Everyone deserves protection of free speech

The MSU Dems aren’t saying that Beck should not be allowed to speak. To say that they are just isn’t true. They are saying that it is ridiculous that the Michigan Chamber of Commerce is spending $25,000 and flying him in on a private jet. There are much more appropriate speakers that could be invited that would be far less abrasive and inappropriate in today’s economic climate.

Glenn Beck is a strong opponent of President Obama’s healthcare plans and continues to spew lies about the administration, including calling the president a “racist” and continuing the outrageous “death panel” rumors.

What Beck portrays on his show could potentially be more dangerous that inciting “violence on campus”. I stand with the MSU Dems, as well as the several corporations that have withdrawn advertisements during his show (up to some 60 brands now), on making sure that he knows that East Lansing and its students to not stand with him.

The reason I will stand with the MSU College Democrats tomorrow in their protest is not over anything Beck has to say or what the Dems may or may not want him to say. I take issue with the fact that on a college campus, with one of the highest ranked, most impressive political science schools in the country (James Madison College), unless you were invited or you paid for a dinner (which ran up higher than most college students could afford for one night), you as a college student are not allowed to listen and take note, whether it be for or against, of a speech concerning economics in the roughest national financial crisis since The Great Depression.

I know it’s an opinion page, but I find it apalling that the same individuals that were praising Van Jones a week ago are condemning Glen Beck, once again. Glen is conservative, and a little eccentric, but Van Jones is a radical nut job that had the president’s ear.

Glenn Beck has the right to say anything he wants. You have the right not to agree. Freedom of Speech is the only point here and must be protected. If the Chamber wants to spend its money on Beck it’s their right to do so. Frankly the more people who hear Glenn Beck the better so eventually even the most diehard will realize he is in it for the money and his views are more then just a little eccentric. He falls in the whack job category on the political spectum along beside the far right and far left who by loud overblown rhetoric command a lot of notice. At some point people become tired of the noise.

Surprised but well said State News. He’s an idiot but the people that try to prevent him from speaking are moreso. While i’m sure most will be outside protesting, which is fine, i know there are some of you (probably reading this) that want to try and shout him down in the event itself. Grow up.

Wow, MSU democrats are quoted as saying

“(Beck) is not allowed to continue to spew his lies and rhetoric against our President (sic).”

Democrats of all people are telling me Beck is “not allowed” to speak? Really? And this is coming from the party who allegedly cherishes freedom of speech?

Let’s face it, the left is extremely intolerant and by no means supports freedom of speech. If you do not agree with them they are out to destroy you.

Finally, let’s have some specific example of Beck’s “lies”. I guess if you do not support ObamaCare than you are a “lier”.

You mean other than calling Obama a racist?

“You mean other than calling Obama a racist?”

How is that a lie? If he feels that Obama is a racist, it isn’t a lie. In actuality, nearly everyone could be called racist. Look around you. Is your mix of friends a perfect balance of all races? Probably not.

The guy is out there, but for anyone to say he has no right to speak, or to draw more attention to him by childishly disrupting his speech to people who already are in line with his opinion, is moronic at best.

The label ‘racist’ is used frequently these days, but most instances seems to come from President Obama’s apologists trying to smear his opponents. Often seems like if you oppose the President, well, your motivation must be that he’s black.
Just this week it has been the MSM trying to label Rep Joe Wilson a racist for shouting ‘You lie!’ during his speech last week. Lots of things you can label him, but trying to attach the ‘racist’ label to his outburst is a real stretch.
BTW, I’m not sure if the President is a racist or not. His words suggest not, but some of his actions, like attending the Rev Wright’s church so long, could argue the opposite.

Suggesting that anyone like J. Wright or Van Jones is a racist proves that you, sir, are a racist. Just shows that the word does not mean anything anymore. A “rapist” is a person who has been convicted of rape. What should a “racist” be convicted of?

mvt: If by association as you just painted Obama then yes Joe Wilson IS a racist(Sons of The Confederacy, voted to keep the Stars and Bars on SC state flag, dah, dah dah). None of this BS advances anything however and only detracts from the real needs of the country. Somehow the distractions have become the point and no one is being served by any of this noise. It’s time it ends and we get on with something other then destroying ourselves from within.

Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from responsibility for the ways we choose to express ourselves. Beck has called our President a racist, compared the AmeriCorp to the SS and agreed that the detonation of a WMD in the US would be worth it if it shocked us into passing stricter security measures. Beck is free to say whatever he wants, wherever he wants but that does NOT mean he is free from responsibility for the flagrantly inflammatory statements he makes.

I understand that much of what he says is filled with lies, and that calling our president racist simply because he said that during his youth he didn’t align with many whites (surprising when he grew up under some forms of segregation and oppression by whites I know lol) but I feel that the very people who I generally align my ideology with are going about this the wrong way. Yes I will agree with Proud Protester freedom of speech does not mean freedom from responsibility of that speech.

What bothers me most about Glen Beck’s visit to East Lansing is that he, a very polorizing person, brought here by an organization that is supposed to be representing Michigan businesses.

That, Nick, is indeed the main (and thus far mostly ignored) point.

The Chamber is a very important organization. At the very least it’s mission is very important and it has the potential to be extremely influential.

I would argue that this event undercuts the organizations message and any effort to portray the Chamber as something of a rational and independent player. Beck is not someone who they should associate themselves with – for that reason alone.

Glenn Beck has the right to say most anything he wants on the street. However, no one has the “right” to be invited to speak at a dinner. No one is trying to suppress his right to lie and speak stupidly in public.

Wait. Obama IS a pretty racist guy. Remember how he sat and listened to racist Rev Wright for two decades? Or when he hired racist advisor Van Jones? Obama sucks. He’s a one termer.