Jim Bennett: Free speech doesn't guarantee you a TV show

This undated image released by A&E shows Phil Robertson, flanked by his sons Jase Robertson, left, and Willie Robertson from the popular series "Duck Dynasty."

Zach Dilgard, Associated Press

Enlarge photo

On the surface, you would think Duck Dynastys Phil Robertson and comedian Bill Maher have very little in common. Phil is an unapologetic Christian conservative, while Bill is a left-wing atheist. Yet they share a bond of infamy that illustrates the hypocrisy of many so-called free speech advocates.

Both Phil and Bill have gotten into hot water for saying controversial things on national television. Whats ironic to me, however, is that those who were furious at Bill for his remarks are the ones defending Phil for his, and vice versa.

That drives me crazy.

A little background might be helpful. After the 9/11 attacks, Bill Maher took issue with President Bushs characterization of the terrorists as cowards, noting that it takes bravery to give your life in a cause, no matter how evil or misguided. We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly," Maher said on his ABC late-night talk show Politically Incorrect. "Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly."

The outrage was immediate and widespread, especially given that he made these remarks just weeks after the attacks when emotions were still raw. Many called for ABC to fire Maher, and, while the network initially defended its host, the executives finally canceled the show. This resulted in indignant editorials from left-wing pundits who claimed that the sacking of Bill Maher was an affront to his fundamental constitutional rights.

Take columnist Dewayne Wickham, who wrote the following for USA Today: (Terrorists) don't tolerate dissent. They don't believe in free speech. We, on the other hand, do. At least that's what we say. He went on to lament the fact that Maher losing his job shows the kind of intolerance and irrationality terrorists display, and that rather than attempt to shut him up, Bill Maher's critics should hold him up as an example of one of this nation's greatest strengths: our freedom of speech.

Thats nifty. Its also stupid.

Read the original here:
Jim Bennett: Free speech doesn't guarantee you a TV show