GOP legislator rejects free speech for doctor he wants fired

Let me see if I’ve got this right. Rep. Carter Nordman (R), chair of a powerful house committee with funding power over state universities has written, on official Iowa Legislature letter head no less, to the president of the University of Iowa demanding that a pediatric cardiology fellow be fired for some immoderate remarks made on X, which is, so far as I know, not officially connected to the University of Iowa.

This from a politician whose party has roundly condemned the “weaponization of government” for the last umpteen months? This from a politician whose party has been venting loudly about suppression of free speech in our universities? My irony meter is pegging in the red zone. And in case anyone is unclear about the political intent of Rep. Nordman’s action, I quote his own words: “Maintaining his [Dr. Sharma’s] employment sends the wrong message to Iowans, who have resoundingly voted for President Donald Trump three times.” Plainly, free speech is for MAGA voters alone, in Nordman’s opinion. But there are still plenty of us who think otherwise and we too claim our right to free speech.

Bryan Davis

Cedar Rapids