That’s a delicate question..I wondered here what the difference was between Carrie and the Dixie Chicks...Weren’t the Dixie Chicks entitled to their free speech also? As someone explained, Carrie was ASKED a question and answered it honestly...The dixie chicks volunteered it on foreign soil. It’s close, we have to admit it...
No, it's not close, and it's not the same thing at all, Hildy. You're attempting for foist a false equivalence sophistry here. The issue was never about the Dixie Chicks' right to free speech, although their defenders aggressively and vociferously attempted to position it as such in the public debate.
The Dixie Chicks had every right to say whatever they wanted, but what they claimed and demanded was the "right" to be immune from the consequences, namely an outraged fan base exercising their own right to quit buying their records, attending their concerts, or listening to radio stations who continued playing their music.
All three parties, Carrie Prejean, the Dixie Chicks and their former fan base got to exercise their rights and their freedom of speech and choice, but the only ones bitching and moaning about the consequences were the Dixie Chicks.
Miss Prejean has explicitly stated she realized the question was "loaded" and she was faced with a choice of giving a safe PC answer or answering truthfully in the full awareness that it might harm her chances. She chose to answer truthfully and accept the consequences. In the forum of public debate she has defended herself, as is her right also, with dignity, courtesy and class.
The Dixie Chicks, however, chose to answer truthfully (as they believed) but in that same forum of public debate they whined and raged about the consequences, refused to accept any responsibility for them, and defended themselves with snarky, arrogant and petulant venom and vituperation, repeatedly insulting their (former) fans.
No Hildy, it's not the same thing at all, not even close...