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"Does America understand the concept of free speech?"

I think "America" understands free speech just fine. That's what irritates the living daylights out of our elite citizens. They are quite put out when the lower classes act like they have rights too. For people like Dixie Chicks, Pearl Jam, Bill O'Riely, and all politicians, We The People have the right to buy their music, watch their tv shows and movies, and vote for them. Criticizing their "betters" has never been a right afforded to the lower classes.

An excellent example is our bright shiny new "Campaign Finance Reform Act" The entire concept behind this new law is that we poor peons shouldn't worry our poor pointy little heads about how our elected representitives perform. Ads pointing out their failures and foiables only "muddy up" our lower class thinking. It would be so much better if those far more capable and qualified told us what to think, and who to vote for. In what "free country" could such an abomination be signed into law. And by a president we are supposed to "thank God" for every day.

For people like Dixie Chicks, Pearl Jam, Bill O'Riely, and all politicians, We The People have the right to buy their music, watch their tv shows and movies, and vote for them.

Good point. Would the author believe that we "don't understand the concept of free speech" when we vote against a political candidate because of what he or she said? That's the exact definition of voting!

I'm really at a loss as to what the author wants. If I go to a restaurant and am offended by something the waiter says, do I still have to patronize that restaurant because not doing so would be stomping on the waiter's freedom of speech? Am I a "bad American" if I stop giving my money to that restaurant because I didn't like what one of the employees said? Perhaps the author would like a law that forces me to return to the restaurant after the waiter offended me? Is this the author's "concept of free speech"?