Patricia Heaton: Elon Musk Saved America
'Everybody Loves Raymond' alum praises X owner for protecting free speech
Patricia Heaton weighs her words carefully in La La Land.
The Emmy winner knows being a pro-life independent puts a professional target on her back. She speaks carefully, embracing select causes for the greater good.
Her support for Israel following the Oct. 7 atrocities is a prime example.
She’s not looking to throw rhetorical bombs in the culture wars, understanding it’s both divisive and damaging to her career. She revealed as much to podcaster and author Gad Saad on his “Saad Truth” podcast this week.
The star of “The Middle” and “Everybody Loves Raymond” singled out one person for praise on the podcast, someone vilified by both the media and the Left.
Elon Musk.
The billionaire’s purchase of Twitter, now X, two years ago allowed Americans to speak more freely on the digital platform. That free speech victory matters more than most people realize, she said, and it may have played a role in President Donald Trump’s Nov. 5 victory.
Except she said it more bluntly.
“This sounds crazy, but I feel like [Musk] saved America,” Heaton said. “Free speech is everything. Even terrible, awful speech, you still have to be able to be free. And what Democrats wanted to do and what they had been doing before Elon took over … ”
Heaton trailed off, but both her and Saad knew the context. Vice President Kamala Harris vowed to crack down on Big Tech speech. Her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, suggested so-called “hate speech” should be targeted.
The Biden administration pressured Facebook to censor the Hunter Biden laptop scandal. It also leaned on then-Twitter to censor those who criticized COVID-19 pandemic rules.
Does anyone remember The Twitter Files?
IRS visited Twitter Files journalist Matt Taibbi’s home same day as congressional testimony https://t.co/9S5oVKnVhP pic.twitter.com/F4mtAw9TtZ
— New York Post (@nypost) March 28, 2023
The modern Left opposes free speech. The examples are endless and frightening. Musk, by purchasing Twitter and allowing more viewpoints to be heard, struck a blow against that censorial wave. For that, Heaton remains deeply grateful.
“We just really owe him,” she added.
Hollywood stars have been mostly silent on free speech in recent years. The exceptions including comedians (John Cleese, Rob Schneider), podcasters (Joe Rogan) and actress/director Justine Bateman.
More Hollywood stars like this, please!