Don’t Menshn The First Amendment

Still hanging around the walking dead website that is Heat Street, (thankfully) former Tory MP Louise Mensch may not be in the driving seat, but she is still scribbling away furiously, despite her credibility going down the chute following recent revelations and rumours. And her latest tirade is aimed at the case of the hit musical Hamilton.

(c) Doc Hackenbush 2014

Vice President-Elect Mike Pence attended the show last night, at the Richard Rogers Theater in New York City. He was roundly booed as he arrived, but as he made to leave, cast member Brandon Dixon urged the audience not to boo, and asked Pence to hear him out. This is what he said to the 50th Governor of Indiana.

“Thank you for joining us at Hamilton: An American Musical. We are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights. We hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values, and work on behalf of ALL of us. Thank you”. For this, Ms Mensch went off the end of the pier in no style at all.

“Crowd sounds like douchebags, and that makes Mike Pence America. #MAGA! There, I said it … I bloody hate morons using the theater” she wibbled. Yeah, only those of whom she approves should be allowed in to see the show. So there was more. “VP-Elect #Pence Booed At ‘#Hamilton’ By Liberal Crowd Siding With George III”.

Anyone understand what she’s on about? No, thought not. What to do? Perhaps Madam would care to make a gratuitous, if merely implicit, threat of violence? Sure thing: “VP-Elect Pence Booed At ‘Hamilton’ By Liberals Siding With George III" As well as inciting an act of lawbreaking, as  carrying without a permit in New York is unlawful, as any fule kno.

Still no-one was interested - no change there, then - and so the idea of a little implicit gun violence was repeated: “UPDATE: #Hamilton actors bore on at captive VP-E #MikePence who doesn't challenge them to a duel”. Then there was a post update: “UPDATE: Video of the graceless statement #Hamilton actors made to their graceful guest #MikePence”.

And still hardly anyone cared what she thought. In any case, just to refresh Ms Mensch’s knowledge of the United States Constitution - that of the country where she is seeking to obtain citizenship - there is a thing called the First Amendment, which states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances”.

The cast of Hamilton was exercising its right to freedom of speech - and, arguably, given Pence’s status as VP-Elect, petitioning the Government. It was a peaceful assemblage of citizens. There was nothing wrong with what they did: they have concerns about the nature of the next administration and said so. Louise Mensch fails her Constitution 101.

Never mind, only another 26 Amendments to learn after she revisits that one. And they allowed her to become an MP.