On Free Speech

In defense of Don Imus commentators are now rolling out the old "I'm all for free speech" mantra saying that Imus's words are abhorrent but he ought to be able to say what he wants. In the words of the great Armstrong Williams (on Hardball last evening with David Gregory): let the marketplace of ideas deal with Imus. If they don't like what he has to say then apparently people can just turn him off.

There are several problems with the first amendment response, only one of which will address, and that is the response here is not to take away Imus's speech, but to take away his million watt megaphone. He can say whatever he pleases; the question is whether he should be allowed to speak it with company sanction over the airwaves or whether he should be relegated to the streets of New York to mumble his tripe behind a grocery cart rather than the microphone.

Oh, and by the by, it is the marketplace of ideas that is working in this case, just in case Williams doesn't understand. When the boss says you've gone too far and sponsors say their customers are upset we support this guy, the way we deal with it is by pulling sponsorship, and hopefully, Imus off the air.