Reply #1: Martyred Conservatives, Heterogeneous Audiences [View All]

[LoneStarLiberal]

They love to caterwaul about how only liberals have freedom of speech but they ignore the glaringly obvious ironclad rule: What is good for the Dixie Chicks is good for Rush Limbaugh.

In no way, shape, or form does the First Amendment protect you from the non-criminal ramifications of exercising your freedom of speech. Rush Limbaugh should have known that the same crap he regurgitates to his homogeneous audience enraptured with hatred would not go over with the heterogeneous NFL audience. He exercised his freedom of speech and he was economically punished for it as is prone to happen when you voice an inflammatory opinion to a heterogeneous audience.

The Dixie Chicks paid for exercising their freedom of speech with their criticism of George W. Bush. Both Rush Limbaugh and the Dixie Chicks are media personalities which means that both are subject to a different interpretation of the rules than most. Media personalities are just as free to voice their opinion as private citizens; however they do bear certain punishment costs for doing so, an inevitable part of their elevated status. They like to confuse freedom of speech and punishment for exercising it; they are two very distinct issues.

Being punished for voicing an opinion does not in any way, shape, or form constitute having your freedom of speech limited. If you are willing to take responsibility for exercising it, you need to also take responsibility for your audience exercising their liberty to find another media outlet or media alternative.