Beck has been a magnet for controversy lately after he called President Barack Obama a “racist” last month. Although he is beloved by millions of conservatives in the country, he also is seen by many — especially on this campus — as a menace and a bigot.

The MSU College Democrats, in true democratic fashion, disapprove of his appearance at the Kellogg Center and, according to the group’s official Facebook event, plan to “protest (Beck’s) appearance and make sure Glenn Beck knows he is not welcome in Michigan.”

The MSU College Democrats certainly have a right to protest Beck’s appearance, but we’d like to point out Beck, in fact, does have a right to speak here, and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce certainly can welcome him if they so choose.

The MSU College Democrats also state on the Facebook event that they “want to make sure that our voices are heard loud and clear that (Beck) is not allowed to continue to spew his lies and rhetoric against our President (sic).”

We take issue with this statement and find the MSU College Democrats’ view on Beck’s appearance worrisome. Prohibiting Beck to speak would be a violation of the First Amendment’s freedom of speech. The MSU College Democrats should note the same law that allows Beck to speak is the one that allows them to protest. If you limit who gets to speak, you limit everyone’s rights.

If the MSU College Democrats decide to proceed with their protest, they should do so responsibly and respectfully, making sure their method of protest isn’t louder than the message they are trying to convey.

This whole event mirrors a similar incident from last week, when Students Promoting Animal Rights, the MSU animal rights group, invited PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Vice President Dan Mathews to speak at Wells Hall. While several student animal rights advocates attended, dozens of members from the MSU College of Agriculture were present, kindly handing out pamphlets before the event and asking thoughtful, intelligent and respectful questions throughout the event.

Those members from the College of Agriculture should be applauded for their efforts in being respectful and sharing their own views at this event. The MSU College Democrats should look to them as an example and take notes.

Although we in no way endorse Beck or his views, we’d like to point out he is not nearly as fanatical or controversial as some of the speakers the now-defunct MSU Young Americans for Freedom hosted in years past. Beck might say many incendiary and untrue things, but his words do not have the potential to incite violence on campus.

The MSU College Democrats should remember what goes around comes around. If they match Beck’s appearance with a loud and angry protest, they are inviting their adversaries to do the same in the future.

Beck might indeed be a blowhard, but by fighting his right to speak the MSU College Democrats might be doing themselves a disservice by giving more attention to his message.