Yup. That means he should not fear arrest, prosecution, or imprisonment, or lawsuit for saying it. "Freedom of speech" means that the State lacks the authority to shut you down because of what you're saying. As has been said before on this forum, freedom of speech is great. It lets us know who the idiots are.
Freedom of speech has no bearing on the reaction of your fellow citizens to your speech. Indeed, they enjoy the same freedom you do. And if they choose to flame you mercilessly because of your speech ... you just gotta live with it.
Scumbag Murtha has had his say, those of us who think Congressthing Murtha is a piece of crap ... and a coward .. are free to say so as well.
I defend your right to say hateful things about Congressman Murtha. I think he is a patriot.
On "Hardball," Tony Blankley just told Chris Matthews that Congressman Murtha, "is an honorable man."
Good enough for me.