s the Cliff’s Notes:

Kerry, who currently fills the exalted role of “human paperweight for carbon treaties,” proclaimed that the First Amendment is a “major block against hammering disinformation out of existence.”

What the First Amendment Actually Says (in a Nutshell):
Ratified December 15, 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment bars Congress from making any law that:

1. Establishes a national religion or prohibits its free exercise,
2. Abridges the freedom of speech,
3. Abridges the freedom of the press,
4. Restricts the right of the people peaceably to assemble, or
5. Limits the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

In plain English: it guarantees your right to believe as you choose, say what you think, publish what you write, gather with others, and lobby your elected officials—without federal interference.

Now picture Kerry, in all his undeniable eloquence, suggesting that our bedrock free-speech protection is the very obstacle to censorship. You really can’t make this up.

I mean, since when did “freedom of speech, religion, and the press” become optional sidewalk chalk you can just wipe away when it’s inconvenient? Did I miss the footnote in my pocket Constitution that says, “First Amendment applies…unless you want to zap misinformation with a government sledgehammer”?

And seriously—who gave John Kerry the final word on what counts as “disinformation”? At this rate, we’ll need his personal “Truth Police” to validate every meme, tweet, and late-night rant before we’re allowed to broadcast them to Aunt Sue’s group chat.

Look, I get it: in Kerry’s mind, he’s some kind of disinformation crusader. Maybe he’s on a divine mission to protect us from thinking for ourselves. But here’s a pro tip for our friend Johnny: if your solution to “misinformation” is to chop away First Amendment rights, you might just be the problem, not the cure.

Only an idiot would argue that our most sacred free-speech protection is the biggest barrier to stamping out ‘fake news.’

But you know what actually works? A smarter, speech-friendly approach:

Ramp Up Media & Digital Literacy
Teaching everyone—kids through retirees—how to spot sketchy sources is the most durable fix.

• School Curricula:
  • Integrate “How to Vet a Source” modules into K–12 history and English classes.
  • Assign real-world exercises: compare two articles on the same topic, identify loaded language, check author credentials, trace claims back to primary sources.
• Public Workshops & PSA Campaigns:
  • Host free community events (libraries, senior centers) that demo fact-checking apps (e.g. Google’s Fact Check Tools).
  • Run punchy ads (“Don’t Share—Sort the Source First!”) on TV and social media.
• Browser & App Toolbars:
  • Offer plug-ins that flag sites with low credibility scores (powered by independent ratings like Media Bias/Fact Check).
  • Provide one-click links to explainers on why a given site is unreliable.

Remember, friends, real solutions don’t require liquefying the First Amendment—just a bit of commonsense.

Nice try, Mr. Kerry. But until you invent a “Free Speech Lite” that only deletes the stuff you don’t like, I’ll stick with the original.

Till next time, stay loud, stay proud, and keep those First Amendment rights fully intact.

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