What makes you think that Free Republic champions free speech? Where in its charter does it say that? Remember, you're on private property here, using other peoples' resources. I'd say that gives those people the right to make the rules.
Sorry if that offends your egalitarian sensibilities.
Nah, not really.
What makes you think that Free Republic champions free speech? If the management didn't support an open exchange of ideas and demanded orthodoxy in the views of all posters, very few of us would be here. If FR isn't about ideas and debate, I don't know what is.