The Patriot Post® · Rotten Apple

The corporate cave-in to communist China continues. Apple bowed to demands of the Chinese government by removing an app sold on iPhones in Hong Kong. The app enabled Hong Kong’s residents to know where the police are. 

Those who are pro-law enforcement, as I am, may be inclined to think that Apple was right to remove the app. But Apple isn’t taking a stand for cops. It’s looking out for its bottom line in mainland China.

The Waze traffic app used in the U.S. tells users where the police are. Many people use it to slow down and avoid speeding tickets. Some groups in the U.S. have argued that the app enables drunk drivers to avoid police check points. Apple turned a deaf ear to those pleas.

What about Apple’s general attitude toward law enforcement? After the San Bernardino terrorist shooting, Apple bitterly resisted calls to cooperate with law enforcement when the FBI desperately wanted to gain access to the jihadists’ cell phones.

It appears that the only police and law-enforcement agencies that Apple is interested in cooperating with are the ones oppressing the citizens of Hong Kong, who merely want the same freedom that Americans enjoy. By the way, that’s the freedom American corporations told us would take root in China if only we would trade with them.

If you missed my opinion piece at the Washington Examiner on corporate America’s sellout to communist China, I urge you to check it out here.

Threatening Our Rights

As I have repeatedly argued, we were told that opening up trade with China would change China. I have responded that trade with China was much more likely to change us. 

Let me put an even finer point on it: We were told that trade with China would bring more civil liberties there. But trade with China is now restricting our civil liberties here in America. Yes, you read that right. 

The Global Times, a Chinese state media outlet, recently blasted Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, whose pro-democracy tweet triggered Beijing’s communist regime. Just consider these excerpts from the Chinese propaganda outlet:

Commercial and cultural organizations which engage in transnational operations should manage their attitudes and statements over sensitive issues… Some Americans try to link Morey’s tweet with so-called “freedom of speech.” That is ridiculous…

The problem is that Morey’s freedom is at the expense of Rockets’ huge commercial interests, which the team is unwilling to give up. It’s a paradox with which Americans are grappling…

The biggest lesson which can be drawn from the matter is that entities that value commercial interests must make their members speak cautiously.

In other words, Beijing’s communists are putting our companies on notice: Tell your employees to shut up. ESPN and others have already obliged. 

Just how much liberty are we willing to surrender in order to pay a few dollars less for a TV or cellphone made in a Chinese sweatshop?

Demanding Accountability

I am pleased to report that congressional conservatives are stepping up their attacks on Pelosi’s impeachment charade. 

In yesterday’s report, I noted that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham is launching his own investigation of corruption in Ukraine. 

He’s also urging his Senate colleagues to sign a letter informing Speaker Pelosi that the president’s call with the Ukrainian leader is not an impeachable offense. And he is vowing to force the CIA whistleblower to testify publicly so the president is not subjected to anonymous smears.

Earlier this week, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff gave a brief statement to reporters — without taking any questions. After Schiff left, several members of the House Freedom Caucus stepped up to the microphones and spoke with reporters for more than 20 minutes debunking the Ukraine/impeachment hoax.

One hundred House Republicans have signed onto a resolution censuring Rep. Schiff. 

On a related note, I am also pleased to report that nine members of the Senate Judiciary Committee wrote to Attorney General Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray this week demanding accountability for the left-wing activists who smeared Brett Kavanaugh with false charges during last year’s confirmation hearing.

Did you hear about any of this on the evening news? I suspect not because the left-wing media have no interest in telling you what conservatives in Congress are doing. 

Please help us spread the word.