How distressing is it that today it is perfectly acceptable for anyone, including the President of the United States, to advocate the censorship of political speech during a campaign? The references to technical-sounding "527 committees" just obscure the fact that private individuals donate their own money to place anti-Bush or anti-Kerry commercials on television. Calling on the government to stop this--by violence if necessary, I presume--is about as un-American as it gets.

Jason Pappas - 8/27/2004

Bravo, Mr. Richman, say it loud! Free speech is not allowed during election time! Simply amazing!

It used to be that our civil libertarian friends on the Left championed free speech first and foremost as a requirement for democracy (not as an individual right). On second thought they (and others) have decided that speech has to be regulated for a well-functioning democracy. Now we see where this utilitarian collectivist criteria has lead us.

Is the liberal tradition, after centuries of dedication to the ideals of free speech and a free press, coming to an end? Not without a fight!