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Make it stop. It hurts.

Somehow, in Sarah Palin's brain, it's a threat to the First Amendment when newspapers criticize her negative attacks on Barack Obama. This is actually so dumb that it hurts:

In a conservative radio interview that aired in Washington, D.C. Friday morning, Republican vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin said she fears her First Amendment rights may be threatened by "attacks" from reporters who suggest she is engaging in a negative campaign against Barack Obama. Palin told WMAL-AM that her criticism of Obama's associations, like those with 1960s radical Bill Ayers and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, should not be considered negative attacks. Rather, for reporters or columnists to suggest that it is going negative may constitute an attack that threatens a candidate's free speech rights under the Constitution, Palin said.

She's kidding me, right? Glenn explains what the 1st Amendment is and does for Sarah, since nobody in the McCain camp has.

The First Amendment is actually not that complicated. It can be read from start to finish in about 10 seconds. It bars the Government from abridging free speech rights. It doesn't have anything to do with whether you're free to say things without being criticized, or whether you can comment on blogs without being edited, or whether people can bar you from their private planes because they don't like what you've said. If anything, Palin has this exactly backwards, since one thing that the First Amendment does actually guarantee is a free press.

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129 Comments
General Jack D. Ripper's picture

This woman, simply put, is a piece of work. Didn't she take any civics courses in grade school or high school? I fear greatly if she and McCain were to win next week. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

They don't teach civics in school anymore because it has such a liberal slant.

richard dreyfuss should make her the poster child for civics.

ROLMAO! Our Constitutional rights got in the way of her Constitutional rights. Oh that is good, sounds like the female version of George W Bush.


Goodnight, Frau Blücher

Bangkok Bob's picture

◙ The Stupider She Gets.

numfar's picture

She's smart...like a rat...

While I'm All Obama All The Time, I feel she's sinking McCain on purpose...no one is that fucking stoopid. She's tanking this thing for her 2012 run. I hope she does run in 2012. After she loses then, maybe the Republicans will get serious about helping to fix our country.

joeedugan's picture

They kicked all the moderates out of the party years ago and waiting for the conservatives to get serious is like waiting for them to get rational - or educated - or to start making sense - or to learn to balance a budget - or to stop lying - or to learn the difference between right and wrong - or to stop being such a bunch of pussies - or...

Amitola's picture

..they kicked the conservatives out for the fascists..!


"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy

2012 Repub ticket: Sarah Palin / Bay Buchanan

masha's picture

palin/joe the plumber

ron's picture

If she is elected, we won't have any freedom of speech or a freedom of press, though freedom of press has been lacking badly under the repugs anyway.

Neo cons have been telling you they create their own reality and then impose it on you for the past eight years. In case you haven't noticed, they have gotten away with it for the past eight years.
She is not stupid.
She is a true believer.

Oh, she is stupid alright. Dangerous but stupid.

RancidVenison's picture

She's dumb as a rock. Her top-notch programming hasn't quite downloaded completely.

She's coming along, though.

Amitola's picture

..Stupid, but Dangerous.


"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy

vwkgcv71's picture

At first I thought Palin was ignorant but not stupid. This changed my mind. She's both.

Captain Kangaroo's picture

I don't really need Glen to explain this to me. I hope that Palin keeps talking now so that in the future we will not have to hear her from again.

Embittered Angry Anti-Republicrat Max-Hussein-1's picture
.

.

As Glenn Greenwald notes:

The Constitution also guarantees freedom of association. Thus, by Palin's "reasoning," when newspapers -- or Palin herself -- criticize Obama for his associations, they're threatening his constitutional rights.

I'm sorry Sarah,
You are not allowed to shoot down the Constitution from your hot air balloon.

.


Starve the WAR Beast...
... Feed Americans.

UncleDave's picture

Good one!

Karen's picture

RE: .

Actually, in the conservatives' minds, since the Constitution does not explicitly enumerate the freedom of association, there is no freedom of association.


Everyone is equally entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Wasn't that once self evident?

anney's picture

But, but, they associate all the time.

Amitola's picture

only in airport bathrooms!!!


"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy

anney's picture

LOL! Touché!

Amitola's picture

...sometimes in the cloakrooms of mega-churches!


"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy

MsJoanne's picture

It was Bush the 2nd who said the constitution was "just a goddamned piece of paper."

Rules and Laws are for others...not the elite ruling class.

And Palin is the Vanna White of this millennium.

UncleDave's picture

W. Knows the Bill of rights-that's why He'd Love to rip it up. ......Sarah Palin could read the Bill of Rights ALOUD and have a minute to reflect and still not GET IT. Who the Hell is 'UNAMERICAN'?

Some guy in Germany. He's German.

UncleDave's picture

In germany is Unamerican? Why would I care about a german when I'm discussing The Bill of Rights?

Never mind.
I'm with you Unc. Believe me!

Embittered Angry Anti-Republicrat Max-Hussein-1's picture
.

.

What should concern us all, is that there are people who will listen and believe her.

.


Starve the WAR Beast...
... Feed Americans.

UncleDave's picture

IF you know anything about C&L, We know and we're concerned.

Ali's picture

This is for sure. I don't think she's as stupid as people think. She's an arrogant extremist with an agenda and some people find her charismatic. She is way more dangerous than Bush ever was.

BeamMeUpScottyBoyGM's picture

Just when I thought "teh stoopid" couldn't get any worse!!!!

palin is violating my first amendments rights
by making me listen to so MUCH BULLSHIT LIES.
it's time for ms. shit-post to STFU.

thebewilderness's picture

Another attack on Governor Palin's first amendment right of free speech, right there.

typo sorry.

gonf's picture

I blame Dumbya for bringing the stupid into mainstream America. Just look at all the dummies we've had for pundits the last 8 years. I'm optimistic we're near the end of this stupidity.


Is it the 21st century yet?

Gorlock's picture

You can't blame Dumbya...he is the product, not the producer. The blame is clearly on the neo-cons who've taken control of what used to be - the Republican party.

Dram5780's picture

"In the land of the blind the one eye man is King". Wink Wink. You betcha.
I can see how she could arrive at this ridiculous conclusion in a twisted sort of way, but why didn't someone in the McCain camp stop her or did she go rouge? This really shows that Palin can only thinks in a straight line and with the blinders firmly in place so as not to get distracted by common sense. I mean are they really that desperate. This is even dumber than the "I can see Russia" and the "VP runs the Senate". Actually maybe "simple" is a better discription that dumb. Just like Bushy. Republicans are talking her up for 2012. Bring it on!

Ali's picture

But wait isn't she endangering the 1st amendment rights of the reporters for saying they are endangering her 1st amendment rights?

UncleDave's picture

You win the prize! tellem what he just won johnyyy...

UncleDave's picture

protects the minority From the majority. Palin clearly shows her 'elite' views by assuming the press has no "right' to give an opinion in a free society. Another example of how RePugs can't stand those Librils who crafted The Bill of Rights.

anney's picture

Does she REALLY think about anything?

We'll all probably puzzle over this one and wonder about it and assign a motivation for her saying such a stupid thing, so I'll add my conjecture.

Narcissists are so self-centered and so utterly believe that they are the center of the universe that they don't begin to comprehend the rights or realities of others. They don't know they're one of many, and each of the many is just as vital, alive, and has just as many rights as themselves. Instead, others are flat or unalive to the narcissist, like paper dolls that she can move around for her pleasure and desire. They insist on adoration and being the center of others' worlds, and if they don't get these things all the time (impossible for anybody to do, even if they wanted), they turn very nasty and destructive of others.

I dunno' for sure, but this sounds like Palin's history of backstabbing people who have helped her in her political career. And of COURSE somebody like this would turn the principle of free speech around and insist that it applies only to her for her benefit.

If it walks and quacks like a duck....

UncleDave's picture

grew up purty,so she got teachers calling on her,flirting with the boys but NEVER do THAT! Smile,wink, and prim. Local hometown girl. VP ? Hah! President? Where's my gun?

katenh's picture

I've always said that Palin fits the stamp of the classic narcissist personality disorder. She operates as if her own agenda is the only agenda. She, unlike most people with some sense of their limitations, accepted the offer of VP even though her lack of qualification is glaring. That she is an empty vessel is pretty clear to anyone who takes a minute to research her history in Alaska. She gives no value to, nor understands the necessity for self improvement as an inner journey; she no inner to journey to. Her entire existence is wrought from the imaginations and desires of others.

Like a leech in a warm pond, she latches onto the first warm blooded creature to come around. Not only does she believe she is destined by God to do Great Things, but her entire core of existence relies on her ability to get others to follow her. Why they follow or her how is of little concern to her.

okay, who told her what the first amendment is?!

Ferrofluid's picture

That down right degrading to all Downs Syndrome people.
The Palins are reality Tee Vee writ large, from the burbs to the soapboxes, dumb dumb dumb.
I reckon it wasn't WcCain or the RNC chose Palin as VP pretender, it was the TV companies, they wanted needed a joeanne slobette to be the screechy one on our idiot boxes.
Ah well their experiment failed miserably, what the heck will they put up next as a GOP candidate in 2012.

UncleDave's picture

Only one to make a half a sense.

Ferrofluid's picture

They are going to have to pull a completely new rabbit out of the hat for 2012, something untouched and untainted by the current Bushco stink.

UncleDave's picture

I was just answering the question with the clowns at hand.

After the election, I am sending John McCain a thank you note for driving the last coffin nail into the GOP.

Lynda from Australia's picture

She's going to go through a very rough time in the next few years. She'll be lucky if she doesn't have a nervous breakdown, IMHO. AND, I reckon she could fade into obscurity. I doubt in the extreme that she'll run for anything major again.

Recalled, impeached, indicted these are the things that are in Palin's future.

Being VP would have washed them away, but losing means going back in disgrace to Alaska to the warm clutches of the awaiting and vengeful local Repugs, and others.
She stabbed quite a few of them in the back to get to the exalted position of governor.

anney's picture

You may be right, but after all the legal hubbub dies down, FoxNews will invite her to be a network anchor.

MsJoanne's picture

She is a political demon. They don't call her a barracuda (since high school) for nothing.

This political pitbull bitch ain't going nowheres.

vwkgcv71's picture

She's a pitbull with no teeth.

miss_kitty's picture

Sarah Palin thinks her 1st amendment rights are being attacked if the press calls her comments 'negative'

With that logic, she should realise (or an aide should tell her) that she is attacking the 1st Amendment rights of the Press, by calling to their comments negative.

Halfwit. If that much.

anney's picture

Several thousand people should mail Sarah Palin a copy of the Constitution/Bill of Rights, and even the Declaration of Independence, by snail-mail to her office address in Anchorage, Alaska, or email in care of John McCain's campaign. And say a few words about what freedom of religion and speech entails.

Karen's picture

While I agree that her comments are so stupid it hurts, her sentiments are part and parcel of the way theocrats understand the Constitution: Zero Sum Freedom.

When someone requests that advertisers not support the likes of Rash Limbo or Michael Weiner, they scream that people are trying to take their free speech rights away.

Gay marriage somehow infringes upon their freedom of religion.

And when Sarah Palin is criticized by the press, it means that her free speech is being taken away.

Because they view freedom as a zero sum game. It doesn't belong equally to everyone in their view, because that's impossible. It's impossible for a gay person to be free to be gay and for them to be free to be against it. In their simplistic world view, one simply cancels out the other.

For Palin, it's her free speech VS. the freedom of the press. The two cannot coexist.


Everyone is equally entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Wasn't that once self evident?

Palin follows in his footsteps.

UncleDave's picture

Te very 'elite' that McShame and mooselips complain about is Themselves. The Bill of Rights is for all of US. Poor Sarah doesn't realise that SHE is 'unAmerican'.

thebewilderness's picture

all the ways the Christofacists have reinterpreted the Bible, sooner or later they were bound to start on the Constitution.

Sec_Humanist's picture

Great line, BWD. I'll have to remember this one.


"Secular humanism -- a fearless, realistic world view replete with doubt and scepticism that attempts to attain an unachievable state of equilibrium between and among the human qualities of reason, intuition, imagination, memory, ethics and common sense.

Hulk's picture

Give the ignorant slut a break. She hasn't got a clue. No legal background....no international background....the poor dumb bitch hasn't been out of Idaho or Alaska.

What do you expect? We are talking about a "beauty queen runner-up" here. This is the "lipstick pig". You know, the "hockey mom".

Please don't expect too much from the dumb ass. Still popping out babies in her mid forties...and surprised she has one with mental problems? The MOTHER has mental problems.

We are expecting too much from a dumb ass "hockey mom".

UncleDave's picture

IF MCShame wins the election-and He Has cancer-This.....Lad.....woman could very well be president. I EXPECT a candidate for president-in His state of health to select a worthy person to succeed Him. Is THAT asking too much?

Ferrofluid's picture

The Republicans thought she would be wonder woman, bouncing to victory on a wink and a prayer.

anney's picture
WW

I can definitely see her photoshopped as Wonder Woman, can't you?

Ferrofluid's picture

But could that gun toting bikini clad Sarah pic be topped.
I suspect all the good photoshoppers crack up and laugh so much that they cant concentrate enough to do Palin.

UncleDave's picture

You ever see the original Wonder Woman nude? Sheeet. No Com Par i son.

Ferrofluid's picture

'The Happy Parents'
http://i36.tinypic.com/20uye1g.jpg

'Mrs. Palin goes to Washington'
http://i36.tinypic.com/ou2lg4.jpg

katenh's picture

while I agree with most of your sentiment, please spare at least some of us the "slut" word, as we haven't any information about her sexual activities and frankly, I'm not the least bit interested.

Let's let the old mysoginy die a lonely death ok? There's plenty to throw in without that.

Which, speaking of her down's syndrome son, its common knowledge that a woman over forty has huge odds of having a down's syndrome child (that increase as she ages). For a woman that age to not be vigilant with birth control is just inexcusably irresponsible and selfish.

vwkgcv71's picture

Now she wants to pay more taxes for her mistake.

SFnomad's picture

It's better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you're a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

UncleDave's picture

in T.Jefferson's papers. I love that quote(although he put it in slightly better language

Folks, we're dealing with weapons-grade stupidity here... this is really tragic. You see, not only is she truly ignorant, but she is unable to use simple logic and language skills.

How can such a defective citizen become a Governor of a U.S. State, let alone a candidate for high office in our national government???

UncleDave's picture

the Voter

Ferrofluid's picture

'manufacturing global/local chaos on demand for Republicans'

UncleDave's picture

change your vote?

Money flows out of the ground and into voters pockets like manna from heaven, the lobbyist or politico who has the 'free money' purse strings controls the dumb.

UncleDave's picture

bing! I give you the round.

Sec_Humanist's picture

The bullshit American myth that you're the greatest country on Earth coupled with the Horatio ALger loopiness and topped up with a legacy of corporatist political leaders since Truman's establishment of the National Security Council would be a start.


"Secular humanism -- a fearless, realistic world view replete with doubt and scepticism that attempts to attain an unachievable state of equilibrium between and among the human qualities of reason, intuition, imagination, memory, ethics and common sense.

UncleDave's picture

A lobbiest never changed MY Vote. Cool. Move on.

UncleDave's picture

I said 'changed' . Not 'affected'. heh

Sec_Humanist's picture

I'm not a lobbyist, I'm Canadian. Want some more reality checks?


"Secular humanism -- a fearless, realistic world view replete with doubt and scepticism that attempts to attain an unachievable state of equilibrium between and among the human qualities of reason, intuition, imagination, memory, ethics and common sense.

I would be amenable for a mere mil or two...

UncleDave's picture

playin' guys. jest havin some fun before sleeply time.

Ferrofluid's picture

They seem to be the ones pushing the pro-life anti women issue,
do they hate women that much that they project their hatred onto women's sexuality and fertility !?
Or is it some form of mother love writ large, they cant imagine (or dread) something so nasty and unmentionable as abortion happening to their mother figures...

Palin Is Dragging McCain Down

A new NY Times/CBS poll shows that 59% of the voters feel that Sarah Palin is not qualified to be Vice President, let alone President. These people question McCain's ability to pick qualified people for his administration. The ironic thing is that the choice of Palin was probably forced on him by Steve Schmidt. McCain barely knew her (he met her once for 15 minutes), whereas he has traveled extensively with his long-time good friend Joe Lieberman. The choice of Lieberman would have enhanced McCain's maverick status, shown that he was willing to buck his own party ("Country first") and given the ticket an experienced politician who most people feel could be President (as demonstrated by polling in 2000). Schmidt undoubtedly told McCain that the base wouldn't accept him due to his pro-choice stance on abortion. The old McCain would have said: "Screw the base" to Schmidt, but McCain V2.0 did what he was told. If McCain loses, the conversation between McCain and Schmidt probably won't be real friendly.

http://www.electoral-vote.com/

UncleDave's picture

or at the least tolerate Them . To produce More RePugs. After all,people seem to mate with those most alike to Them.

In a weird Republican Xtian way.

calgarylady's picture

In a word, yes. Their choice of Palin for VP proves it. Gotta keep the womenfolk preggo, barefoot and all that. Too bad if any of them were raped. Suck it up, ladies, and get used to your sorry lot in life.

Ah, just like the good old days when there was segregation too.

McCain, Palin and the rest of the repubs are truly sickening.

Ferrofluid's picture

The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel by author Margaret Atwood,

The novel explores themes of women in subjugation, and the various means by which they gain agency, against the backdrop of a totalitarian pseudo-Christian theocracy which has overthrown the United States government in the near future. Sumptuary laws (dress codes) play a key role in imposing social control within the new society.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Handmaid#Women

katenh's picture

Hell, women are still being told what to wear, where to go, where not to go, whether they are fit or unfit, ready or not ready, based mostly on arbitrary information that usually has nothing to do with the work at hand.

The difference is only in degrees of tolerance. Most women tolerate the treatment because they believe to push for change will only make things worse, not better.

Teh Rethugs have been running the country for thirty years on that idea.

calgarylady's picture

and I wonder what she thinks of Ms Palin.

Artist formerly known as gempei's picture

Sarah Palin: creating the Republic of Gilead one rally at a time.


Divine Right of Kings (1600's); Divine Right of Corporations (2011)

Serendipitydude's picture

recently in a rural town, in a blue-ish state no less, and a carfull of women wearing long skirts, with those pseudo-19th century bun hairdos like the LDS spinnof folks in Texas, got out of a car in the next spot. The head honcho-ette returned my half-bemused/half-surprised look with an ice-cold glare. I watched them for a few minutes, and anti-Xtian prejudice aside, to the extent that's possible, their look, their movements, and their interactions were just very, very creepy. Yuck.

BobbyG's picture

She thinks she's a foreign policy expert because her state is proximate to Russia and Canada. She's thinks the VP is "in charge of" the Senate. She now argues that the 1st Amendment is endangered by media criticism of her. What a piece of work.

Shut the fuck up, bitch.

There's no other way to say it.

Three more days of your critical mass of vapidity.

thebewilderness's picture

You sound just like her. Are you related?

Serendipitydude's picture

or in this case lack thereof, is revealed by such statements.

Serendipitydude's picture
PS

Gotta love the tags on this one: "Election 08, Right Wing Stupidity, Sarah Palin."

Pretty much sums it up.

idealistic in NM's picture

oh, that's a good one. LMAO !

roberb7's picture

I would ask her what sort of respect she has for Mary Ellen Emmons' First Amendment rights. Emmons is the Wasilla librarian that the Talibunny tried to fire.

bartfarb's picture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wcD4olqg3o tina fey teams up with palin.

wisedup's picture

Soon I won't have to ever again listen to that voice...ukkkkk. Oh please run in 2012 against Obamas 2nd term. Palin/Plummer 12,the country need more humor.

UncleDave's picture

Oh that's good.

Ferrofluid's picture

Polly and Pilly 2012

Kathy in St. Louis's picture

anything, I realize just how utterly dumb this broad is. All the politically correct columnists, commentators, and politicians can make the perfunctory comments about her being bright and all, but the lady is just plain unwilling to sit down, read up on the things she doesn't know and THEN comment.

She couldn't be brought up to speed to be ready to take over the presidency if they worked with her for 10 years. And I don't think John's got even four years in him. The math doesn't work and neither does this lady's brain.

UncleDave's picture
Yup

It's simple math.

YonYone's picture

This is what the Republican party thinks is Presidential material for 2012............LOL

Bruce's picture

I think Greenwald's "private planes" is a typo for "private places", e.g. malls. I can't imagine Cindy McCain barring Sarah Palin from her private place for anything she said.

masha's picture

scary

Zachary's picture

This woman is as thick as pig shit and the bloody Reps want her to be VP and possibily President. Where is this country heading? The people in Alaska must be cringing in horror they have elected a half a brain. I have no doubt after the election she will be put out to pasture and told never to darken Washingtons precincts again. Not even the Repubs are that stupid they would allow her to run in 2012, no come Tuesday she will be a mere bad memory, the laughing joke of the talkshows, stupid bitch.

Zach, Logic doesn't work here. I won't be suprised if the fringe right doesn't bring her right back for another round in four years or maybe senator sooner

LibertyLover's picture
Boy

we have GOT to put more money into children's education these days. Beginning with civics lessons.


Only when the last tree has died
and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught
will we realize we cannot eat money.

kometes's picture

He has such an un-mavericky way of interpreting the first amendment.

congressive's picture

This is not dumb of Palin. This is the language of tyrants. This is the language of "sedition" for criticizing political figures. This is the position of totalitarians.

Vote. Goddammit. Vote.

waterboarding for jesus's picture

Stupid is as stupid does.

fhinton's picture

What is really striking is, according to her biography, Palin used to work in the media. I majored in communication in college, the First Amendment was taught in almost every communication class that I took. Or at least various aspect of it. The First Amendment is pretty straight forward. Its not that hard to understand.

me_over_here's picture

I took journalism in high school before I majored in it college and the First Amendment was explained in great detail when I was a 15 year old 10th grader. Not only that, in the state of Illinois, one had to pass the Constitution test before moving on to 9th grade. I am sure that other states have a similar test. If by Satan's hand McCain/Palin win this thing, I am arranging poltitical asylum for my family that are left in America. (They live in Fake America.)

Edwin's picture

As Constitution has 4 syllables, for the rabid base it's all fancy-schmansy talk, but it makes her sound intelligent (*to them). They know there's some piece of paper giving them a right to their guns, and beyond that it's all legal mumbo-jumbo.

So, yes, they believe her. And that is scary.

You can get her history from *Dickipedia*, here:

http://www.dickipedia.org/dick.php?title=Sara...


"If the US government enforced its banking laws like it did its park regulations, we wouldn't be
in this damn park in the first place." OCCUPY.!!

Pilatunes's picture

Zombies stagger down the street, come to Sarah Palin, pause, look perplexed, then continue on their way 'Braaaaaaaaaaaaains, braaaaaaaaaaaaains...'

Mr. Squirrel's picture

Our basic moral right to not be constantly lied to by government officials is violated almost every time Palin opens her mouth. Maybe we need a Constitutional Amendment to cover that?

Terrible's picture

"Sarah Palin's brain" HAHAHAHAHAHAHA That's pretty funny! Was she only using one cell or all 2 of them?

Rights for me, but none for thee.

How dare you exercise your freedom to speech when a politician is talking!!!


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

ysbaddaden's picture

Idiot bimbo.

The first amendment rights are not just for speech but PRESS too.

I wish I could remember the name of the case but in post-revolutionary America, there was a trial of a newspaper man who wrote something offensive to the king, and he was placed on trial. It wasn't uncommon all over Europe for the king's men to break into press shops and destroy the equipment and seize the printer if he offended sovereign or church. This was fresh on our Founding Father's memories.

And until the 40's and 50's it was routine for politicians to try to sue print and broadcast media for slander.

So the protection of speech and press was to protect the PUBLIC from petty tyrants like palin wants to be.

And she has a degree in journalism?


Diabolus est Deus Inversus

Palin's remark reduces to the proposition that "freedom of speech" means the freedom to express only those views that she agrees with. Correlatively, disagreeing with Sarah Palin is unconstitutional.

Here is the basic logic. We begin by accepting as correct Palin’s erroneous tacit assumption that the 1st Amendment guarantees freedom of speech. (In fact, the 1st Amendment merely provides that "Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech.")

The 1st Amendment guarantees freedom of expression;

Palin has a point of view (re. Obama’s alleged “associations”);

Palin expresses her point of view.

The press characterize Palin’s point of view as “negative campaigning”;

The public are persuaded by the press that Palin’s point of view is properly characterized as “negative campaigning”;

In the face of the public’s reaction to Palin’s point of view, Palin feels exposed to criticism, hence reluctant to express her point of view;

Because Palin feels reluctant to express her point of view, (here comes the lie) it must follow that the press are abridging Palin’s right to express her point of view;

Since the 1st Amendment (supposedly) guarantees freedom of speech, to honor that guarantee the press must refrain from expressing a point of view different from Palin’s;

Hence, freedom of speech means the freedom to either (a) express views with which Palin agrees, or (b) express no view at all (i.e., keep you mouth shut).

George Orwell (and George Bush) would be impressed.

It's beyond disappointing that Sarah Palin does not even appear competent in her chosen field. I just am utterly disappointed that with all of the wonderfully smart women in the world of politics, journalism, and education that this woman is being held up as any kind of role model.


SNinTN

teelgee's picture

Ted Stevens gets re-elected, then booted out of the Senate. Palin appoints herself to replace him, thus getting 4 years of Senate experience. Voila. She's ready for 2012 (ha ha ha ha ha ha, as if, ever). Alaskans would fall for it, apparently, if she's really as popular as they say (80% favorable rating!).

I'm sorry, but it's my First Amendment Right to say that Sarah Palin is truly a f*cking idiot.


Democratic Party progressive, Vietnam veteran and proud Union member for 41 years

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