Free Speech is when the government does not permit speech to take place.
If a political party, a non-elected entity, sues a broadcast network over a particular broadcast, is that a violation by government?
This one is close to the line. It's not like the Dixie Chicks claiming that their fans have to swallow whatever they say.
It is a political party, which IS a protected entity in our law.
The other question is what they were sued for????
In actuality xzins, yes it is. The courts are an arm of the government and if a person can use an arm of the government to squelch free speech then the constitution is violated. Free speech is abridged when there is a THREAT of a lawsuit. It is the courts themselves that communicate and administer that threat on behalf of the person making it. The fact that such a threat is possible is evidence that there are laws on the books that may be in violation of the constiution, otherwise there would be no legitimate threat.