First They Came for the Cranky White House Columnist: Helen Thomas Learns That Free Speech is a Myth

[kpete]

First They Came for the Cranky White House Columnist: Helen Thomas Learns That Free Speech is a Myth

by Ted Rall | June 10, 2010 - 11:23am

... I've worked in the media most of my life. So I know that the media is controlled by morons.

.....................

Ari Fleischer, who ought to be in prison for defending torture and concentration camps as press secretary for George W. Bush, called Thomas a fan of "religious cleansing." Equating opposition to Israel with anti-Semitism, ex-Clinton spokesman Lanny Davis called Thomas "an anti-Semitic bigot."

"If she had asked all blacks to go back to Africa, what would White House Correspondents Association position be as to whether she deserved White House press room credentials --much less a privileged honorary seat?" Davis asked.

.....................

So is Helen Thomas an anti-Semite? I don't know. I do know that her comments were not inherently anti-Semitic.

The bigger question is: What if she were? Should she have been fired?

Of course not. Free speech must be defended no matter what--even that of cranky anti-Semitic columnists (if that's what Thomas is/was). Unless we are truly free to say what we think--without fear of reprisal--free speech is not a right. It is merely a permission.

...............

(whole thing is great mho!):
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/ted-rall/29376/first-they-came-for-the-cranky-white-house-columnist-helen-thomas-learns-that-free-speech-is-a-myth

[NoNothing]

1. This cannot be the case

The only that you can have free speech "without reprisal" - assuming we are specifically talking about non-government agents - is to reduce the free speech of that other person.

If you have free speech, you can say whatever you want about the Jews. If I have free speech, I can denounce you and disassociate myself from you.

[havocmom]

9. EXACTLY. free speech clause addresses government not being able to limit speech

It does not grant license to greatly offend without facing consequences of opposing views from other private parties.

[ParkieDem]

24. ABSOLUTELY.

When we progressive make the "free speech" argument in situations like this, it greatly undermines our position.

I recall back when the Dixie Chicks had their controversy, I and many of my friends were upset at all the criticism. But it irritated me to no end when they started citing "free speech" as their justification. No. This is an argument, which is a two-way street. "Freedom of speech" doesn't mean "freedom from criticism." It means that you can say what you want without the threat of being thrown in jail.

I don't necessarily agree with Helen Thomas's statements -- I know where she was coming from, but think she went over the line. Did she have the right to say it? Absolutely. Does she have the right to immunity from the consequences of her speech? No.

The same thing goes for the rights of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, etc. I damn sure better not be challenged as "violating their free speech" when I criticize them, call for a boycott of their advertisers, or avoid the media programs of their syndicators.

People as smart as Ted Rall should know better.

[sabbat hunter]

2. she is free to say whatever she wants

it does not mean she has to be granted a forum to do so.

[Wilms]

27. So why did a Rabbi post it?

:shrug:

[whattheidonot]

3. criticize

the time to fairly criticize Israel is long past. yes hamas is a serious menace but Israel has played into their hand. Israel has made conditions in Gaza terrible which only helps Hamas. Israel wants it all. whats' new?

[aquart]

6. Ah. Hamas is Israel's fault. No responsibility for their own actions.

What a filthy whitewash. But quick.

[gratuitous]

10. I didn't read that in the comment at all

There's a big distance between Israel using heavy-handed tactics that helps Hamas' cause and saying that Hamas is Israel's fault. I'm not sure how you bridged that distance in your mind, but it should take more than four words.

[liberation]

13. So one day Palestinians woke up and decided to support an unhinged group like Hamas out of the blue?

[qazplm]

4. ug

free speech applies to GOVERNMENT ACTION.

It does not mean there are no social or even professional reprecussions to speech.

It simply means the government cannot criminally or civilly punish you for most forms of speech.

This is absolutely not a free speech issue. She said what she said without any restriction.

[kiranon]

19. Agree. n/t

[fishwax]

5. lol -- Fleischer s/b in prison for what he said, but free speech must be defended no matter what

[notesdev]

7. She was certainly free to speak

and everyone else was free to call out a despicable statement for what it is.

The system worked.

[liberation]

15. What "system" are you referring to?

Thank goodness we have a "system" to take care of ill tempered 90 yr old ladies. I feel so much safer now!

[notesdev]

18. The system of free speech

Where a person is free to speak, and others are free to have an opinion of the content of that speech.

Nobody got arrested, nobody got thrown in jail, nobody got told they could not speak.

She can still speak all she likes about whatever it pleases her to say.

If you think there's a protected right to a high-profile media microphone and a front seat in the WH presser... then our views of what free speech is diverge there, since that is something that cannot be enjoyed by everyone. I don't consider my free speech rights to be restricted by the lack of national TV coverage of my opinions.

[MyNameGoesHere]

8. Free speech is not applicable to persons on the left

Day after day after day the limpballs and the gwen peckerheads say far worse than any lefty does. ARE THEY EVER HELD TO PROFESSIONAL SCRUTINY? Hell no! No it is even worse, when something happens like this it's usually the left poutraging the most. Those politicos that speak on the left side are not perfect, and more than likely they will say something really really fucked up. And we will gladly take them to task under the direction of our right wing overlords screeching poutrage. Some times I feel like we are the worse tools of the right than those ignorant racist teabaggers. Damn I despise everything right wing. That party should have been crushed into oblivion shortly after the election instead of playing kissy kissy make nice with them.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. Total tripe...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. LOL

Ted Rall.

[kelly1mm]

14. Can anyone please tell me how Mrs. Thomas's 1st Amendment rights

were violated? Specifically, what government action was taken against her.

[jp11]

21. I'm pretty sure there wasn't any.

However a large portion of people in 'power' or subject to public scrutiny have pointed their finger at her and claimed to know her mind and intentions.

We are all free to say what we want and for the most part, there are almost always exceptions, no government action will be taken. That doesn't mean that an unpopular opinion won't land you in trouble even more so when people add words, sentiments, thoughts etc to what was said as if what they add was fact.

[kelly1mm]

22. But then the OP's claim of "free speech is a myth" is hyperbole. nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

26. It's false

Either it's a lie, or Rall is too stupid to know any better.

[Codeine]

16. Ridiculous.

She said what she wanted with zero government reprisal.

If one of my employees publicly spouted racist comments they'd find themselves out of a job as well.

[Hosnon]

17. Private organizations aren't and shouldn't be required to put up with speech they don't agree with.

Repeating over and over that this is a "free speech" issue doesn't make it so.

The main purpose of freedom of speech with regard to the government is to create a marketplace of ideas. And in any market, bad products get weeded out.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

20. Free speech is not guaranteed to be speech without consequences.

Congress has made no law abridging Helen Thomas's right to espouse a personal opinion about Israel.

She's not in jail, as far as I know.

[dorkulon]

23. So Ted Rall's understanding of the 1st amendment rivals that of Carrie Prejean. Great.

Is she in jail? Has she been fined? No? Then seriously, STFU Ted.

This column could have been about the fact that anyone who says boo about Israel is drummed out of the press corps, and I might have been interested in that column. Instead, Ted Rall displays his own stupidity. Indeed, if she had said all blacks should go back to Africa, I kinda doubt Ted would have been so vociferous in defense of here freedom to keep her job no matter what she says.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

25. "Without fear of reprisal" is not a constitutional right.

Just because you have a right to choose to do something doesn't mean you don't have to suffer the consequences of your choice.

[Catherina]

28. This thread is hilarious. Megaphone was going full swing this morning n/t

[cali]

29. no, what's hilarious is your giant leap

here. pointing out the reality of what free speech entails and does not entail is not automatically defending Israel.

duh.