Many Americans were startled by a recently unearthed clip in which the Democratic nominee for vice president, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, asserted: “There’s no guarantee to free speech on misinformation or hate speech, and especially around our democracy.”
That is a totally inaccurate rendering of what the First Amendment does and does not protect.
Walz is not alone in his misunderstanding. Consider these findings from a new survey from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression: A majority of Americans think that the First Amendment — which protects freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and the free exercise of religion — “goes too far,” with many respondents expressing that they have at least some trust in the government to set fair limits on objectionable speech. The survey also revealed uncertainty about the difference between protected speech and unprotected protest actions like vandalism and illegal encampments. (RELATED: Free Speech May Be In The Crosshairs Under A Harris-Walz Administration)
Our First Amendment freedoms — which protect Christians, adherents of other faiths, and all dissenting and independent voices alike — are evidently not as popular, or even as well understood, as they once were.
As the president and CEO of the world’s largest association of Christian media professionals, I believe that America benefits richly from the presence and participation of Christians in public life. I am also keenly aware that the rights and interests of Christians are under attack. But are most Christians aware of that fact? A new survey from Dr. George Barna indicates that “theologically-defined evangelicals are no more likely than anyone else to be attentive to news about politics and government.” More than half of those surveyed reported that they do not pay much attention to political news, which would be essential to understanding the issues most relevant to believers.
Are evangelicals asleep at the wheel? Are we even behind the wheel at all? An estimated seven million evangelicals in swing states alone did not participate in the 2020 presidential election, numbers that might have overturned outcomes up and down the ballot. While evangelicals are more likely than their secular counterparts to vote in elections, an estimated one-third sit on the sidelines. And if, according to Barna, evangelicals are more likely to vote, but “no more likely than anyone else to be attentive to news about politics and government,” are they making well-informed voting decisions? We have a dual issue of turnout and tune-out.
To understand where we are today, it is helpful to recall that the evangelical voting bloc — an election-shaping force throughout modern American history — was built by religious broadcasters. From around the 1960s, Christian media voices operating in the heyday of the “electric church” enjoyed national influence and played a major role in energizing and mobilizing conservative Christian voters to participate in elections. (RELATED: Tim Walz’s Church Doesn’t Like To Call God ‘Him,’ Supports Reparations And Pride Parades)
Powerhouse evangelists like Billy Graham helped ignite spiritual revival throughout America and built a respected national profile. Top Christian........