Judd Apatow whines about political donations, Jonah Goldberg sets him straight
http://twitter.com/#!/JonahNRO/status/238815080106577922
This isn’t the first time that the “40-Year-Old Virgin” director has complained about campaign finance law. Citizens United is eeeeevil! Allow wealthy donors to give as much as they like to political campaigns? Inconceivable! Free speech is great and all, but at a certain point, you’ve spoken freely enough. At least that’s what Apatow would like you to believe. National Review columnist and razor-sharp author Jonah Goldberg wasn’t about to just sit back while Apatow called for a government clampdown on free speech. Goldberg took Apatow to school, and it was a joy to behold:
@JuddApatow Whatever. I'm actually a fan. I just find your recycling of lame & dubious DNC talking points a waste of your time — and mine.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 24, 2012
@JuddApatow 1. What companies do you have in mind? And, 2. I think the first amendment is first and foremost for political speech.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 24, 2012
@JuddApatow I'm against the government barring you and your studio from making a movie about politics. Why is Hollywood special?
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 24, 2012
@JuddApatow Media companies don't have special first amendment rights. No one has special first amendment rights.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 24, 2012
.@JuddApatow maybe, maybe not. But A. The solution isn't government regulation of speech. B. that hasn't in fact happened.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 24, 2012
@JuddApatow my point is that campaign finance laws would regulate some entities' speech and not others.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 24, 2012
@JuddApatow we'd all scream bloody murder if government tried to regulate the NYT. Well the NYT doesn't have a special 1st amendment right.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 24, 2012
@JuddApatow if you want to spend your money championing your politics, why should the government be able to stop you?
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 24, 2012
.@JuddApatow Again, maybe. But solution isn't govt regulation. How does govt decide whose views are legitimate?
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 24, 2012
.@JuddApatow If you say billionaire X can't run political ads, why can't I say magazine Y or studio z can't offer political content?
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 24, 2012
.@JuddApatow we all have the right to commit journalism, even opinion journalism.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 24, 2012
.@JuddApatow your voice is far, far more influential than the common man's, can govt censor you from talking politics out of fairness?
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 24, 2012
.@JuddApatow No. He should be able to give 100 million because the first amendment exists — and it's his money.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 24, 2012
.@JuddApatow I think the disconnect here is you say the situation is bad and therefore govt must do something.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 24, 2012
.@JuddApatow I say even *if* it's bad government has no role in fixing it. There's a LOT of bad art, govt shouldn't fix that. Should it?
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 24, 2012
.@JuddApatow anyway, I'm off to sleep. thanks for the chat. Happy to continue another time. Maybe I can change your mind on paul ryan,
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) August 24, 2012
We believe that’s a win for Mr. Goldberg. Better luck next time, Judd.
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