[piytar]

"Ok, I'm not going to disagree, but just asking businesses not to sell a book is perfectly within the rights of Free Speech from anyone. It may be asinine in this case, but founded on pure constitutional precepts."

I agree with you completely about that. It was my understanding that these were legislators calling for an actual ban. However, if they are just using the word "ban" when calling for a boycott, then they are perfectly within their rights, just incredibly stupid.

[ahayes]

they are perfectly within their rights, just incredibly stupid.

Agree, unless Ann Coulter is giving them a cut for the extra publicity!

[sirchtruth]

However, if they are just using the word "ban" when calling for a boycott, then they are perfectly within their rights, just incredibly stupid.

That's what I think. Although, I consider what they are doing is asking bookstores not to carrying or offer the book for sale.

[Sofa King]

The problem is that we're not talking about just a couple of citizens here- we're talking about government officials. Technically, they have the right, but it's the type of thing a government official should refrain from doing anyway. There's a much thinner line between public statements and government policy in this case- anyone who genuinely believes in free speech should be careful of starting a very bad precedent.