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Subject: 
Re: Free Speech, again
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.off-topic.debate
Date: 
Wed, 23 Apr 2003 19:08:56 GMT
Viewed: 
1363 times
  
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Dave Schuler writes:
> http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/04/23/scotus.free.speech.ap/index.html
> 
>  I am as big a proponent of free speech as anyone I know, but I don't
> accept that corporations are citizens protected under the first amendment.
> Ditto any corporate executive or agent speaking on behalf of the
> corporation; the speech of *the person* is protected, but not when that
> person is acting as an arm of the company.
>  To me it's very much the same as when Dubya invokes God in every speech.
> George W. Bush is free to worship and believe as he sees fit, but as *the
> president* his individual rights are subordinate to the limitations of his
> office.
> 
> 
>     Dave!

First, I'd say there's a difference b/w a corporation and a gov't
institution--separation of church and state is gov't, not corporation.
Dubya 'talking God' is irrelevant.  Dubya supporting keeping "Under God" in
the PoA is wrong.

I also thing that corporations can say whatever they want, as long as it's
the truth--Nike wasn't presenting the truth in these instances cited.

Much like it's illegal for me to yell 'Fire!' in a crowded theatre when
there was none, for my speech is then not protected under the 1st, it is
also wrong for a corp. to misrepresent themselves--advertising or not.

I'd like to see someone take the beer companies to task for all their
glorified 'babes-on-beach' advertising--once I'd like to see some real truth
in advertising--guys with distended beer bellies belching and getting into
brawls at bars 'n such--I think my advertisement is closer to the norm than
the babes.

Anyway, free speech has to be protected for everyone--corporations included,
or it means nothing.  Free speeh must also remain true-to-the-facts (or as
close as it can be) or it's akin to the fire in a theatre scenario.

My few coppers.

Dave K



Message is in Reply To:
  Free Speech, again
 
(URL) I am as big a proponent of free speech as anyone I know, but I don't accept that corporations are citizens protected under the first amendment. Ditto any corporate executive or agent speaking on behalf of the corporation; the speech of *the (...) (24 years ago, 23-Apr-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

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