Free speech vs. hecklers: Where is the line?

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) -

A lot of people are talking about the crowd of protestors who drowned out Paul Ryan during his speech at the Iowa State Fair, but heckling is a time-honored political tradition and free speech is the law. So, where is the line?

Heckling at a campaign rally is really nothing new. In fact, it's something every politician has had to learn to deal with -- but there were times when Mitt Romney's new running mate was smothered by the shouts coming from the audience.

From the vantage point of one camera, a protestor was jumping up and down as others shouted. Eventually, they were escorted out and Ryan responded saying, "You know what? It's funny because Iowans and Wisconsinites, we like to be respectful of one another and peaceful with one another and listen to one another. These ladies must not be from Wisconsin or Iowa."

The climate in downtown Minneapolis was much different on Tuesday, where protestors gathered at a $15,000-a-head fundraiser for Romney. The demonstrators strongly believe that Romney's vision for America will hurt working families, but several of them said their goal is only to be heard, not to disrupt.

"I don't think there needs to be personal confrontation," said protestor Kim Matt.

Brian McClung, the former communications director for former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, said he agrees. After working on his fair share of campaigns, McClung told FOX 9 News there is very much a right and a wrong way to heckle a politician.

"If you want to go to a rally and go and hear somebody's speech and go and pop up with a sign and shout something out, OK. Fine, but then stop," he explained. "Let the person have their say. You'll get your opportunity too. You'll get noticed. The media will come over and talk to you about why you did that -- but it's when they try and drown somebody out that I think it's gone too far."

McClung also warned that there are risks to doing things the wrong way.

"It causes more Americans to tune out when they see that's the way the discourse in politics is going," he said.

More:
Free speech vs. hecklers: Where is the line?