Rush Limbaugh got this wrong

[davidinalameda]

http://dailymail.com/news/Dave+Peyton-20031006/

OK, all you Rush Limbaugh fans. Take a deep breath and know that the rights guaranteed both Limbaugh and you by the Bill of Rights continue to protect.
Limbaugh, who resigned from his job as a pro-football analyst for ESPN (perhaps in anticipation of his being fired), blamed his fate on a blatant disregard of his First Amendment rights of free speech. He made the allegation in a speech before the National Association of Radio Broadcasters last week.

Right-wing talk show hosts everywhere, including one in Huntington, took up the Limbaugh mantra and began howling like cats in heat. There is no freedom of speech for the rightists, they said. All is lost. All is lost.

[LoneStarLiberal]

1. Martyred Conservatives, Heterogeneous Audiences

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.

[Avalon Sparks]

6. Well said...

You said that very nicely, LSL.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Screw him...

and his whining fat ass.

The 1st Amendment only protects us from government intrusion in the marketplace of ideas. It says nothing about being hated or fired for being a loudmouthed bigot.

It also says nothing about denying the freedom of speech to call a lying, bigoted gasbag a lying, bigoted gasbag.

Pigboy's made a couple hundred million bucks and has legions of adoring idiots following him around thanks in part to the First Amendment.

Now he whines about it.

Take another handful of pills, asshole.

[Warpy]

3. Ugh, no thanks.

I have a headache.

[Avalon Sparks]

7. Take another handful of pills, asshole.

That was well put as well. :)

I agree completely!

[Richardo]

4. And yet, they have all the air time they need to bemoan 'no free speech'

Curious, no?

[Trajan]

5. Rush and His Psycho-Rightist-Freak friends ....

Misunderstand the issue ....

They are COMPLETELT FREE to speak in ANY way they please ....

We in fact WANT them to spew EVERY mindlessly racist thought they possess ..... Please: .... Tell EVERYONE just how you feel .....

No: ... there is NO problem with their right to speak, which is fully intact and available for their misuse ....

THEIR problem is: .. They dont like the negative response they get from other free citizens who exercize THEIR right to freely speak against these racist diatribes .....

Please Rush: ..... open you big fat mouth and TELL us how you really feel: .... then stand back and hold on as the american people blow you off the stage as they let you know what they REALLY think about you .....

It is THEY who hate free speech ..... We simply disagree with their statements .... and we say so .....