Former Obama administration official Richard Stengel has not given as much thought to the idea of implementing a “hate speech” law in the United States as the radical notion deserves.

It is clear from reading his Washington Post op-ed this week, titled “Why America needs a hate speech law,” that his guiding light is the prevention of a repeat of the 2016 presidential election. All other considerations, including that the restrictions he endorses would hand more power to the people who inspired his op-ed in the first place, go ignored.