And, what? The other passengers on-board wouldn't exercise their "right of free expression" and visit upon this idiot every invective allowed in a polite society?
Captive in a confined space with 200-400 other people? I would have provided him with a few choice insults me-own-self.
"he reportedly approached the gate manager to congratulate him on the company's new-found open-mindedness"
the idiot was looking for trouble...typical example of a smug lefty