No, not that.
They have both expressed the ridiculous notion that Rush Limbaugh’s free speech rights are being violated by the stampede of (to date) 98 advertisers and sponsors dropping him like a diseased potato. Indeed, as Pandora pointed out over the weekend, not only is Rush being dropped, but the entire Right Wing Lineup:
They’ve [the 98 and counting advertisers] specifically asked that you [networks and radio stations] schedule their commercials in dayparts or programs free of content that you know are deemed to be offensive or controversial (for example, Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, Tom Leykis, Michael Savage, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity). Those are defined as environments likely to stir negative sentiment from a very small percentage of the listening public.
And Maher and Anderson, we are going back to school, since apparently you both did not learn about the First Amendment, or you have forgotten it. Your right to free speech is not defined as your right to say whatever you want whenever you want without any consequence whatsoever. Let’s try a reading comprehension exercise. Here is the First Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Who is the Amendment signaling out as the party that is the subject of the Amendment?
Is it radio stations? No.
How about corporations? Wrong again.
Oh, I know, its liberals, right? Liberals!! Nope.
The Amendment is directed at Congress. It says Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, etc.
That means that the government cannot violate your free speech rights. It says nothing about private citizens, or private corporations, or a group of citizens. It says nothing about sponsors having no right to pull their advertising dollar from someone because it violates free speech rights of that someone. Rush Limbaugh is still free to say what he wants without government interference. Thus, his free speech rights have not been violated.
What Rush Limbaugh is the victim of is the free market. Yes, we are witnessing the free market at work here. And I am surprised David Anderson opposes the free market. He must be a socialist then.