Posted by D. Cupples | A couple weeks ago, 41 Senate Democrats wrote a letter to Clear Channel, asking the company to apologize after Rush Limbaugh said that soldiers who oppose the Iraq war are "phony soldiers."
People who value free-speech rights disagreed with the senators' move -- even those who regard Rush as more addicted to falsehoods than he once was to illegally obtained narcotics.
Republicans and self-styled conservatives were among the most outraged by the senators' letter.
Just hours ago, 168 House Republicans (and 5 Democrats) supported a measure offered by Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) meant to officially censure Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) for exercising his free speech rights. (Associated Press). The only reason the measure failed is that most House Dems opposed it.
The seeds of irony germinated just days before Limbaugh insulted our troops, when Senate Republicans and some Dems passed a resolution 1) that subtly censured MoveOn.org for criticizing General David Petraeus in a newspaper ad, and 2) that condemned negative comments against all military personnel.
Below is what Stark said:...
“I’m just amazed that the Republicans are worried that we can’t pay for insuring an additional 10 million children. They sure don’t care about finding $200 billion to fight the illegal War in Iraq....
"You don't have money to fund the war or children but you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president's amusement....
“President Bush’s statements about children’s health shouldn’t be taken any more seriously than his lies about the War in Iraq. The truth is that that Bush just likes to blow things up – in Iraq, in the United States, and in Congress...."
Incidentally, Stark said this (and more) on the House floor. Sure, it wasn't pretty, but Stark had a right to state his opinion -- the same constitutionally protected, First Amendment right that Limbaugh exercised when insulting our soldiers.
The minute our nation starts deciding who gets to speak based on whether certain people like what they say, our First Amendment right to free speech will cease to exist.
Related BN-Politics' Posts:
* Limbaugh's Speech Rights More Worthy of Protection?
* MoveOn Pulls A Rush Limbaugh, and War Supporters are Outraged?
For interesting reactions, see Memeorandum's blogger-discussion roundup: DownWithTyranny!, Captain's Quarters, Sister Toldjah, MSNBC, Riehl World View, Macsmind, Sweetness & Light, Cliff Schecter, Wake up America, The Van Der Galiën Gazette, Neocon News, The Nation and VodkaPundit
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