Around a week ago, outspoken Conservative firebrand Tomi Lahren's show was pulled by 'The Blaze' over pro-abortion comments made on 'The View'.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/03/20/media/t ... the-blaze/

Today, reports are emerging that she has been banned from the network completely.

I'd be interested to hear all of your thoughts about this*, and I'll kick off with mine:
*I am aware that Lahren is a controversial character, so please let's keep discussion civil and related to the topic at hand. This is not an argument about whether abortion should be legal, or a discussion about Lahren herself; it is a debate about free speech and censorship.

As a conservative, I am appalled by the actions of Glenn Beck and 'The Blaze' in censoring Lahren. The idea that an individual can be punished for expressing a viewpoint which is not 100% in line with that of 'The Blaze', and by extension the GOP, is incredibly disappointing. For the purposes of full disclosure, I am against abortion, but I recognize the right of others to speak out in favor of abortion. I'm quite sure that Lahren is not the only GOP voter to be pro-choice, but for whatever reason, 'The Blaze' has taken the view that expressing pro-choice views is an unforgivable sin.

Two more things:
1. I do not feel that 'The Blaze' can be taken as a reliable source of news. It is acting more like a political pressure group than a news outlet.

2. I'm disappointed in the way that so many conservatives have turned on Lahren over her comments. Many have actively supported her suspension/firing. That's just plain mob mentality, and frankly, after so many years of complaining that "the left" censors free speech and opinions in the "mainstream media", it is more than a little jarring to see so many people hypocritically supporting the exact same thing at a conservative news outlet.

Just my
I hope this will be an interesting, civil and thought-provoking debate.

I agree that speaking your mind isn't worth being fired about, unless, of course, you go after your employer.

But I find it interesting that, supporting a political party that is hell-bent on silencing opposition and free speech, that you even pay attention to this. Maybe it's because Tomi normally agree with you, or perhaps because Beck hates 45's guts.

It's quite amusing, actually.

A quick reminder before this thread evolves into its predictable outcome: the 1st Amendment does not guarantee employment, only freedom from prosecution.

That being said, I really don't care about a psychopathic asshat whose media "empire" is slowly dissolving firing a manipulative media whore who will say anything to get ignorant baby boomer assholes to masturbate to her. I will just step aside and laugh.

KLDC10 wrote:

Around a week ago, outspoken Conservative firebrand Tomi Lahren's show was pulled by 'The Blaze' over pro-abortion comments made on 'The View'.

Well, I certainly can't say whatever I want to whomever I want and expect to keep my job.

Nothing to do with free speech. A possible wrongful termination suit, if anything.

vikkyvik wrote:

Well, I certainly can't say whatever I want to whomever I want and expect to keep my job.

Nothing to do with free speech. A possible wrongful termination suit, if anything.

But her job is/was 'Political Commentator'. It is expected that she will express controversial views. And 'The Blaze' is a media outlet which describes itself as "unfiltered". And given some of the (in my opinion) far more controversial views she has expressed in the past, the reaction to this particular comment is, well, a bit laughable really.

KLDC10 wrote:

vikkyvik wrote:

Well, I certainly can't say whatever I want to whomever I want and expect to keep my job.

Nothing to do with free speech. A possible wrongful termination suit, if anything.

But her job is/was 'Political Commentator'. It is expected that she will express controversial views. And 'The Blaze' is a media outlet which describes itself as "unfiltered". And given some of the (in my opinion) far more controversial views she has expressed in the past, the reaction to this particular comment is, well, a bit laughable really.

Her "job" is warm orifice to shout the party line at viewers in a skintight dress between cialis and catheter commercials. It's the same formula as Faux News, but low budget. Having her own opinion is not part of the contract and now she's gonzo. Sad!

KLDC10 wrote:

I'd be interested to hear all of your thoughts about this................

Why do you listen to crap like that? Those people have no ethics and they've never had any ethics. The show is just political pornography and you've even said that you know that it can't be taken as a reliable source of news.

salttee wrote:

Why do you listen to crap like that?

I don't. I'm not a fan of hers by any means. She just happens to be the person who has fallen foul of, well, intolerance I guess.

And you're right, I don't think it is a reliable source of news. I'm just pointing that out as a conservative - which I think kind of helps your own viewpoint, but maybe I'm wrong.

KLDC10 wrote:

But her job is/was 'Political Commentator'. It is expected that she will express controversial views. And 'The Blaze' is a media outlet which describes itself as "unfiltered". And given some of the (in my opinion) far more controversial views she has expressed in the past, the reaction to this particular comment is, well, a bit laughable really.

I'm sure it is laughable. But still nothing to do with free speech.

Next time a old white republican guy who's made a career out of politics talks about limiting abortion and birth control. Just take a look at the women in the audience facial expressions and body language. If looks could kill. I hope Toni becomes a spokesperson for republican women who are pro choice and speaks out frequently. The republican party should be embarrassed for still trying to control women.

Glenn Beck, should probably quit trying to become relevant.

When you make too many rules about who can be a conservative, the conservative party gets smaller and smaller.
Perhaps not really, if Conservatives are comfortable with Tomi's stance. However Glenn Beck's definition is seemingly all that matters here, and for a media outlet with the following headline on google

TheBlaze – Authentic. Unfiltered. Fearless.


It would seem that this is a company completely off of it's mission statement.

BTW, has Trump/GOP announced they want to do something about abortion, other than "defunding pp" ?

I really can't imagine Trump signing an abortion ban.

I wonder what else happened behind the scenes? It seems odd that she would be fired from a right wing or sympathetic outlet for speaking her mind on abortion. There is more to the story.

Aesma wrote:

BTW, has Trump/GOP announced they want to do something about abortion, other than "defunding pp" ?

I really can't imagine Trump signing an abortion ban.

To answer your question; not really. Trump has signed an Executive Order reinstating the 'Mexico City Policy', which prevents US Federal Funds from being transferred to overseas agencies/charities which provide or promote abortions. The failed GOP healthcare bill included a provision to "defund" Planned Parenthood, but of course that disastrous attempt at Healthcare Reform didn't even make it to a vote on the House floor.

seb146 wrote:

I wonder what else happened behind the scenes? It seems odd that she would be fired from a right wing or sympathetic outlet for speaking her mind on abortion. There is more to the story.

You could be right. But then again, Glenn Beck is a curious character. If he really believes, as various news outlets suggest, that being pro-choice is absolutely incompatible with his own narrowly defined set of conservative values, then it could be as simple as that.

Aesma wrote:

BTW, has Trump/GOP announced they want to do something about abortion, other than "defunding pp" ?

I really can't imagine Trump signing an abortion ban.

If it got him the attention he craved, he'd sign anything.

LittleFokker wrote:

A quick reminder before this thread evolves into its predictable outcome: the 1st Amendment does not guarantee employment, only freedom from prosecution.

That being said, I really don't care about a psychopathic asshat whose media "empire" is slowly dissolving firing a manipulative media whore who will say anything to get ignorant baby boomer assholes to masturbate to her. I will just step aside and laugh.

Replace "her" with "him", and that's pretty much Trump.

If Tomi was an actual journalist then maybe I'd care, but she's just a pundit, so I don't.

All of this is a classic example of how the right loves to use political correctness to silence opposition, despite their claims that only the left employs such tactics.

zkojq wrote:

If Tomi was an actual journalist then maybe I'd care, but she's just a pundit, so I don't.

All of this is a classic example of how the right loves to use political correctness to silence opposition, despite their claims that only the left employs such tactics.

Same with freedom of speech and states rights...whatever allows them to discriminate and make fun of fat chicks is freedom/states rights/political incorrectness, and anything that opposes that hates liburrtee

Aesma wrote:

BTW, has Trump/GOP announced they want to do something about abortion, other than "defunding pp" ?

I really can't imagine Trump signing an abortion ban.

He can't sign an abortion ban. Only the Supreme Court could overturn Roe v. Wade.

seb146 wrote:

I wonder what else happened behind the scenes? It seems odd that she would be fired from a right wing or sympathetic outlet for speaking her mind on abortion. There is more to the story.

IMHO she was losing her credibility long before this. There was the Trevor Noah interview where she was slammed and her appearance with Bill Maher didn't help much, the view was the tipping point. There are rumours that she had a pregnancy scare and her opinion flipped but this is where she is consistent, conservatives need to drop the evangelical nonsense to have a future as a party, religion is being rejected and evangelicals have to deal with it.

Criticizing organizations like Black Lives Matter is one thing but to make the point that their is not advantages to being white in the United States in front of Michael Eric Dyson whom is respected intellectual on this particular issue.

She is not winning that argument with most people, perhaps the fox news viewing conservatives but not even moderate conservatives will say that the United States does not have racial discrimination as a pressing issue. Especially coming from a woman whom has every single physical advantage desired by western society.

Furthermore she is only freaking 24 and because of that she knows nothing about really being an adult and that isn't her fault, that process is just time and living.

> ITT: People reiterate their political beliefs under the auspice of being "for" or "against" this person's situation.

Also in this thread, a woman being dehumanized, called a whore, and belittled because she dared wrongthink on some topics. Well done, folks. Really proving your virtuousness.

Beck is an idiot. Best thing for her. Hope she does well!

MaverickM11 wrote:

zkojq wrote:

If Tomi was an actual journalist then maybe I'd care, but she's just a pundit, so I don't.

All of this is a classic example of how the right loves to use political correctness to silence opposition, despite their claims that only the left employs such tactics.

Same with freedom of speech and states rights...whatever allows them to discriminate and make fun of fat chicks is freedom/states rights/political incorrectness, and anything that opposes that hates liburrtee

Pretty much bang on about this.

Conservatives accuse liberals and the media that they are politically correct usually when they want to attack and insult others and people call them on it. Essentially when Trump calls a beauty pageant contestant Ms. Piggy or that a contestant on the apprentice is better on her knees. That isn't politically correct, that is being a jerk and a bully and bullies hate when people call them on their crap.

Now some liberals do need to lighten up about things like having conservatives speak on college campuses and that comedians are joking.

opethfan wrote:

> ITT: People reiterate their political beliefs under the auspice of being "for" or "against" this person's situation.

Also in this thread, a woman being dehumanized, called a whore, and belittled because she dared wrongthink on some topics. Well done, folks. Really proving your virtuousness.

Unfortunately this thread has descended into chaos and mud-slinging. So much for trying to start a reasoned debate. I will not make the mistake of posting a topic in the non-aviation forum again.

opethfan wrote:

Also in this thread, a woman being dehumanized, called a whore, and belittled because she dared wrongthink on some topics. Well done, folks. Really proving your virtuousness.

Uhh...that is her entire schtick. And it came back to bite her in the ass.

MaverickM11 wrote:

opethfan wrote:

Also in this thread, a woman being dehumanized, called a whore, and belittled because she dared wrongthink on some topics. Well done, folks. Really proving your virtuousness.

Uhh...that is her entire schtick. And it came back to bite her in the ass.

I haven't seen enough of her to be able to say if that's her schtick or not. But how is saying she supports a more liberal position on abortion dehumanizing and belittling people? Since that's what got her the boot, apparently.

As others have pointed out, this is not a free speech issue. Glenn Beck's media company is not a state actor, so her free speech rights are not implicated. That said, this is the only time I've ever agreed with her, but she should not have been fired simply because she dared to express an unpopular opinion among her fan base. Those in conservative media are fond of painting the right as loony extremists who hate unpopular opinions and will go to great lengths to silence them, then they turn right around and do to Tomi Lahren exactly what they accuse liberals of doing.

OA412 wrote:

As others have pointed out, this is not a free speech issue. Glenn Beck's media company is not a state actor, so her free speech rights are not implicated. That said, this is the only time I've ever agreed with her, but she should not have been fired simply because she dared to express an unpopular opinion among her fan base. Those in conservative media are fond of painting the right as loony extremists who hate unpopular opinions and will go to great lengths to silence them, then they turn right around and do to Tomi Lahren exactly what they accuse liberals of doing.

Playing Devil's advocate here but how many "liberal" pundits have been fired for speaking out against their "liberal" networks or voicing views not in tune with the message the network wants to send?

BTW, isn't this an example of "at-will employment"?

OA412 wrote:

As others have pointed out, this is not a free speech issue.

It's not legally a free speech issue, but it's a trope (free speech) the right has been banging on forever--they just have a knack for finding the most god awful people to be their Pied Piper. It's just like Milo, where he used "free speech" to yell about fat chicks and f#@&!^g black men. Sure enough the right followed him in lock step because he was vocalizing the ugly things they were all thinking. And then everyone found out he's a 'UGE fan of pedophilia. Whoops! Suddenly the right wasn't banging that free speech drum anymore