For days, the German establishment have been in an absolute uproar over Elon Musk’s profoundly antidemocratic election interference. You cannot turn on the television or open any newspaper without enduring all manner of wailing about the grave danger Musk poses to German democracy.
The naive and the simpleminded will decry all of this wailing; they will say that the Federal Republic has simply become an open-air insane asylum – a strange playground of political hysterics the likes of which the Western world has never seen before. That is because they don’t understand what’s at stake here. Musk did not just say the odd nice thing about Alternative für Deutschland, oh no. He also said various German politicians were fools and traitors, he called for resignations and he published an untoward newspaper editorial. It is amazing the German democracy has not yet collapsed in the face of this unrelenting campaign, and still the absolute madman shows no signs of stopping.
Elon Musk’s frontal assault on the German constitution began on November 7th, when he tweeted four antidemocratic words – “Olaf ist ein Narr” (“Olaf [Scholz] is a fool”) – in response to news that the German Government had collapsed. Three days later, he tweeted the same thing about Green Economics Minister and chancellor candidate Robert Habeck, after Habeck gave a speech calling for widespread internet censorship.
Thereafter, all was quiet for a time. German democrats allowed themselves to hope these were but isolated indiscretions and that Musk would allow them to get back to their arcane business of promoting feminism abroad, changing the weather and eliminating “the extreme Right”. Lamentably, the peace turned out to be a false one. Musk renewed his campaign against democracy with a vengeance on December 20th, tweeting in the wake of the Magdeburg Christmas market attack that “Scholz should resign immediately” and that he is an “incompetent fool”. That very same day, Musk tweeted for the first time that “Only the AfD can save Germany,” a sentiment he repeated also on December 21st and on December 22nd, delighted at the nationwide freakout his casual remarks had incited.
In the course of this freakout, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier hinted darkly that “outside influence” constitutes “a danger for democracy”:
Outside influence is a danger for democracy – whether it is covert, as was recently apparent in the elections in Romania, or open and blatant, as is currently being practised with particular intensity on the platform X. I strongly oppose all external attempts at influence. The decision on the election is made solely by the eligible citizens in Germany.
The indefatigable Naomi Seibt, who appears to be Musk’s primary informant about German politics, brought these remarks to the evil fascist billionaire’s attention, and he promptly responded that “Steinmeier is an anti-democratic tyrant.” Musk then delivered his coup-de-grace the next day, with an editorial in Welt am Sonntag – the most devastating piece of political prose that Germany has witnessed since Hitler penned Mein Kampf.
By my count, Musk may have directed as many as 700 words against the noble if surprisingly rickety edifice of German democracy – an assault few political systems could withstand. The self-appointed guardians of our liberal order accordingly declared a five-alarm fire, and they have betaken themselves to their keyboards to defend what remains of our free and eminently democratic political system, where anybody can say anything he likes and vote for any party he wishes, so long as what he likes and those for whom he votes have nothing to do with major political parties supported by millions of Germans like Alternative für Deutschland.
Among the first to the barricades was the “independent journalist” Teresa Stiens, who looks in no way disturbing, unbalanced or terrifying:
Stiens denounced Musk’s opinion in Handelsblatt as “anti-constitutional agitation”, and lamented that Welt am Sonntag editors, while they may be “congratulating themselves for ‘freedom of expression’… in reality… are allowing themselves to be used for anti-constitutional purposes”. Indeed, one can imagine few things as anti-constitutional as a newspaper editorial.
That Welt would only agree to publish Musk’s statement alongside Jan Philipp Burgard’s extensive “rebuttal” (I use the term loosely) if anything made the whole anti-constitutional aspect worse:
[I]t suggests that there is a “pro” and a “con” when it comes to the AfD. This disregards the fact that the party pursues anti-constitutional goals with racism, agitation, exclusion and “remigration” fantasies. It is therefore directed against the essence of our democracy.Unlike in the USA, freedom of expression in Germany, with respect to our defensive democracy, has its limits. According to Article 18 of the German Basic Law, freedom of expression can be forfeited if its aim is to fight the free and democratic basic order… With its xenophobic slogans, the entire party moreover violates Article 1 of the Basic Law, according to which “Human dignity is inviolable.”
A recurring pattern in German political discourse, is that journalists very often set the tone for establishment politicians, who clamour to expand and reinforce their theses a few hours or days later.
By January 1st, chief of the Bundestag Social Democrat faction Rolf Mützenich rose to the challenge, with bold remarks to Der Spiegel that Musk’s statements might even constitute a diplomatic incident of some sort, if not an outright act of war:
U.S. billionaire Elon Musk’s recent outbursts towards German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier could seriously strain German-American relations. Rolf Mützenich… accused Musk of crossing “a line between friendly states”.
Steinmeier represents Germany abroad. “The verbal attacks on the German President are therefore aimed at all German citizens,” Mützenich said…
Mützenich called on the German Government to clarify, following Trump’s inauguration, “whether the repeated disrespect, defamation and interference in our election campaign were also expressed on behalf of the new U.S. Government”. He said that “clarity” was needed on this point, adding that “international challenges can only be tackled in an unencumbered relationship between us and the U.S.”
The next day, Green politician Claudia Roth, who is presently serving as Federal Commissioner for Culture and Media, agreed that attacks on President Steinmeier are out of bounds because he “represents our country”. She furthermore outlined a curious theory of expressive freedom, arguing that “it is not good for democracy” and that “it is extremely dangerous for democratic societies” when “great economic power and the power of opinion are combined”. According to Roth, it is primarily journalists who should be allowed to express themselves, and not rich people, I guess because journalists unlike Musk don’t have very much money, or something.
Roth continued to demand legislative interventions to keep everybody but our sacrosanct journalist class from speaking freely:
…[W]e need to protect and strengthen reputable, fact-oriented quality journalism that ensures appropriate reporting on events as well as their background and context. Secondly, we need better regulation… We need strong European media laws that ensure the functioning of a democratic public sphere. Especially because the so-called platforms are not only platforms for third-party opinions, but also massively disseminate their own opinions.
Because democracy, it seems, means it is okay for journalists to express opinions, but not for people or “platforms” to express them. Only very few acts of expression, it turns out, are compatible with democracy.
Mützenich, Roth – these people offered impassioned pleas, it is true, but soon His Highness the Green chancellor candidate Robert Habeck would enter the fray, making their words superfluous. In a Spiegel interview published yesterday beneath this totally unironic cover photo…
…Habeck defended democracy from Musk’s incursions with incredible eloquence and at great length. He said that “we should not make the mistake of dismissing” Musk’s support for “a party with far-Right elements”, and voiced deep concern about the United States, which he believes “is developing into a neo-feudal system, a… moneyed aristocracy in which billionaires… use their influence to pursue business interests”. He vowed that he “will not stand idly by and watch how authoritarian attitudes are made socially acceptable”.
SPIEGEL: Is Musk a danger to Germany?
Habeck: He will do anything to push through his interests. The combination of immense wealth, control over information and networks, the use of artificial intelligence and the will to ignore rules is a frontal attack on our democracy. Just because he comes across as relaxed and builds electric cars, we should not be deceived. There is only one answer: Hands off our democracy, Mr. Musk! We cannot afford to be careless or naive. Germany has long been in the sights of foreign actors – especially now during the election campaign. They see Germany as an easy target. Unfortunately, disinformation campaigns have a relatively easy time of it here.
“Hands off our democracy, Mr. Musk,” has now become the rallying cry of the entire German press. Münchner Merkur: “Habeck warns Elon Musk: ‘Hands off our democracy.’” Frankfurter Rundschau: “‘Hands off our democracy’: Habeck strikes back after attacks against Musk.” Rheinische Post: “‘Hands Off Our Democracy, Mr. Musk!” Berliner Morgenpost: “Musk promotes AfD – Habeck warns: ‘Hands off!’”
The Green Party have even launched an entire online campaign called “Hands Off Our Democracy, Mr. Musk,” where we are all invited to contribute our signatures by way of petitioning the universe to put an end to the scourge of this wealthy American randomly tweeting his opinions about things.
Alas, no sooner have you finished defending democracy than its enemies return to attack it again. Musk responded to the Spiegel interview by calling Habeck “a traitor to the German people” – words of such violence that they will surely require another feature Spiegel interview to blot out completely. Even worse, an hour later, Musk and AfD co-chair Alice Weidel announced their plans to hold a conversation on X on January 9th, a day before the AfD party congress in Riesa.
Who knows what it will take to undo the democratic damage of that event. Former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, perhaps the world’s foremost opponent of Elon Musk talking to people on the internet, is very concerned about it:
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Keep firing those broadsides across the Atlantic, Mr Musket. Copious dust reported dropping from copious bunker ceilings.
And while you’re at it, please open up a new front to free Dr Reiner Fuellmich…
https://www.malone.news/p/the-persecution-of-dr-reiner-fuellmich
https://truthsummit.substack.com/p/reiner-fuellmich-more-court-dates-4-statements
“…He had the courage to speak out on the truth and he is now paying for that courage.
He is, without any doubts, a political prisoner!”
Fourteen days until the inauguration.
Hopefully Kennedy will give him some good ideas on what to share to the world. At the end of the day Musk is just doing the job that the MSM is supposed to de before they were captured.
Dr Reiner Füllmich is a genuinely courageous man of integrity and I completely support your plea. Shame on those who continue to persecute him because they are afraid of what he has to say.
It’s funny how the establishment class have no hesitation in calling their opponents names like far-right, radical, racist, etc.. But the moment someone does it to them, they self combust and claim it is an attack on democracy.
These people are repulsive bullies with not a iota of self awareness. They are enraged that the world is laughing at them.
That’s what the US Democrats do all the time. And their ‘German’ copycats just copy them. As always.
“These people are repulsive bullies with not a iota of self awareness. They are enraged that the world is laughing at them.”
Try saying that in Germany these days and you’ll be convicted and locked up so fast without your feet touching the floor.
The elites have got a cheek! They destroyed democracy for the ordinary people years ago under the camouflage of “kindness”.
musk is only trying to redress the balance. They don’t like it up ‘em Mr. Mainwaring.
Defending democracy my entire backside.
They cannot defend what they went to such pains to destroy.
That’s there’s an explicit provision in the German basic law to strip Germans of most of their so-called human rights¹ if they “abuse” them to “to fight the free and democratic basic order²” just demonstrates that there’s neither freedom nor democracy in Germany and that Habeck and his associates in the media are really itching to do just means he is actually a would-be tyrant. Merkel abolished the so-called German constitution “because of a pandemic” not that long ago. He’d certainly love to repeat this feat.
¹ Specifically, freedom of expression and association, right to personal property and freedom from unwarranted state surveillance.
² Doesn’t that really sound like an old GDR-slogan?
Surely it is obvious by now that true democracy only exists where the expression of opinions is limited to those within the Overton Window defined by the state. It is only right that those who express views outside that window should be reviled and penalised.
A remark on the Bundeswinselmeier¹: Steinmeier is certainly not a tyrant because his office is free of any real function. The so-called president of the federal republic of Germany is someone nominated by the establishment parties for some reason, in his case, being a distinguished SPD party veteran, and someone whom representatives of these parties then vote for. It has absolutely no connection to the German electorate.
¹ Federal whinemeier or federal grovelmeier as his most important occupation is to tour countries of our former enemies (like Russia) or current overlords (Israel) in order to prostrate himself there and whine about his eternal German guilt (which we are supposed to accept as ours). Famously, he once held a speech in Israel in English to avoid using “the language of the perpetrators” (Sprache der Täter) and since that’s our language, we’d welcome his voluntary expatriation.
Presumably as Germany is so opposed to foreign interference in politics it’s taken stern action against German politicians, journalists and citizens that have in the past denigrated Trump and indeed Brexit? Yes?
The Left must have their bogey-men to “other”, and “far-right” Musk will do nicely thank you.
Supporters of Musk should recall the rescue of people trapped in a cave in Thailand, when he was crossed by an expat Brit Musk deployed the p-word. Maybe helping to get Trump elected has triggered another flaw in his personality.
But overall it is extraordinary that politicians in the UK and Germany are so fixated on a foreigner, that does not cast them in a good light.
It is funny how Musk was the darling of the left / greens due to Tesla cars, then when it turns out he has some opinions they don’t like, he’s the antichrist all of a sudden…
The main problem is that he bought Twitter and fired all the
censorscontent moderators. There are few things the anti-hate-crowd hate more passionately than common people being allowed to express themselves as good as they can in public without fear of immediate repercussions.“Rolf Mützenich rose to the challenge, with bold remarks to Der Spiegel that Musk’s statements might even constitute a diplomatic incident of some sort, if not an outright act of war:”
Maybe they should investigate Nord Stream Pipeline explosion properly for a terrorist attack against their infrastructure, that would be a better bet for an act of war, not a few tweets.
He is just some mildly unstable person feeling incertain bouts of euphoria about his sudden elevation. Believe me within 12 months all of his allies will have deserted him one way or another.
Very fragile personalities coming to the fore. As if on cue ripe for sacrifice given change of tenor in world affairs. You will see what I mean.
How ironic to say that the more flak you get the more you are over the target when it comes to Germany.
For those who do not follow Germany, Habeck is a Green nutter who ensured that a report on the viability of the last 3 operating nuclear plants – there are 6 others mothballed – was doctored to say they must shutdown and apparently with a straight face and no red nose stated that German industry should operate in tune with the weather and not expect to run energy hungry operations during a dunkelflaute.
You can get a good dose of schadenfreude by following blackoutnews.de by using a translator add-on to see just how much they are destroying the country. Job losses, bankruptcies, relocating production etc every week.
So let me get this right …..
It’s perfectly OK for the Government Politicians, Corporations and billionaires who gather a Davos to undermine democracy and impose their policies on us with no mandate from anyone. (ie Mussolini’s definition of Fascism).
But it’s not OK for one billionaire to express his opinion about various politicians because it is a threat to democracy.
How confusing!
Many thanks for this wonderful reminder that humor in the public sphere is not nearly as dead as I thought it was.
It might be of relevance that “Scholz was also Vice President of the International Union of Socialist Youth from 1987 to 1989. He supported the Freudenberger Kreis, a Marxist wing of the Jusos’ university groups, arguing that society should “overcome the capitalist economy” in one of his publications” Wiki