As I watched the Democratic presidential debate Tuesday evening, I was slowly unsettled by a country that wasn’t mentioned. All the main political food groups appeared as 12 different voices vied for their right to take on the soon-to-be-impeached-or-not Donald Trump.

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Fifteen minutes on impeachment to start then a mad mix of Syria, Turkey, free healthcare, free college, Russa, lack of civility, Ukraine, and the correct age for a President. All of these topics were aired, discussed and over-debated in a true political extravaganza aired across the nation and the world.

Anyone see what was missing? Did CNN and their merry band of debtors really spend three hours without nary a mention of China, Hong Kong, or the firestorm that is the NBA and their clear lack of understanding around the often preached American value of free speech?

I did, and I hope you did to.

China is advancing their geopolitical might in every sector of the globe. They are building islands in the South China Sea as they advance towards their inevitable goal of conquering Taiwan.

China is enacting economic imperialism across Africa, and they are tightening their grip on Tibet. China has interned millions of Uyghurs and Muslims in their far northwestern region. There are internment camps for some of these populations in the same Chinese cities as training camps for the NBA.

We aren’t just engaged in a trade war America. China is the darkest shadow looming over the free world and they are preparing a values war unlike anything we have ever seen. The writing on the wall is clear. We’ve sold out, and they are using our own capitalistic system against us — our love of money is outweighing our love of country.

Just ask LeBron James and the National Basketball Association. The NBA is clearly feeling the impact in their pockets as China pulls away endorsements, streaming rights, and 600 million eyeballs.

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Do not forget that it was Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey walking back his support for Hong Kong after China responded so aggressively, or that the NBA had to hold a second press conference to remind fans they actually do support free speech for their employees.

Let it settle in that the most famous basketball player on the planet in LeBron James drove China’s point home with his awkward comments about Morey on Monday.

“I believe he wasn’t educated on the situation at hand, and he spoke, and so many people could have been harmed, not only financially, but physically. Emotionally. Spiritually,” said James.
“So just be careful what we Tweet, and what we say, and what we do. Even though yes, we do have freedom of speech, but there can be a lot of negative that comes with that too.”

Morey’s Tweet that caused outrage read, “Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong,” a reference to the pro-democracy protests that have raged for months, and a stance not many Americans would find offensive.

This is it America. We do have freedom of speech; but did you know according to China and LeBron James there can be a lot of negative that comes with that too?