A First Amendment Issue
Posted on July 29, 2008 at 7:50 amKatie Allison Granju seems to think that we should punish people for their thoughts:
The idea that hate crimes are not a real, distinct, particularly heinous type of criminal act is especially disturbing in post 9-11 America, where we should be even more grateful for and protective of our liberties. As that bastion of liberal philisophy, the FBI points out, “groups that preach hatred and intolerance plant the seeds of terrorism here in our country.”
Rob Briley Continues His Needling Of The Press
Posted on May 21, 2008 at 11:58 amRep. Rob Briley, who called out the press and the blogosphere yesterday for not taking practicing their craft responsibly, again made statements on the floor of the State House regarding his estimation of journalistic integrity.
Briley declared that the Tennessean’s headline this morning chronicling his tirade yesterday “proved his point” about the lack of responsibility amongst the press.
What wasn’t clear was whether Briley was speaking of his misidentification as “Sen. Briley” or whether he took issue with the phrasing of “takes shots at the media.”
If the latter, then the Gannett daily can hardly be faulted. Briley described his statements about the press as a “shot across the bow.”
What Briley should have faulted the Tennessean with, along with the misidentification in the headline, is various inaccuracies under said headline.
As you can see above, the Tennessean refers to Briley’s “resignation” and then refers you to some stories that supposedly happened after that.
First, while it is true that Briley resigned from his Judiciary Committee chairmanship, one might doubt that the same headline writers who misidentified in which body Briley serves in, would be referencing that.
What they likely are referencing is his decision to leave the legislature. That, of course, was not a “resignation.” Briley did not “resign” from the legislature, he merely elected not to run for reelection.
That said, whether the Gannett staffers were referring the decision not run or his resignation from his chairmanship is immaterial. The links that lie beneath are inaccurate either way.
Two of the links cited as after “Briley’s resignation” chronicle his dustup with Rep. Stacey Campfield over Campfield’s “babydaddy bill.” That, of course was last month well after both his chairmanship resignation and his decision to leave the legislature upon the expiration of his term.
Regardless of the lapses of the Tennessean headline department, one must wonder whether Briley’s real beef with the article was its subtle implication as to whom his “coded message” might have been directed to.
Briley, who listed a female lobbyist who is not his wife as his emergency contact when he was arrested, then issued an enigmatic “coded message” to someone out there listening to his speech.
“I’m going to say something in code now that none of you all are going to understand,” Briley said. “Poets and kings.”
When that message was met with blank stares, Briley elaborated. “There’s something out there that poets write verse about, and something out there that kings wage war about,” he said. “I’ve been lucky enough to experience that in my life, and I hope all of you do, too. So, poets and kings, everybody.”
Either way, Briley’s back and forth with the media was not done with his claim of vindication by the Tennessean.
During a portion of the morning’s session where retiring Representatives were being given the opportunity to handle the Speaker’s gavel, Briley turned to the press box and said, “[W]hile acting as speaker I have authority to have you removed from the chamber.”
Making it clear he was joking Briley then laughed and said that he appreciated the media’s “hard work.”
SEE ALSO: Peebles
Williamson County School Administrator Declares Limits To First Amendment For Students
Posted on April 29, 2008 at 7:29 amApril is Confederate Heritage History Month but here in the Greater Nashville area, the cradle of Southern agrarian thought, an educational institution in the lily white county of Williamson has banned the display of the Confederate flag after a student decorated his truck with the banner — along with a noose.
The student, who WSMV reports displays confederate regalia on his MySpace page and admits to extreme racism, has not been suspended and continues to attend classes.
School administrators on Monday posted a message on the school website arguing that the First Amendment protections of free speech and expression can be limited for students on school grounds:
As I told our student body on Friday, the display or wearing of the Confederate flag and/or racially offensive symbols which incite school disruption on campus is currently prohibited. While such symbols are generally protected by the First Amendment, that protection is limited in a school setting when events occur such as we have recently experienced. The faculty and administration of IHS intend to work with our students and our community to identify and address any racial issues that may impact our school. We ask that you work with us to remind your children that we have the same behavior expectations of our students that we have had since this school opened, and I invite you to give me a call if you have any questions or concerns.
Adam Dread Call Your Office
Posted on April 22, 2008 at 1:27 pmRosalind Kurita just attached a ban on certain advertising to a bill in the state senate which could set up an interesting First Amendment challenge:
Defense attorneys would be banned from advertising their expertise with drunken driving cases under a bill advancing in the Senate.
Sen. Rosalind Kurita, a Clarksville Democrat, successfully added the provision to a bill that would create an online registry of repeat DUI offenders in Tennessee.
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