Republicans and free speech

[Tmy]

I had this argument wh some righty over free speech and Kramers rant.
I always find it funny when republicans bring up free speech. Then a theory hit me.

The only time righties bring up free speech is when they are defending some bigot. Am I wrong?

 

[NotJesus]

The only time lefties bring up free speech is when they are defending some bigot. Am I wrong?

Yes.

 

[Katana]

Yes. One example (unless you consider Patrick Leahy to be a member of the "right"):

Sen. Patrick Leahy, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, argued that burning the American flag was precisely the kind of speech the First Amendment is meant to protect.

"The First Amendment never needs defending when it comes to popular speech," the six-term Vermont senator said. "It's when it comes to unpopular speech that it needs defending."

Link if you're interested.

 

[Tmy]

Yes. One example (unless you consider Patrick Leahy to be a member of the "right"):


Link if you're interested.

ooops. Did I say leftie. Cause I meant the right. The aclu hating right. They aint never for free speech.

 

[Katana]

ooops. Did I say leftie. Cause I meant the right. The aclu hating right. They aint never for free speech.

But you stated that the only time a leftie brings up free speech is in defense of a bigot. It was with that statement that I took issue since the "Am I wrong?" immediately followed it.

Would you mind clarifying your OP a bit?

 

[Tmy]

But you stated that the only time a leftie brings up free speech is in defense of a bigot. It was with that statement that I took issue since the "Am I wrong?" immediately followed it.

Would you mind clarifying your OP a bit?

I meant republicans, the right, the g.o.p. They are not known for their stance on personal rights (other than gun rights). They usually aint up on free speech. Ill edit my firstpost.

 

[Ladewig]

Every rightie I have encountered has been in favor of the right of school kids to form Bible clubs or prayer circles. There are ignorant school administrators who believe that there should be no prayer on campus. The righties (correctly) disagree with that position.

Many righties also consider judges posting the 10 Commandments in their courtrooms to be a freedom of speech issue.

ETA: of course, we must not forget that Bush's administration has brought "free speech zones" to a whole new level. The idea that one can say whatever one wants as long as on is 100 yards away from anyone who might listen does seem kind of anti-free speech.

 

[KingMerv00]

I'm not a rightie but I ENCOURAGE bigots to speak their minds.

Makes it easy to identify and avoid them.

 

[Esperdome]

I'm not a rightie but I ENCOURAGE bigots to speak their minds.

Makes it easy to identify and avoid them.

How do you coax them out of their shell, they're always so shy and introspective.

 

[Luke T.]

I'm a rightie and I oppose a flag burning amendment.

 

[thaiboxerken]

I had this argument wh some righty over free speech and Kramers rant.
I always find it funny when republicans bring up free speech. Then a theory hit me.

The only time righties bring up free speech is when they are defending some bigot. Am I wrong?

Yep. They also want the freedom to preach the christians faith to children in public schools.

 

[Darth Rotor]

I'm a rightie and I oppose a flag burning amendment.

Ditto. You buy your own flag and burn it for a political reason, go for it man.

You try to burn mine, I kill you.

It's very simple.

DR

 

[thaiboxerken]

You'd kill to protect fabric?

 

[Beerina]

Ditto. You buy your own flag and burn it for a political reason, go for it man.

That's all anybody asks for.

 

[fuelair]

I'm not a rightie but I ENCOURAGE bigots to speak their minds.

Makes it easy to identify and avoid them.

I actually like it when they wear those little nightshirts with crosses over the heart and the hoods with the crosses over the forehead. Perfect for an educational double-tap!!

 

[fuelair]

You'd kill to protect fabric?

No, to protect personal property. If it was over fabric he would have said the same about the other guys' flag.

 

[Darth Rotor]

You'd kill to protect fabric?

You are welcomed to try and play capture the flag.

Can you outrun a bullet, smartass?

DR

 

[thaiboxerken]

You are welcomed to try and play capture the flag.

Can you outrun a bullet, smartass?

DR

Do you really think this makes you seem manly?

 

[Admiral]

I'm a rightie and I oppose a flag burning amendment.

You might be a libertarian. (Sorry, I'm always on the lookout.)

Also, about the first amendment- it's just about the government. All the rights on the Bill of Rights are about the government. The government isn't allowed to prevent Michael Richards from saying whatever he wants. That doesn't mean that what he said is forgivable, or that the comedy club shouldn't have thrown him off the stage, or that we can't criticize his comments (in fact, free speech is all about the right to criticize the comments of others.)

What argument was the conservative making in the OP?

I actually like it when they wear those little nightshirts with crosses over the heart and the hoods with the crosses over the forehead. Perfect for an educational double-tap!!

I'm not big on joking about killing people, myself. Enough people in history have killed for their ideals, and the fact that you're a skeptic doesn't excuse you from being decent.

If you saw a similar comment in a religious forum about killing skeptics, you'd see it as a threat.

 

[fuelair]

You might be a libertarian. (Sorry, I'm always on the lookout.)




I'm not big on joking about killing people, myself. Enough people in history have killed for their ideals, and the fact that you're a skeptic doesn't excuse you from being decent.

If you saw a similar comment in a religious forum about killing skeptics, you'd see it as a threat.

I have seen them re:doctors and others who work where abortions are sometimes done. I have seen pictures of lynchings and I rarely joke about targets.