VP Vance: Why Should Americans Subsidize Germany, A Country That Will Jail Someone For A Tweet?

Vice President Vance responded to the negative reaction from German lawmakers to his speech at the Munich Security Conference during remarks on Thursday at CPAC, the annual gathering of American conservatives.

“Germany’s entire defense is subsidized by the American taxpayer. There are thousands upon thousands of American troops in Germany today,” Vance said. “Do you think that the American taxpayer is gonna stand for that if you get thrown in jail in Germany for posting a mean tweet?”

“The point I’m trying to make to our European friends — and I think they’re our friends, I believe that, and I know President Trump does. The point is that friendship is based on shared values.

You do not have shared values if you’re jailing people for saying we should close down our border. You do not have shared values if you cancel elections because you don’t like the results — and that happened in Romania. You do not have shared values if you are so afraid of your own people that you silence them and shut them up.”

The Vice President echoed the spirit of his comments at the Munich Security Conference. He reminded us that Europeans, who are always quick to criticize the US, are for the most part subsidized by the US militarily.

If you are going to have the benefit of being subsidized by another country, it would behoove you to not work towards things in direct contradiction to the values of the country that is subsidizing you.

Sovereign nations are allowed to craft their societies how they see fit. But if you want a favor done from another country, with something as important as military protection, it is well within that country’s rights to comment on an action that goes against their fundamental tenets.

This isn’t a disagreement over taxes, or even over abortion or immigration. This is a disagreement about the fundamental right to voice your opinion without being suppressed or jailed. And Mr Vance is not forcing Germany to change their practices, he is merely voicing his, and many Americans’ disagreement with them.

But beyond that, it is a pertinent question. Why would we subsidize a country where unelected people decide what you can and can’t say? Decide what tweet can land you in jail?

This is something that totalitarian regimes do. The only difference is that these rules are being done in service of a socially left wing ideology, as opposed to a racist or nationalist ideology. As long as speech doesn’t directly incite violence, any attempt to suppress it will just turn into people suppressing ideas that they disagree with.

Vance’s statements should not have been seen as controversial, but in Europe, they have been. Nevertheless, the US and Europe should be able to whether this storm and stay on the same side. Even friends need to talk out disagreements, and this situation is just an example of that.