Andrew Clyde: “I thank the gentleman from Colorado for hosting this Special Order on this very important and increasingly pervasive…”

“I thank the gentleman from Colorado for hosting this Special Order on this very important and increasingly pervasive issue in our society: Cancel culture. I hold very deep concerns about how this ugly movement is corrupting our youth and stands to seriously threaten the many core values shared by those in my district, those from north Georgia: altruism, patriotism, faith, and integrity, just to name a few. While calling people out on their actions and/or behaviors is nothing new in our society, there is something inherently dangerous about fringe groups of people moving in a calculated manner to strip people of jobs, to strip businesses of revenue, and shutting down entire thought groups altogether, without a fair and just consideration being afforded to the targeted party. Each of us has an understanding of what is right and wrong, just as we, as lawmakers, have our own ideas for what is good policy and what is not. We can debate and defend our personal opinions and sincerely held beliefs all we want, but when rights enshrined by the Constitution are at risk, I believe we have a duty to step up and defend those rights. Whether we are talking about standing up for God-given, unalienable religious liberties, Second Amendment rights or First Amendment protections, I wholeheartedly believe that we should also be pointing to the truth within the Constitution. It is easy to point to the Constitution as a blanketed rationale for countless issues.…”