Texas Governor Greg Abbott came out against the social media platform Gab last night, calling it an anti-Semitic platform that has no place in Texas:
Anti-Semitic platforms do not represent Texas values.
Proud to support @PhilKingTX & @GoldmanCraig’s bill to fight anti-Semitism in our communities. #txlege pic.twitter.com/ZVri3z0Wis
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) March 11, 2021
Where in the world did this come from? And why would Abbott be calling the platform anti-Semitic when so many conservatives are using it? It’s one thing to say a social media platform has problems with this or that, but to label an entire platform as anti-Semitic is like blaming a gun for a murder.
Not to mention what many people are pointing out, which is that Abbott’s own Texas GOP has been using Gab since January!
We're on Gab! pic.twitter.com/7KJ64xPBcu
— Texas GOP (@TexasGOP) January 23, 2021
I can’t figure out what precipitated this comment by Abbott, but Gab has already responded:
Gab is not an "anti-semitic" platform. We protect the political speech of all Americans, regardless of viewpoint, because in this age of cancel culture nobody else will.
That means unpopular viewpoints may be found on the site.
— Gab.com (@getongab) March 11, 2021
The enemies of freedom smear us with every name in the book because they hate America and they hate free speech. It's a shame to see a GOP politician fall for this trap when conservative values are under sustained attack all over the country.
— Gab.com (@getongab) March 11, 2021
Here are a few more replies from confused conservatives:
wtf r u talking about https://t.co/hu9HZImeul
— The Columbia Bugle 🇺🇸 (@ColumbiaBugle) March 11, 2021
sounds like an endorsement of cancel culture https://t.co/b44HXMhPWA
— Scott Greer 6’2” IQ 187 (@ScottMGreer) March 11, 2021
I'm on Gab. My in-laws are Jewish and I think they're great. Am I still welcome in Texas?
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) March 11, 2021
I’m on Gab. Republicans in Congress are on Gab. I’ve never once seen an anti-Semitic post on @getongab and if I did, I’d do the same thing I do when I see one on twitter (which I’ve seen hundreds if not thousands of times), I’d call them out and explain why it’s disgusting.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) March 11, 2021
Hey Gov, I'm a Texan and on Gab… do I have "no place in Texas" ?
Also, I've never seen anything anti-semitic from or on the site.
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) March 11, 2021
Dumb. Gab is not an “Antisemitic platform”—there are plenty of antisemites on Twitter.
What you’re doing is allowing the Left to bully you into demanding viewpoint discrimination and content moderation. I hate this stuff too, but you either live with it and be free—or not. https://t.co/mjRWsNSRvv
— David Reaboi (@davereaboi) March 11, 2021
RIP: the credibility of @GovAbbott. https://t.co/bcN1pjla9b
— Emerald Robinson ✝️ (@EmeraldRobinson) March 11, 2021
I’ve always been a big support of Abbott, but this does seem like a blow to his credibility.