Posted on 03/03/2011 10:01:14 AM PST by Free ThinkerNY
Sarah Palin slammed the Supreme Court's ruling that members of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church can protest homosexuality by continuing to picket military funerals.
"Common sense & decency absent as wacko 'church' allowed hate msgs spewed@ soldiers' funerals but we can't invoke God's name in public square," the former Alaska governor tweeted .
On Wednesday, the court voted 8 to 1 in favor of the Topeka, Kan., church, which has demonstrated at thousands of funerals and events across the country. It has been labeled a lunatic fringe for its tactics -- including protests at the funerals of U.S. soldiers and declarations that war deaths are God's punishment for the country's tolerance of gays.
Justice Samuel Alito was the lone dissenter in the case that pits free speech against privacy rights. He argued the First Amendment does not protect Americans who launch "vicious verbal attacks that make no contribution to public debate" during "a time of intense emotional sensitivity."
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
I disagree with him, but he's the one wearing the robe.
The Westboro church is a pack of bigots, idiots, and fools. But even fools have the right to speak in our society. The SC got this one right.
Unfortunate that our society has decayed to the point where we even need to discuss things like this, from either standpoint.
I know this is an outrage to some.
But, it opens the door to killing off the concept of politically correct speech.
This is the first step in ending the hideous speech codes enforced by the left.
I know this is an outrage to some.
But, it opens the door to killing off the concept of politically correct speech.
This is the first step in ending the hideous speech codes enforced by the left.
I was a firm backer of sarah, but this leaves me with little room to maneuver....this is a first amendment issue, the supremes got it right, however distasteful this so called “church” is.....if I disagree with her over something as fundamental as the first amendment, I can no longer back her
Palin just shot herself in the foot. Just because the speech is offensive doesn’t mean its not protected, especially political speech.
Free speech does have its consequences. If the WBC incites a riot or incurs an attack on themselves it’s their fault.
What this church does is not decent. But the issue is NOT about decency, but freedom of speech. Palin just lost a lot of points with me on this.
If we really want to bring down Westboro, we NEED TO FIND OUT WHO PAYS THEIR BILLS.
I am highly suspicious of their "sincerity"--and suspect that they are getting their money from places like Center for American Progress, Soros, etc. through some NGO.
Does anyone understand just how expensive it is to travel all over the country and protest? Going to just a couple of tea parties cost me trouble and money. This ersatz "church" is made up of a family of lawyers.
Follow the money. This is a provocation designed to push us into limiting our own free speech, for the long-term benefit of the LEFT.
I came on this thread ready to say the same, but if all she said was really: “Common sense & decency absent as wacko ‘church’ allowed hate msgs spewed@ soldiers’ funerals but we can’t invoke God’s name in public square”, then that’s hardly the same as what the headline implies.
Yup, that’s what she said. She NEVER mentioned the SCOTUS.
The SCOTUS decision tells me that I get to say anything, anywhere, any time.
Think about this for a minute, before you decide that her opinion on this corner case is fatal.
WBC has deliberately set themselves up so that they are engaging in essentially commercial speech (fishing for lawsuits) under the guise of political/religious speech. WBC has deliberately chosen to set up this issue.
I’m certain that WBC would consider your reaction a win for their side.
Consider the entirety of her body of opinion, rather than just her pronouncement on this case.
I agree. The “Tweet” isn’t 100% clear. I read it as: It doesn’t make sense when we stand up to protect hate speech, but don’t allow God to be mentioned...”
I’m not sure she was attacking the SCOTUS’s decision though...
Just went to the website to read the entire article...you are indeed correct!!!! Thank you, as I now can and will continue to back Sarah.....the levels that which the msm will stoop to ( damnit, I should have known better! )I guess that one has to remain vigilant in order to not be fooled..
Palin just shot herself in the foot.
Again.
She’s done this several times...shame, really.
Note to Sarah: we do NOT limit speech we do not like or do not agree with. Thats what lefties do.
She just needs to keep her mouth shut some times, like the “Blood Libel” mess she created for herself.
Sorry for my pissed-off post. You did your due diligence. I’ll ask the mod to delete mine.
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