Democrats Wimp Out on First Amendment. Surprise!by John Nichols, AlterNet.org
Judging from the lackluster showing against the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act, it seems that most Democrats – who are supposed to take civil liberties more seriously than the Republicans – believe that censorship is what America is all about.
What is the issue on which congressional Democrats are least likely to take a bold – and appropriate – stand?
...Freedom of speech? Yes. When the House voted in mid-February on the so-called Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act, only 36 Democrats took the side of the First Amendment. They were joined by one independent, Vermont Socialist Bernie Sanders, and one Republican, Texas renegade Ron Paul.
The vast majority of House Democratic Caucus members – they're the ones who are supposed to "get" the First Amendment at least a little bit better than their Republican colleagues – sided with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, and his merry band of crusaders for censorship.
Don't let the bipartisan support for this measure cause you to think that this was an inconsequential measure. The draconian assault on the rights of artists and communicators to express controversial views was broadly opposed by unions representing the creative community. Under the provisions of the measure, an individual talk-show host, filmmaker, musician or on-air commentator could be fined as much as $500,000 for producing an image or expressing a point of view that is considered "indecent" by censors at the conservative-controlled Federal Communications Commission.
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