Thanks for Nothing, Now Go Away

So -- for the sake of argument -- suppose that a popular music group’s fan base is made up predominantly of folks who didn’t, shall we say, pull the left lever in 2000. Suppose that group is under fire for anti-American anti-Bush remarks made abroad. Suppose that group wants nothing more than for the whole thing to go away.

You gotta ask yourself: Do the Dixie Chicks really want help from Al Gore?

And while we’re at it, Al is still off his rocker:

According to the Tennessean, Gore used recent attacks on the Dixie Chicks that followed anti-war comments by Natalie Maines as an example. Gore told the audience, "They were made to feel un-American and risked economic retaliation because of what was said. Our democracy has taken a hit," Gore said. "Our best protection is free and open debate."

So if I understand correctly, people -- for the sake of “our democracy” -- should not be allowed to criticize or boycott those with whom they disagree.

Sure. Makes sense to me.

I will skip ranting about how freedom of speech is freedom from government interference with speech, not freedom from being told you’re a moron by your fellow citizens. Let’s just say Al would be singing a different song if Maines had yelled, “I wish Hitler was our president!”