While we have, for now, the right of free speech in America, we don't necessarily have the right of anonymous free speech. If you want to be a cowardly jackass and hide behind anonymity don't whine when your identity is discovered.
And while you're at it better make sure your facts are correct if you want to avoid libel lawsuits.
And I thought that spreading lies and false rumors like this is NOT considered free speech. I thought that free speech applied to the political issues, not to this type of thing.
It’s a bite in the butt for this guy, to instigate something and the spreading of a false rumor, and then pay a price for instigating this in the first place.
None of this would have happened if he exercised his true freedom of speech and said he opposed Sarah Palin because of _______________(fill in the blank with policy issue disagreements he has with Palin). It’s all because it became so vicious and personal that got him in trouble.
We have a right to free speech.
We do not have a right to say “anything” we want.
Libel, slander, perjury, death threats, treason, and inciting a riot are all examples of speech that is NOT protected and in fact may be criminal.
We also don't have the right to make up rumors out of whole cloth and spread them around.
Quick soliloquy on free speech. Currently, in the "Upside Down World" of modern discourse, the premise is that the only way to defend free speech is by defending speech that is indefensible. This strikes me as proclaiming that in order to defend our "right to drive a car" we must defend the most irresponsible driving.
The way to defend free speech is to be sure of your facts and write honestly.
The original premise of free speech was that the government could not engage in prior restraint of publication or talk. It was never intended for people to be exempt from the consequences of their speech. The right to free speech does not mean your employer has to keep you employed if you become an embarrassment. It does not mean you have the right to lie without facing the consequences or to threaten people. It doesn't even protect your right to tell the truth if you have signed a non-disclosure agreement or attempt to engage in insider trading on the stock exchanges.
Irresponsible speech weakens our freedoms. While protecting someone's right to free speech is important, it's also important to call out a liar.
And while you're at it better make sure your facts are correct if you want to avoid libel lawsuits.
An important caveat to this..... when the Founders ensured the protection of free speech, they wanted responsible free speech. This is evidenced by the fact duels were legal at the time.