Sep 12, 2012
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Some First Amendment experts believe the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff crossed a line by asking a Florida pastor to withdraw his support for an anti-Islam film that may have played a role in inciting protesters who attacked U.S. diplomatic posts in Libya and Egypt.
Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, spoke with Pastor Terry Jones by telephone Wednesday morning to voice his concerns.
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“Gen. Dempsey expressed his concern over the nature of the film and the tensions it would enflame and the violence it would case,” Pentagon spokesman Col. Dave Lapan told Fox News. “He asked Pastor Jones to withdraw his support for the film.”
Lapan said the phone call was cordial but said Jones would not commit to pulling his support.
Clay Calvert, director of the Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project at the University of Florida, told Fox News the chairman’s behavior was heavy-handed.
“The fact that a very, very powerful government official is reaching down to a pastor in Florida asking him to censor his own speech – in the greater good – supposedly preventing further violence upon American officials abroad” is an issue, he said.
“Any time the government is involved we have a First Amendment question, especially when the government is asking an individual to stifle or to stop his speech,” Calvert said.
Jones has been on the radar of the Pentagon in the past – when he threatened to burn copies of the Koran.
But no matter how offensive his speech may be, Calvert said the pastor’s speech is still protected.
“The First Amendment protects offensive and disagreeable speech, especially about political matters,” he said. “That’s why we have the First Amendment. It does not only protect happy speech or good speech or positive speech. The First Amendment is there for the minority viewpoint.”
Hiram Sasser, with Liberty Institute, also had concerns with how the chairman of the Joint Chiefs conducted himself.
“Here we have the third most powerful person in the Armed Forces calling a citizen and asking them to take an action in regards to squelching their free speech,” he told Fox News. “That’s pretty drastic and extreme. I would interpret that as something more than a ‘polite ask from my neighbor.’”
But Col. Lapan said what the general did was entirely reasonable.
“It was just asking Pastor Jones to reconsider,” he said. “He certainly is free to make his own choices.”
Col. Lapan said the chairman wanted to make the pastor “aware of the chairman’s concern of what his promotion of this film might do to US service members.”
The Pentagon did allow that some people might accuse them of overstepping their bounds.
“I would remind them to think about the lives of US service members that are already at risk out there and not having something else added to their plates because of this film and what it might generate,” he said.
Sasser said he doesn’t believe the speech of a pastor in Florida will put lives in danger.
“No government official should be using their official position with the government to try to influence a citizen’s right to be able to have free speech – especially religious speech which is fully protected by the Constitution,” Sasser said.
With reporting from FoxNews.com
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Sasser is precisely correct…this is yet another outrage and a blatant overreaching attack on our rights as American citizens.
Anthony De Rubeis
It's pieces of GARBAGE like Pastor Terry Jones that flame the fans of HATRED in this country.
No wonder conservatives support him!
Jay Shepherd – Still can't comprehend the First Amendment Jay?
Anthony De Rubeis
I never said he didn't have a right to support it, you fool.
I said he was GARBAGE.
Jay Shepherd – BS, as it typical of you, you have accused him of hatred simply because he speaks out against religious fanaticism or something with which you might agree. It is you who expresses intolerance. And you missed the point; the government or one of its officials does not have the right to silence anyone.
Anthony De Rubeis
I never said they had the right to silence him. You need to work on your reading comprehension.
And he DOES fan HATRED. He BURNS Korans. The Koran is the book for the entire Muslim Faith, NOT JUST extremists.
You are making a fool out of yourself.
Jay Shepherd – The only person making a fool of himself is you because the only issue is the First Amendment and yes, as stupid as this pastor may be, he has the right to burn whatever he pleases…why don't you get it???
Anthony De Rubeis
That's what I said, you FOOL.
Jay Shepherd – Well then thanks for finally admitting his "hatred," the fact that he is "garbage," and your assessment of Conservatives is irrelevant.
Anthony De Rubeis
It's not irrelevant at all. Conservatives thrive on Hatred. Just like the Pastor, just like the Westboro Baptist Church, just like Rush Limbaugh, and many others.
Jay Shepherd – Sure they do Jay…just keep proliferating your own prejudices (which are still irrelevant).
Anthony De Rubeis
Yes, I'm glad you agree that they do.
Jay Shepherd – Don't try to be clever – your not qualified.
Anthony De Rubeis
Not qualified? I'm over-qualified.
Jay Shepherd – …Only in your own mind.
Anthony De Rubeis
I love your picture. Is that you in DRAG?
Jay Shepherd – Look everyone…the little libtool can't make a point or win the argument so he publishes a lame attempt to attack me personally…the same libtool that accuses conservatives of hatred. So Jay, what are you, nine?
Anthony De Rubeis
I beat you in the argument. Now I'm just having a little fun!
Jay Shepherd – You can never win arguments because libtools have no facts; only opinions and, I never argue with little boys. However, if you mature and become a man some day, perhaps I will continue to educate you.
Anthony De Rubeis
LOL! You are too stupid to know when you're beat.
That's ok. It's a common conservative trait. Romney will have to deal with the same thing when he gives his concession speech to Obama in November!
Anthony De Rubeis Another Conservative coward hiding behind the First Amendment–no shame, no accountability, and most of all, NO SPINE, Tony. Listen up, I'm going to educate you. You can't yell "FIRE!" in a crowded theater, you can't joke about having a bomb in an airport, you can't threaten to kill the POTUS–all of these acts will get you investigated and/or indicted in some way because of the potential to cause a riot or endanger public safety, or embolden other potential psychopaths. NOW A GOOD AMERICAN IS DEAD–and because of a religiously-bigoted MORON and his brainless acolyte who have deliberately set out to inflame and enrage a group of people who are in a politically-unstable, religiously-fundamentalist country in a time of great unrest and chaos. "Pastor" Terry is NO DIFFERENT than the Islamists which he hates.
This S.o.B. ought to be arrested and indicted as an accessory-to-murder. And the only reason that you can't or WON'T see that is because you agree with his religious bigotry. Go ahead-try to tell me I'm wrong.
Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz – Of course you are wrong…you are always wrong. You continue to post pure unadulterated opinionated libtool BS. Get this straight (if you can), barbarians killed 4 people because they wanted to do so because THEY HATE – this has nothing to do with a stupid movie or a stupid pastor. Muslim radicals invent reasons to kill…there is never a legitimate reason to attack an embassy. IF you weren't such a liberal jackoff with a made up name, you would be more concerned with the terrible unjustified actions of Muslim barbarians than those of a hick pastor.
Anthony De Rubeis Anthony, how about this? (I can't believe that I actually HAVE to articulate this, as it SO goes without saying, but…) I condemn religious extremism IN ALL CREEDS AND FORMS! I condemn these Muslim murders–but I ALSO condemn the co-conspirators and instigators who have produced such a cynically-motivated hate-film designed ONLY to provoke violence! CAN YOU SAY THE SAME?! Or are you somehow……"invested" in the dissemination of this irresponsible, provocative video as well?
Honesty, FOUR AMERICANS ARE DEAD. Because a person–whom I can only assume that you empathize with?– felt a sick "need" to promote his hatred in the world?
Here's a simple question for you, Anthony—WHY do they "hate"?! And HOW is their hatred ANY DIFFERENT from the hatred that you and the est of your fellow so-called "Christians" spew and regurgitate on this site against (pick one) "Libs", "Litools", "Libtards", Atheists, Secularists, Obama, Left-wingers, and any one else who inflames YOUR "Christian" sensibilities?
Of course, you won't answer that because you can't think that hard!
Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz – Let me start by saying I know with certainty that it is a colossal waste of time responding to you because your are senseless and an immature and uneducated ideologue…PLUS you cannot read; or refuse to read. However, you post is so stupid, I'll try. First, I have condemned religious or any other form of fanaticism…you did not until I called you out on your little diatribe against the pastor. You fail to comprehend that these incidences have nothing to do with a stupid movie. So your conclusions are asinine. AMERICA IS NOT AT FAULT get it? Unlike you, I hate no one. FYI, I am neither a Christian nor Conservative and I've stated clearly my position on this pastor; he is a jerk…if you could read, you'd acknowledge that rather than issue a false attack. I called you a libtool because you are a liberal progressive "useful idiot" who always leads with your errant ideology (whether it is applicable or not) and, you began your post by calling me a coward – which is also quite untrue. You libtools have a huge problem staying on topic which is at least one primary reason you lose. THIS article YOU SHOULD BE POSTING ABOUT, is about the travesty of a top military commander, overreaching down to a moron pastor with an agenda of his own. It is wrong for the government or a government official to tell a citizen to shut up…it is a violation of the First Amendment rights…like it or not. BTW, although they have the same right as this pastor, why not publish your same diatribe when Rev. Wright or Louis Farrakhan foment their vicious hate? Don't bother answering…I know.
Anthony De Rubeis Anthony, let me first apologize for not recognizing your denunciation of this idiot "pastor" and religious extremism. I was in error. Thank "God" for that, at least. I won't go as far as to say that I'll take your word on the denial of either your Christianity or Conservatism, based upon your comments, for the most part. More on that in a minute.
Sorry, but I agree with the commander doing what he can TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF HIS MEN. I honestly can't believe that you would be so "laissez faire" on a commander making a prudent call to an American religious extremist and asking them to stop deliberately provoking an enemy faction where this commander's troops and men might wind up being attacked for it? Really, Anthony? Have you ever studied war? "Winning the hearts and minds" was the mantra for both Vietnam and for this latest fiasco in the Middle East. You can't win a war–much less prevent US deaths–by being an arrogant, provocative A-HOLE.
Given that undeniable fact, I am ALSO well aware of the current "fad" and agenda of the Religious Right to undo hate-crimes legislation by claiming some dubious "right" to fan the flames of hatred against homosexuals by hiding behind the First Amendment in order to undermine the basis for these laws. It's shameful, and cynical, and has been rejected by the courts. I can ONLY surmise that your ostentatiously "Libertarian" view on this matter–no matter how phony is appears–has some underpinnings of that misguided campaign–for no other reason that any child knows that if you tease a hornet, you're going to get stung. When I call you a "coward", it's because people who fail the moral test in calling out religious extremism WHICH KILLS PEOPLE by hiding behind the First Amendment ARE cowardly, in their unwillingness to stand up for what is so plainly "right". Farrakhan and Wright's complaints are a far cry from taking the time and money to produce a film whose ONLY purpose is to deliberately insult and provoke their sworn enemies to violence.
NO, it's NOT "America's fault". On that, we agree. But it IS the fault, in part, of he two idiots who put this piece of trash out there and who now have American blood on their hands.
Anti-Islam film? I keep hearing this but have never seen where they mention the name of the film? But…whether or not there is even a film or if it is anti-Islam should be of no relevance. Where was the president or the military chairmen when the illegal immigrants were tearing down American flags at the schools and replacing them with Mexican flags with the American flag hung upside down underneath? Where are they when schools tell a child they can't wear a shirt with the American Flag on it because it is offensive to other students? Sure gets me fired up to hear this horrible stuff. It's time the rest of America gets fired up too.
What kind of "dodge" is THAT?! A GOOD AMERICAN IS DEAD-and all you can do is beat the anti-immigrant horse and whine about T-shirts? Jezus! talk about clueless…!
There has GOT to be more than meets the eye.
This, and the fact that Obama avoided his daily intelligence briefs for a whole week prior to the attacks in Egypt and Libya, are more evidence that the Obama administration anticipated this 9/11 attack. Jones and the Israeli producers were set up as SCAPEGOATS for the Al Qaeda salafists, and their agenda to impose sharia blasphemy laws against private citizens. Andrew McCarthy has an excellent article in National Review depicting how Egyptian government's statement is a Veiled Threat to that end.
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/316681/apology-egypts-muslim-brotherhood-government-no-veiled-threat-andrew-c-mccarthy
Oh, I see. SO the Right-wing is now trying to equate Obama–who reads his intelligence briefings daily–with he new revelations that Bush REALLY screwed up the advanced knowledge of Al Queda planning attacks in NY, where he DID attend the meetings and WAS told–but STILL ignored them? Yeah, ok…..I see.
Meanwhile, another top Al Queda leader killed yesterday by OBAMA's policies and intelligence in the Middle East. It's DISGRACEFUL that you could even think of defending the American equivalent of "Christian Taliban". Give it up already..
Obama continues to demonize Bush policies while embracing and expanding them. Killing all Al-Quida w/drones eliminates the chance to gather human intel, but Obama has no choice since he "closed" Gitmo. If the Bush-era EIT hadn't been used, Obama would not have had the intel. needed to find Bin Laden. What happened to "dissent is the highest form of patriotism"? Does that just apply when the Pres. is Republican?
Oh no, Ruth-you're not buying into that "Torture worked" crap, are you? Well, sorry to break it to you, but that's a Right-wing invention. And please–don't insult my intelligence trying to diminish Obama's killing of Bin Laden by giving that feckless loser Bush credit. Sheesshh.
Obama is keeping America safe, isn't he? Not like Bush did. And if you're actually going to criticize him for it (I DON'T like the drone attacks, by the way) then you must be positively TERRIFIED at Romney's frightening phony-tough stance and his complaining today about not being able to wage war "on two fronts"?! Seriously–all partisan ribbing aside, doesn't it scare you that this man has such an obvious insecurity/inferiority complex that he's exactly the kind of fool who would start some ill-advised, catastrophic war without having a clue about how to run it just to "prove himself"?!
Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz must be doing his leftie brainwash drugzzzzzzz….
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20120912/OPINION16/309120008/Obama-skips-more-than-half-daily-intelligence-meetings
Heidi Levy Hamil from the article YOU posted:
"I asked National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor about the findings, and whether there were any instances where the president attended the intelligence meeting that were not on his public schedule. Vietor did not dispute the numbers, but said the fact that the president, during a time of war, does not attend his daily intelligence meeting on a daily basis is “not particularly interesting or useful.” He says that the president reads his PDB every day, and he disagreed with the suggestion that there is any difference whatsoever between simply reading the briefing book and having an interactive discussion of its contents with top national security and intelligence officials where the president can probe assumptions and ask questions. “I actually don’t agree at all,” Vietor told me in an e-mail, “The president gets the information he needs from the intelligence community each day.”
Yet Vietor also directed me to a Post story written this year in which Obama officials discuss the importance of the intelligence meeting and extol how brilliantly the president runs it. “Obama reads the PDB ahead of time and comes to the morning meeting with questions. Intelligence briefers are there to answer those questions, expand on a point or raise a new issue,” The Post reported. “One regular participant in the roughly 500 Oval Office sessions during Obama’s presidency said the meetings show a president consistently participating in an exploration of foreign policy and intelligence issues.”"
Prof is in the pudding, Heidi. How many successful take-outs, stoppages, interventions, and killings of terrorists has Obama's administration got on the record? How many strikes have there been in the USA? NONE. This is a completely facetious attempt to stir up something that the desperate Romney campaign can try to use against the President–it won't work. The record speaks for itself. Yaaaaaaawn.
What the Colonel fails to appreciate in saying that his endorsement of the movie may put our military in harm's way is this: That is exactly what our military is FIGHTING for………… OUR FREEDOM! What a putz!
This POS Terry Jones is on a par with the Westboro Baptist human waste.
Jay, here is the difference between the Westboro Baptist Loons and Terry Jones. Islam, enslaves women and demands the removal of life from Jews and Christians and the replacement of totalitarian regimes that will spread Islam (AKA Iran, Saudi Arabi, Syria and now Egypt. In Saudi Arabia women are not allowed to vote, drive cars, even sit in the front seats of cars with their husbands. They are physically mutilated and respected as property not human beings. The Dems keep talking about the war on women here in the USA from the Repubs but in Saudi Arabia and other muslim nations the war on women has been won by the government. Now how pray-tell does a pastor that makes a video denouncing a religion like that compare to some loons that make a mockery of American Heroes that die for their rights to protest at the funerals the aforementioned heroes?
Jim Hadley
First, you are wrong (or confused), the maker of this video/film is not a pastor.
Second, you are wrong in saying "Islam" calls for those things. Only the most militant and extreme Islamists think that. Just like extreme christians hold absurd views.
Third, as to the culture we have in the United States, the republicans are waging a war on women's rights. The result of that being the big lead Obama has among women.
Republicans have few ideas, and the ones they have are bad.
That's why they will lose this election, and future elections if they don't come into the 21st century.
Jim Hadley Boy, that's a pretty weak defense of a hate-monger. Why am I not surprised, from a fellow Baptist and a fellow Islam-hater?
There's NO DIFFERENCE between Mr Jones and the Westboro cretins. BOTH of them fan hatred and seek only to incite anger and violence through their deliberate provocations. Hatred virtually drips from their pathetic souls. And now, I remind you, A GOOD AMERICAN IS DEAD because of the irresponsible and DELIBERATE provocations of these two fundamentalist A-holes. Have you no conscience, to defend this agent provacateur who has American blood on his hands? Or are you just so sure that your "God" will "reward" you for pushing your "My faith is better than your faith" garbage?
Jay Ever been to Saudi Arabia? I have, Women wear the Abaya (Black full face cover), are not allowed to drive or sit in the empty passenger seat of their husbands car, even if they are the "Senior" wife. They are not allowed to walk beside their husbands in public and of course they are not allowed to drive. Some of them are mere teens when they are married off to these men. Not saying that all are not loved but am saying that it is like that in some "non-radical" Islamic nations. Oh and guess what when we were there our service men (the female types were treated much the same way).
Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz , We have gone round and round before. I served in the Military for 20 years and my role in some funerals was not a protestor but one that honored the Veteran or Active duty fallen. I was pallbearer, firing party member, presenter (presenting the flag to the next of kin), Firing party leader and even bugler in many funerals. I stand ready to shield any Fallen Active duties next of kin if Westboro ever comes to where I live to protest at their funerals. So I am not what you claimed as a "…fellow Baptist…". BTW if you look at the attacks they are pretty sophisticated to be by some made common men on the street, too deliberate, too caculated and since they happened on the 11th anniversary they maybe in retaliation for Usama Bin Laden and not because of the film that Terry Jones put out.
Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz Oh and one more thing, if I am a Islam hater than tell me why I stood up for three International students at a private school that I worked at so they could attend a Mosque instead of a church?
Jim Hadley
Great, so be happy you live in the United states. Or else, hopefully, your wife/mother/daughters are.
I am happy and hoping that we still have the freedoms that I served 20 years helping to protect like Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech and the Right to bear arms.
Jim Hadley
Yes, you still have those freedoms.
Thank you for your service.
I humbly accept your thanks Sir.
Ok, the pastor's threat to burn the Koran, his stance on Islam and his support of this film is free speech whether people like it or not. Do we take that right away from him so as not to enflame Muslims and save lives or do we allow him his Constitutional rights. I personally would go to extremes like that but he is within his rights. People shouldn't worry about what his pastor does, they should worry about the atrocities being committed in the name of Allah. Did someone say we have to be sensitive and quit insulting Islam? That's so funny that the world has to walk on eggshells for them lest they blowup, shoot up, kidnap and behead innocent people. These people shouldn't be apologized to, especially by our spineless leaders who show no backbone in dealing with these religious fanatics. It's not ok for his pastor to practice his free speech rights but it's acceptable foresee animals to burn our flag, storm our embassy and murder Americans. The world is more twisted than ever.
So let me get this straight. Liberals don't want to offend violent Muslim radicals who killed an American Ambassador and the President says we apologize for offending the religious sensibilities of Muslims by what he terms as clueless people…but the President and Kathleen Sebellius have no problem at all with offending my son's College with the HHS mandate forcing them to violate their consciences or millions of Catholics in this Country as well. Liberals are the epitome of clueless, hypocritical, inane, disgusting, Godless bunch of morons this planet has ever seen…
A completely irrelevant reply, and woefully uneducated. First of all, the POTUS did NOT issue any statement "apologizing" to Muslims–that was the EMBASSY ITSELF BEFORE anything had even happened. Secondarily, it was PULLED FROM THE INTERNET before the bombing because it was NOT CLEARED by the State Department, i.e., "Obama". Another "Fox" viewer, eh?
http://news.yahoo.com/romneys-account-egypt-embassy-attack-flawed-193614502.html
Before you go cluelessly blaming this on your "Liberal" strawman, you'd better educate yourself–and stop trying to deflect blame by trying to draw false equivalencies to HC; I mean, HOW desperate can you possibly be?
Obviously I got to you Zizzer…I'm sure that's your real name because your so brave like your dear leader…If there's any irrelevance here it's yours not mine, but I see your knee jerk liberal reaction is typical…
Dave, I"m sorry but you're blatantly misinformed. IT WAS THE EMBASSY–NOT OBAMA–who issued the statement condemning the movie that started the fracas. Are you actually "doubling down" on your ignorance, like Romney did? Jezus–what a proud ignoramus!
Yeah, you "got to me"–people who make patently ignorant and incorrect statements—and then who form bogus arguments based upon that–generally do "get to me".
Wow why don't you use your real name? Do you have one? or is that because you're an Obama troll from Soros' media hounds. How much are they paying you? Hope it's decent money unlike the Occupy crowd that wasn't making squat for their malfeasance…
The embassy issued a strong denouncement; it was Ovomity who issued one of solace toward the "offendwed" people condemning America and kissing the other's butts. I agree post your real name..
']rewq Dave Thrush aasdg 7
Dave Thrush Well, what a revealing rebuttal, Dave—ya got NUTHIN, ya know NUTHIN, you're wrong, and your feckless response is good enough to prove that to me.
By the way–my real name is Zizzer. Not everyone is named "Dave" or "John" or "Joe". Deal…
Deacon Clarence Wetegrove You apparently have never gotten over being beat up in school? Still feeling the need to puff out your peacock chest and strut around like a big guy? Guess what, Deacon–the problem with playing the "tough guy" is that there's ALWAYS someone bigger tougher and will knock your head off. "Kissing people's butts' in the REAL WORLD is called "diplomacy"–and it's far better than War, doofus.
That statement stood for hours from an official U.S. gov't. site as the ONLY response from the United States. The State Department is part of the Obama administration, is it not? At least Obama finally came around to agree with Mitt Romney; we DO have a First Amendement right to criticize Islam and our rights should be defended.
Ruth Thomas WOW, Ruth, I'm not sure where you're getting your imaginative interpretation of things, but NO, President Obama NEVER "came around to agree" with the bumbling goofus Romney. And when Obama learned of it, HE HAD IT REMOVED. Whoever you're getting your information from, I'd change the channel!
And yes, you can criticize Islam if it makes you feel superior, but "criticizing" and "deliberately provoking violence" are two different things.
Troll… Take the Soros money and run while you still can before we learn you're really a 30 year old college student like Sandra Fluke who wants us all to pay the $9 a month for her birth control while she's going to one of the most expensive Catholic schools in the country. in other words a hypocrite… Zizzer will never reveal his real name because he (or it) is a chicken like his commander in chief…
Dave Thrush Nuthin, Dave. All ya got is strawman arguments and your pitiful-but-reassuring caricatures. You KNOW that I called you out for an incoherent commentary that was both uninformed and foolish. But, in typical Romney-fashion, you can't admit that you're wrong.
EPIC FAIL, Mr Thrush, EPIC fail.
Zizzer, believe me there are "bigger"" but you can check with my high school and college friends, getting beat up or running into a "bigger guy" was never my problem. It appears all you have, sir, are insults to hurl. You seem unable to debate without hurling insults, speaking of falacious aarguments…
All of your statements apply to Obama…Got nuthin, can't admit he's wrong, incoherent commentary…nice projection though…BTW next time you've performed on 5 Continents in front of millions of people over the last 35 years like I have come and have a discussion. Otherwise, go back to occupy like a good little lefty…
Dave Thrush Ha ha, you've got to be kidding me—your vain braggadocio doesn't impress me. Seriously, little man–are you trying to impress me for a date, or prove to me that you have some understanding of the issues at hand? Wait–you're the ignoramus who got the news story wrong about Obama, remember? Why don't you try correcting your mistake instead of pulling your own ****.
Dave, I'm a liberal and I'm happy to offend radical Muslims. I participate in Everybody Draw Muhammed Day and Blasphemy Day as protests against those who would restrict my right to free speech. And I'll fight against any imposition of theocracy. Don't paint us all as appeasers. The movie in question is idiotic and so is pastor Jones, but my opinions of the filmmaker and pastor are not relevant to their first amendment rights. And neither are the opinions of a bunch of idiots in the Middle East.
Ya, Zizzer…want to hear something really funny? I used to be a liberal actually faux liberal because liberals aren't really liberal they're hypocrites like you are and so was I in another day. I voted for Carter in the 70's when I was in college…you know, following the lemmings off the cliff. Then I sat back and watched, proud of my vote and then…the economy started imploding, gas lines popped up everywhere and the price of gas skyrocketed, Carter was so inept that the Ayatollah Khomeini made a fool of him. Inflation began raging and the cost of goods started going up. Sound familiar to you Obama boy? No, because you're a mindless progressive like I used to be. But, I wised up and I'm sure you're not intelligent enough, or brave enough to come out of your stupor that your leftist professors drilled into your head. BTW I performed in Beijing in 2009 with a band and the Communist Govt. monitored our internet 24/7. Have you even ever been out of the Country?
Dave Thrush Dave, you'd be well and truly surprised to know where I've been. That's why all of your self-aggrandizing bluster only amuses me. What does performing in Beijing have to do with your inability to get the facts straight? That's my only dog in the hunt here, Dave–your inability to see the facts clearly.
And Jimmy Carter? WHAT? Poor Jimmy–left to clean up the mess left by the crook, Nixon. Another genuinely decent guy who was elected because the American public was sick of the corruption and ineptitude of the Republicans. Jeeezz–doesn't THAT sound familiar? It's hard to believe that you could have lived through that period in anything but a dope-fueled haze if you don't know that what Carter had to deal with was Nixon's mess: a lot of bad policy and bad feelings around the world that precipitated retaliatory actions from OPEC and others which affected prices and policies here at home. Jeeez–sounds familiar? Carter did a LOT of great things, but in the end, his personal religious convictions left him without the aggressiveness to deal effectively with tyrants. By contrast, Obama has killed, by last count, over 20 Al Queda leaders–and he's not any shrinking violet. Nobody's "making a fool" of Obama. And in Carter's case vs the Ayatollah, Reagan committed an unprecedented—and unpunished–act of High Treason by promising him arms if he would delay the release of the hostages until after Election Day.And we all know how THAT then wound up with Iran-Contra? Getting away with High treason? Jeeez–sound familiar? Think "Cheney and Valerie Plame". You wanna talk hypocrisy, Dave, you better get your facts straight.
Zazzer,
And US Embassies world-wide are staffed by the WH via (Obama Admin), take their PR orders from via the WH (Obama Admin) and answers to the WH (Obama Admin).
Or is this Bush's fault also?
Peter J. Modaffari you're obviously listening to Hannity too. An embassy is not a military compound. The people in the embassy knew of this video going around and preemptively tried to avoid the very riots that were brewing outside their windows by issuing a mitigating statement. A common sense act of prudence. Obama doesn't oversee every frickin' embassy in every single country in the world, 24/7. Get your head out of your sphincter.
Ya, Zizzer, like I said…I used to be a Liberal Progressive Democrat. I know what you're thinking before you even think it. Time for little boys to grow up…
Dave Thrush Take your own advice, Dave. It would reflect well on you.
Dave Thrush Take your own advice, Dave. It would reflect well on you.
Anyone here who is idiotic enough to defend the religiously-bigoted "pastor" Mr. Terry needs to have their head examined. A GOOD AMERICAN IS NOW DEAD– because one of America's own "Christian Taliban" hate-mongers found it titillating to fund a film explicitly designed to provoke and enrage our avowed enemies. HOW STUPID can you be? HOW IRRESPONSIBLE? Stop hiding behind the First Amendment, Conservative cowards!
If a vegetarian hops the fence at the Zoo and is horribly mauled in the lion cage to protest the lion's eating of meat , would you prosecute the lion? Or rightfully hold the man responsible for his irresponsibly reckless "expression" that brought on an attack? The DELIBERATE PROVOCATION of dangerous and unpredictable actors is the action of a MORON–AND NOW A GOOD AMERICAN IS DEAD!
STOP HIDING BEHIND THE FIRST AMENDMENT!
That movie trailer and "pastor" both are personally disgusting and offensive to me, also. However, I blame to fanatics who use ANY excuse (or none at all) to kill. The First Amendment protects unpopular and disgusting speech, popular speech doesn't need protection. Your reasoning is akin to blaming a rape victim for "asking for it" by wearing provocative clothing. You are placing blame where it does not belong. It belongs with the insane people who follow this ideology.
Meh, you almost made a point there, Ruth, but here's the problem; a woman can dress up sexily to attract a man–to catch heir eye, to flirt–but rape is a clear crime that can grow out of something that started out as innocent, if mildly provocative. The "crime" of producing a deliberately-insulting film that is designed to provoke a group which CLEARLY has declared the belief that Islam must be defended unto death is quite the different matter. Would the law protect the "pastor"? Unfortunately, yes, most likely. However, the "insane people" HERE–the "insane" Christian Fascists like the "pastor" are JUST AS culpable for the incitement to violence as the perpetrators—don't we have laws against inciting a riot here in America? "Incitement to violence"–last I knew, you COULD be arrested for that?
WE ALL know the violence wasn't about that film, it was a PLANNED attack on the Anniversery of 9-11, THEY HATE US & OUR Lord & SAVIOR, The Administration is blaming the film, & It was PLANNED BEFORE THE FILM. They should've had ALL OUR Embasies protected !!!!!! SHAME ON THEM, THEY HAVE OUR MEN'S BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS & Our Hearts, thanks Nobama
This WAS NOT a 'reasonable request'. It was a violation of the U.S. constitution. The courts call it "chilling". This is when the government puts pressure on a person or organization to inhibit their free speech because the government doesn't like what they are saying. This same principle applies to the Obama administration's asking of Youtube to remove that anti-Islam video trailer. This minister as well as Youtube stood true. God bless them.