Douglas Mackey, a social media influencer known for right-wing political satire, was recently sentenced to seven months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit voting fraud during the 2016 presidential election. His crime? Tweeting out photos of Hillary Clinton supporters with the caption: “Avoid the Line. Vote from Home, Text ‘Hillary’ to 59925.”
Though the notion of voting via text would seem utterly ridiculous to any level-headed person, the DOJ thought otherwise.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace commented on the trolling, charging that Mackey “weaponized disinformation in a dangerous scheme to stop targeted groups, including black and brown people and women, from participating in our democracy.”
Meanwhile, a leftist commentator by the name of Kristina Wong did the same exact thing, attempting to trick Republicans into voting by text during the 2016 election. The response? Crickets. Not only did the DOJ not press charges for Wong’s “weaponized disinformation,” but it seems it didn’t even bother investigating her post. I suppose defrauding “deplorables” is acceptable.
This is just the latest example in a disturbing trend that shows the political double standard of the American justice system. For another example, consider how the courts have prosecuted the January 6th rioters while turning a blind eye to inconvenient insurrection attempts. It’s becoming clearer all the time that the courts no longer serve the people; they exist to help the elites preserve their power. Equal protection under the law is virtually nonexistent.
We need to get back to basics and start honoring our Constitution. The solution could be found in the Freedom Conservatism movement that kicked off this summer.
The Double Standard
It’s been almost three years and legacy media continues to harp on about January 6th being the worst affront to our “democracy”—even more so than 9/11. Even with worrisome false testimonies and video proof that Capitol police allowed, and even escorted, protesters in, the DOJ threw the book at them. Hundreds of those arrested in 2021 remain in prison and solitary confinement, deprived of their 6th Amendment right to a speedy trial, while others have been sentenced to decades in jail for seditious conspiracy.
That might seem fair if the Justice Department and legacy media reacted the same to insurrection attempts performed by leftists.
Recently, pro-Hamas protestors stormed the U.S. Capitol, conducted a sit-in at the Cannon House, and refused to leave when asked by Capitol Police. Legacy media was quick to point out that they “gathered in and outside of the U.S. Capitol complex,” while conveniently leaving out the fact that their illegal protest directly interfered with official congressional activity. This isn’t the first time either. Unlike the January 6 defendants who are charged with sedition and insurrection, the Capitol Police announced that these so-called activists will only be charged with illegally protesting at the Capitol. They will most likely be charged with misdemeanors—a far cry from the 20 years in a federal prison some January 6-ers are facing.
In the same breath, there’s been deafening silence towards Representative Rashida Tlaib’s (D-MI) remarks outside the Capitol prior to the sit in, where she spewed anti-semetic rhetoric, incited the protestors, and eagerly spread misinformation about the hospital that was bombed by Hamas. Yet, unlike Trump, she hasn’t been arrested, investigated, or labeled an insurrectionist. Go figure.
We need a Constitutional Revival
How can we fix the double standard which divides Americans along party lines, treating some as domestic terrorists while giving others free rein to act under the government’s protection?
What makes America unique is its founding on the equal adjudication of law. Unlike other nations which saw their rise on the backs of kings and ideologues, the Founding Fathers intended for ours to be a country of laws, not men. Liberty and freedom cannot be enjoyed if we have separate sets of rules for different groups of Americans. Despite our progress over the decades, it seems as if we’re getting back to despotic rule. Though all our rights are being violated on the daily, it seems as if the 4th, 5th, and 14th Amendments have been taking quite a beating lately. Americans are afraid to speak their minds for fear of reprisal, job termination, or even federal surveillance. We need to take back our rights—it’s now or never.
This past summer, over 240 liberty-minded individuals signed the Freedom Conservatism Statement of Principles, a declaration highlighting the crucial need to reinvigorate American culture and public policy with the tenets of responsibility and individual liberty in order to combat creeping authoritarianism, both at home and abroad. Freedom Conservatism advocates for a return to the rule of law, and for the eradication of this 21st-century caste system fabricated by bureaucrats to keep people divided. In order to get America back to how it’s supposed to be—a free land for all people—we have to honor and instill the principles of the Constitution in each other, and our children. We have to embrace the idea that liberty inherently belongs to all, and any government violation against one is a violation against all. The Constitution serves to limit the federal government, not encourage it to silence dissenters and embolden terrorist sympathizers.
We have to encourage the rule of law, not preferential treatment. This starts at home, at work, with friends, and with our local representatives. A Constitutionalist culture would not only help us get our rights back, but would also force any bureaucrats to think twice about trying to take them away from us again. The fight starts with you, to embrace the equal protection of law—for all Americans, not just the ones deemed convenient.
Now all we need are politicians who stand on principle, not lobbyists’ money.
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