Elon Musk’s potential Twitter takeover has the left in full-on meltdown mode. WaPo columnist says he’s “frightened” by the impact on society if Musk achieves his goal.
“I am frightened by the impact on society and politics if Elon Musk acquires Twitter. He seems to believe that on social media anything goes. For democracy to survive, we need more content moderation, not less,” Boot tweeted.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) responded to the tweet, asking why is the left so scared.
“If the Left thinks they’re right, why are they so TERRIFIED of free speech?”
🤣🤣🤣
If the Left thinks they’re right, why are they so TERRIFIED of free speech? https://t.co/BB0IvanjNo
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 14, 2022
This kicked off a humorous back and forth between the Senator and the journalist.
“I’m not on the left, @tedcruz, and I’m not terrified of free speech. But I am concerned by politicians—like, cough, you (washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/…)—who spread disinformation and try to overthrow our democracy,” Boot replied.
I’m not on the left, @tedcruz, and I’m not terrified of free speech. But I am concerned by politicians—like, cough, you (https://t.co/UhZzDDbXOs)—who spread disinformation and try to overthrow our democracy. https://t.co/NTt55QrPL8
— Max Boot 🇺🇦 (@MaxBoot) April 14, 2022
“It’s cute, these blue-checkmark people who pretend to be journalists (nice hat!) while begging Silicon Valley billionaires to keep giving them an exclusive platform (Bezos! Dorsey!) AND silence anyone who dares to speak,” the senator hit back. “Cough all you want; you’re scared of free speech,” Cruz replied.
It’s cute, these blue-checkmark people who pretend to be journalists (nice hat!) while begging Silicon Valley billionaires to keep giving them an exclusive platform (Bezos! Dorsey!) AND silence anyone else who dares to speak.
Cough all you want; you’re scared of free speech. https://t.co/kRWsCGSmxl
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 14, 2022
Boot took one more swing at Cruz.
“I realize you’re just trolling, @tedcruz, which seems to be your full time job,” Boot said. “But your claim that I want an ‘exclusive platform’ at the Post or Twitter [is] silly. There are a million different voices in both places, many conservative views. I support that. What I don’t support is dangerous misinformation like the Big Lie about the 2020 election that you spread. As one of your great colleagues said: ‘Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.’”
I realize you’re just trolling, @tedcruz, which seems to be your fulltime job. But your claim that I want an “exclusive platform” at the Post or Twitter silly. There are a million different voices in both places, many expressing conservative views. I support that…. (1/2) https://t.co/8ejfBtyYbh
— Max Boot 🇺🇦 (@MaxBoot) April 14, 2022
Twitter’s board of directors announced they would take the “poison pill” to prevent Musk from acquiring the company. According to the Daily Wire, “The desired effect is clearly to dilute Musk’s holding in the company, and make the cost of a takeover higher or even prohibitive.”
“A poison pill, devised by law firms in the 1980s to protect companies from corporate raiders, essentially lets a takeover target flood the market with new shares or allow existing shareholders other than the bidder to buy them at a discount,” The New York Times explained. “That means anyone trying to acquire the company must negotiate directly with the board.”
