So Colbert is under scrutiny. Rachel is next, no doubt.

[Leith]

31. You May Find Constitutional Rights Inconvenient

Freedom of speech does not include shouting "Fire!" in a crowded theater, but it does protect a comedian's jokes.

In case you didn't know, the First Amendment says that government cannot control freedom of speech. TV broadcasters, Facebook, and message boards are not controlled or owned by the government - at least not yet. Therefore it is entirely illegal for the government to control what may or may not be said in those media. Social media outlets are privately owned, which means that they have every right to disallow certain types of speech, just as you have the right to restrict what a person in your living room can say to your child.

You say that somebody attacked the president? Did those puffs of air leave bruises or draw actual blood? Did the words incite anyone to attempt physical harm on tRump? Oops! Am I allowed to use the term "tRump" or is that attacking the president?

The First Amendment certainly IS appropriate in the digital age. I have more concerns about the Second Amendment, written in the age of muskets, applying to our time when people of questionable sanity are allowed to own semiautomatics and hand grenades, but I've never made a move in any way to remove anyone's weapons from their possession.


Edited to add: well, that was some wasted typing. Maybe. Nice to know that I wasn't the only one to go "hhmmm."