Conservatives are roasting a columnist for The Washington Post after he raised concerns about Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s offer to buy Twitter.
In a tweet Thursday, columnist Max Boot wrote, “I am frightened by the impact on society and politics if Elon Musk acquires Twitter. He seems to believe that on social media anything goes.”
“For democracy to survive, we need more content moderation, not less,” he added.
I am frightened by the impact on society and politics if Elon Musk acquires Twitter. He seems to believe that on social media anything goes. For democracy to survive, we need more content moderation, not less.
— Max Boot 🇺🇦🇺🇸 (@MaxBoot) April 14, 2022
Chuck Ross, of The Washington Free Beacon, shared Boot’s tweet and wrote, “Build your own Twitter.”
Build your own Twitter https://t.co/thtgzrlfYr
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) April 14, 2022
Boot responded, “I’d rather Elon Musk build his own and leave this one alone.”
I’d rather Elon Musk build his own and leave this one alone. https://t.co/XP1W1jJJJl
— Max Boot 🇺🇦🇺🇸 (@MaxBoot) April 14, 2022
Check out some of the reactions below:
— Abigail Jackson 🇺🇸 (@abigailmarone) April 14, 2022
Boot thyself to Tumblr.
— Noam Blum (@neontaster) April 14, 2022
“More censorship for democracy to survive” is quite the hack job of a take.
— Hannah Cox (@HannahDCox) April 14, 2022
“We need censorship for democracy to survive” is the most asinine take I think I’ve ever heard in my life and I’m on political Twitter.
— Libertarian Party of Tennessee (@LPTN1776) April 14, 2022
Cry harder.
— Mia Cathell (@MiaCathell) April 14, 2022
🤣🤣🤣
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 14, 2022
If the Left thinks they’re right, why are they so TERRIFIED of free speech? https://t.co/BB0IvanjNo
“Frightened” by free speech. Y’all are something. https://t.co/l4k5xu1v11
— Erielle Azerrad (@politicalelle) April 14, 2022
"For democracy to survive, we need more elite gatekeepers stifling the opinions of ordinary people" https://t.co/QZAvxHBG2Y
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) April 14, 2022
Who wants to tell him? https://t.co/knT4wWrZ5u
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) April 14, 2022
On Thursday morning, Musk revealed that he made an offer to buy Twitter.
In a letter to the chairman of the board of Twitter, he wrote, “I invested in Twitter as I believe in its potential to be the platform for free speech around the globe, and I believe free speech is a societal imperative for a functioning democracy.”
“However, since making my investment I now realize the company will neither thrive nor serve this societal imperative in its current form. Twitter needs to be transformed as a private company,” he went on.
The Tesla CEO shared:
“As a result, I am offering to buy 100% of Twitter for $54.20 per share in cash, a 54% premium over the day before I began investing in Twitter and a 38% premium over the day before my investment was publicly announced. My offer is my best and final offer and if it is not accepted, I would need to reconsider my position as a shareholder.”
Musk added, “Twitter has extraordinary potential. I will unlock it.”
However, while speaking at TED 22, Musk said, “I’m not sure that I will actually be able to acquire it…I could technically afford it.”
“But this is not a sort of way to make money…I don’t care about the economics at all,” he added.