US defends Trump's man in Berlin: 'Americans have the right to free speech'

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico-Europe




American envoys ‘have the right to express their opinions,’ State Department official said.

By YASMINE SALAM 6/6/18, 9:54 AM CET

The U.S. State Department defended America’s envoy to Germany Richard Grenell over his controversial interview with alt-right news site Breitbart, with a spokeswoman saying ambassadors “have the right to express their opinions.”

“Don’t we as Americans have the right to free speech?” the State Department’s Heather Nauert said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

Grenell told Breitbart he wants to “empower” other anti-establishment conservatives around Europe to rise up against “elites.” He also said he’s a “big fan” of Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz from the right-wing Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP).

“What Ambassador Grenell was doing was merely highlighting that there are some parties and candidates in Europe who are doing well right now,” Nauert said.

Read more: https://www.politico.eu/article/us-defends-president-donald-trumps-man-in-berlin-americans-have-the-right-to-free-speech-richard-grenell/

[MGKrebs]

1. It's not a question of rights.

You are a guest in their country and you are expected to be polite. If you are not, they have the right to complain about it.
Jeezus.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Inciting sedition in any country, esp. as an

ambassador is NOT "free speech".

[C_U_L8R]

3. That's not free speech

That's pushing a self-serving fascist agenda... and Germany, of all nations, knows how to spot a rightwing shithead like this. They should toss that clown out on his ass, posthaste.

[beachbum bob]

4. countries have the right to kick out ambassadors too, especially those preaching sedition

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. They need to defend the "right" of foreign governments to interfere in politics

to defend Russia's interference in the US elections. So a brave Trumpite has stepped up to be the target, in the hope that someone will defend him and then they'll say "if it's OK for him, it's OK for Putin".

[muntrv]

6. Not outside the US.

[Marcuse]

7. Sergey Kislyak is his role model.

What is the mission of the CIA now in Europe?

[dembotoz]

8. shit for brains answer...he represents the united states not his daft world view

[BlueMTexpat]

9. Not when they are supposed to be

the US's top diplomat in another country. If they can't behave themselves, they can be asked to go ... or deported, if need be.

[SCVDem]

10. Germany could just refuse

to accept his portfolio.

This ass is poking a wasps nest and is too racist to know it.

This has to be a way to stir anti-Muslim sentiment.

[VMA131Marine]

11. So was Nauert saying that Grenell was speaking for himself

with his comments rather than the US Government? That seems extraordinarily irresponsible! If the Ambassador was speaking in his official capacity, then the German Government will surely want to know whether his opinion on these fringe parties is official US policy. Free speech is not the issue here.

[left-of-center2012]

12. How can he be a diplomat ...

How can he be a diplomat when he pisses off the host country?

Oh, right!

He's Trump's diplomat.

[Beausoleil]

13. Ugly Americanism

Yeah, you can say whatever you want within reason and the US Government won't arrest you. What does that have to do with a douchebag going to a foreign country meddling in their internal politics? That's a pretty low bar for a so-called diplomat.

It galls me when people go to a foreign country and expect US laws to cover their stupidity.

But it seems to me to be typical of the conservative brain: "other people think and process information just like I do, we just disagree on ideology". No, conservatives, we actually try to employ critical thought before we go shooting off our mouths.

[marble falls]

14. The same way freedom of religion allows human sacrifice here in this country...

by envoys of other countries.

Free speech is speech made without prior restraint, he made his free speech now he gets to face the consequences. The Germans can just declare him "Persona non Grata" and frog march him to the airport with no warning.

[NastyRiffraff]

15. He's a damn AMBASSADOR

No, he does NOT have a right to flap his gums and incite unrest and insult the country in which he's supposed to be representing the U.S. At least, that's true in a normal, sane administration. Then you have this one, and this is what you get.

[Solly Mack]

16. WTF does that have to do with anything?

The idiot is in a foreign country and he has no right - none - to interfere with their elections and promoting one party over another is interfering.

[bitterross]

17. UGLY AMERICAN. That's what our nation is now.

Funny how they all want people to come to the US and assimilate, but they want to travel the world and change it to their liking.

Not really funny in a good way, of course.

[truthisfreedom]

18. We are without grace, etiquette or poise.

Our administration is a bawdy circus with a wild-eyed ringleader and the world’s most never-ending clown car.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

19. The U.S. also has the right to bear arms.

I think the Canadians and Australians wouldn't be happy if our ambassadors to those countries started to open carry and advocating the NRA/GOP party line.

Diplomacy: the art of dealing with people in a sensitive and effective way.

Synonyms: tactfulness, sensitivity, discretion, subtlety, finesse, delicacy, savoir faire, politeness, thoughtfulness, care, judiciousness, prudence

All words that are absent from the Trump administration's lexicon.

[hatrack]

20. No, they don't - try giving the Nazi salute when visiting Germany and see what happens . . .

Which is pretty much what this sack of shit "ambassador" is doing anyway.

[SunSeeker]

21. Tell that to the NFL players, Heather.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

22. Americans also have the right to do the right thing, especially in diplomacy.

Americans have the right to stand in a town square and smear themselves with excrement as a form of performance art. That doesn't make it the right thing to do.

[AZ8theist]

23. AND................

Germany has the right to EXPEL the NAZI.