The problem isn't absolute free speech or not. The problem is understanding what free speech means. Free speech should be absolute, yes. The government has no moral authority to tell people what they can't say. But free speech does not mean that people don't have a right to be offended by what you say, or that you aren't responsible for direct consequences of what you say.
Too many people confuse "free speech" with the different notion that you shouldn't be responsible or criticized for your speech.