Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich told a local awards banquet crowd that restrictions on freedom of speech may be needed to reduce terrorists’ ability to use the Internet and free speech to recruit members and communicate their message.
The one-time speaker made his comments before 400 state and local power brokers Monday at the annual Nackey S. Loeb First Amendment award dinner, which honors those that stand up for freedom of speech.
Gingrich said “a different set of rules” may need to be adopted to deal with terrorists who use the media, the Internet and other means of free speech to send out their hate message.
Gingrich also criticized campaign finance laws that he claimed were reduce free speech and do little to attack advertising. The former Georgia congressman also railed against court rulings over separation of church and state, saying they have reduced citizens’ ability to express themselves and their faith.
The event held at the Radisson Hotel-Center of New Hampshire, also served to honor a Lakes Region newspaper and Gingrich for work furthering free speech.
