Republican Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, whose book contract with Simon & Schuster was canceled by the company earlier in the day, took to Twitter to demonstrate his continued ignorance of the Constitution and literature.

“This could not be more Orwellian,” Hawley whined.  “Simon & Schuster is canceling my contract because I was representing my constituents, leading a debate on the Senate floor on voter integrity, which they now have decided to define as sedition.

“Let me be clear, this is not just a contract dispute.  It’s a direct assault on the First Amendment.  Only approved speech can now be published.  This is the Left looking to cancel everyone they don’t approve of.  I will fight this cancel culture with everything I have.  We’ll see you in court.”

Now let’s shred this statement:

• Orwell wrote in “1984” about a government that controlled thoughts and words.  It was not about a private company.
• He was not representing his constituents in the Electoral College objection.  He was trying to disenfranchise millions of voters from a state he does not represent.
• Sedition is defined by Merriam-Webster as “incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority” which is exactly what Hawley was doing in stoking the crowd of insurrectionists and undermining the Constitutional role of the states in determining their own Electoral College slates.
• The First Amendment prevents the government from censoring speech; it has nothing to do with a private company canceling a publishing contract because the author violates their corporate ethics.
• No one is barring him from finding another publisher for the book, and if needed, he can choose to self-publish and take the risk of putting a book on the market himself.
• The Left isn’t trying to “cancel” him; that’s hysterical and histrionic, perfect for his audience.  The Left, however, will get him out of office in the next election.
• He won’t see anyone in court.  The publisher has a right to cancel the contract.  He must be upset about having to return his cash advance.