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Free Speech and Boycotts

I don’t understand why some people claim that product boycotts are an attempt to silence free speech. After all, the Citizens United decision clearly established that money was free speech (especially it is money given to politicians for their campaigns!). So isn’t my choice of what products to buy also free speech?

Which brings us to Goya Foods, whose CEO effusively praised Donald Trump in a ceremony at The White House (emphasis on “white”), saying “We’re all truly blessed at the same time to have a leader like President Trump.”

Calls for a boycott of Goya exploded on Twitter. I guess some people haven’t forgotten that Trump opened his campaign by calling Latinos “rapists”, said an American judge couldn’t do his job because he’s “Mexican”, who continues to ignore and insult Puerto Rico, and is currently trying to deport dreamers and kick college students from outside the US out of the country.

I guess I should not be surprised that Ted Cruz (never a paragon of consistency) condemned the Goya boycott. Cruz somehow forgot that just a year ago, he called for a boycott of Nike for supporting NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. For Cruz, perhaps it is only free speech if it benefits Republicans.

And let’s not forget that Goya profits by selling products that are full of sodium and preservatives. So boycotting them is simply a healthy choice.

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5 Comments

  1. westomoon wrote:

    When did the wing nuts decide that the First Amendment gives them the right to say whatever they want — with no consequences?

    Nobody is stopping the Goya guy from hanging out with whoever he wants, and saying whatever he wants — especially not the government, which is who the Amendment constrains.

    It’s just that pesky business of other people also having First Amendment rights. And, when it comes to boycotts, the right of free choice in the market. It’s also worth noting that the “religious right” LOVES to boycott products, based on their weird tribal hobby of slanderous viral folklore.

    If Cruz wants … what? to force Americans to buy Goya food? .. how would that work? What department of the Federal government would enforce it? Would there be an exemption for those of us who never bought Goya products before its CEO started giving Trump public BJs, or would we also be forced to buy food we didn’t want from a company that makes us nauseous?

    Sunday, July 12, 2020 at 9:59 am | Permalink
  2. Iron Knee wrote:

    How can you call yourself an American if you don’t eat heavily processed foods with lots of questionable additives? Boiling beans yourself is unamerican!

    Sunday, July 12, 2020 at 11:54 am | Permalink
  3. TheFunRev wrote:

    Goya isn’t even the best TexMex/Mexican brand available. Perhaps people who have been eating Goya for years out of tradition will discover better brands by boycotting.

    Sunday, July 12, 2020 at 3:58 pm | Permalink
  4. Jeff wrote:

    This is just like the whole Chik-Fil-A thing from a few year’s back. Back then, the Right took it a step further by encouraging people to eat there whenever possible. Maybe we’ll see a mad rush of conservatives buying up tons of canned beans and Mexican food?

    Sunday, July 12, 2020 at 7:19 pm | Permalink
  5. Wildwood wrote:

    If the people on FB are not lying, (cough, cough), the shelves are empty of Goya products because the Trumpkins have bought them out. Or, my thoughts, the stores have removed them to keep customers from boycotting them for selling that brand.

    Do these company heads live in some kind of drug induced “otherworld”, where their memories have been erased and thus are not able to see the consequences of their ass kissing?

    As for heavily processed foods, everything in moderation. And as for boycotts, I have a list, I have had it for many years. And it just keeps growing. You don’t want to get on my list.

    Monday, July 13, 2020 at 7:51 am | Permalink

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