IRONY ALERT- McCain attacks free political speech

[CitizenPatriot]

From 2006! I found this article on how McCain wanted to squash free speech. What an irony, considering he is violating the principles of free speech right now, as he is inciting violence.

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McCain attacks free political speech -- bloggers in danger
By Warner Todd Huston

"Free speech" is not what most people think it is. Though most people have some vague notion that it means just that; a protection of ALL speech, it really isn't protection for just any speech and it never was. No, in truth, "free speech" is a protection for political discussion free of government oppression and obstruction. It means that the government cannot descend upon and stop a rival Party or people with ideas antithetical to the ruling faction from advocating for their points of view.

There have been all sorts of perfectly legitimate and legal limits put on "Freedom of speech" in the USA. For instance, "Freedom of speech" does not cover pornography and the inability to yell fire in a crowded theater is well known. Over the decades various local statutes that conform to local social custom has prevented all kinds of displays of public speech and the Founding Fathers sponsored many of those statures themselves.

So, it is perfectly in keeping with the Constitution, custom, social and historical standards to place some limits on speech. But not political speech. Political speech is the one area that the Founders intended to leave un-assailed (save that political speech that incites violence, of course).

Political speech has always been protected ... until John McCain came to destroy an American right, that is.


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FULL article here:

http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/huston/060304

bold my emphasis