Daily Archives: May 24, 2014

Published: Friday, May 23, 2014 at 17:46 PM.

I too must wag a finger at Mr. Krauss, for stating that Regis Houllions anti-gay language was inflammatory and disrespectful. He was only exercising his First Amendment right to express his bigotry and favorable views of inequality. Was Clippers owner Don Sterling merely exercising his First Amendment right with his views on inequality? Was rancher Clive Bundy merely exercising his First Amendment right with his racists views and bigotry? And cant the Grand Dragon of the KKK spew his hatred of blacks via the First Amendment? The answer to all the above is yes.

So to you Mr. Krauss, I say shame on you. This is America dagnabbit, not Russia or North Korea. We are free to say any hateful, disrespectful, bigoted, racist or inflammatory words we wish.

On a side note ... never yell fire in a crowded theater or yell hi to your friend Jack, on a crowded airplane. Never ever!

Daniel McCauley, Trent Woods

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Letter: Wag a finger

Speaking at a Family Research Council pastors retreat yesterday, Senator Ted Cruz warned the audience that Senate Democrats want to repeal the first amendment with a new amendment placing more limits on campaign finance that Cruz said is meant to muzzle peoples ability to speak out against bad government practices.

He charged that the 41 Democrats co-sponsoring the amendment want to give Congress unlimited authority to regulate political speech, which means they have signed onto repealing the First Amendment.

And what Cruz found most troubling is how the amendment says it protects freedom of the press, but makes no similar statements about freedoms of speech and religious liberty. He warned that if the amendment passes, politicians will have the power to muzzle each and every one of you.

Watch the video below, via CNS News:

[h/t Right Scoop] [image via screengrab]

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Ted Cruz: Senate Dems Are Trying to Repeal the First Amendment

Created: 05/23/2014 11:17 PM WHEC.com

After controversial remarks about the transgender community, talk show hosts Kimberley Ray and Barry Beck were suspended and subsequently fired. Friday, the pair issued an apology -- saying "our attempt was to discuss a controversial healthcare issue; however our lack of sensitivity and understanding of the transgender people and their plight created 12 minutes of radio that we wish we could take back."

Many have argued that their comments are protected by the constitution, even if they do offend some people. So News10NBC took quandary to a civil liberties attorney.

While talk show hosts may have the right under the constitution to express themselves and not fear government intervention. That right doesn't necessarily protect them in the private sector. Entercom Media, the company that employed them, determined their words were "hateful" and crossed the line.

Paul Polyak was born in the Ukraine where people could speak freely, but even as an American, with the protections of the constitution, he says people should be careful.

Polyak tells us, "I think you do have the right to say whatever you want to say, but you are held accountable for your words.so if you're saying something in the public domain, there are repercussions for what you say."

Rochester resident Latrice Halter agrees. Especially in situations where people are speaking publicly.

Halter says, "I believe they should be held accountable for what they say, because what you say can hurt other people even though you have the right or the freedom to say it."

But what does the constitution guarantee all americans? We turned to civil liberties lawyer Scott Forsyth.

He says, "People many times confuse the right to speak out and with the first amendment and the limitations of the first amendment."

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What's really protected under the first amendment?