No normal, caring citizen would ever think that what the Westboro Baptist Church members are doing and the words they use to do it are acceptable. These people are desperate, sick attention-seekers hiding behind our constitutional tolerance of religion. That said, they are also citizens of the United States and as such they have a right to say any hurtful, hateful foolish thing they like about the policies of this nation. The best remedy for heinous objectionable speech is more speech, not less. While it tears me up to defend the rights of such a hateful group, it is what must be done if we want to have a pluralistic and free society. If the state starts choosing what religious expression wins or if it starts to limit the ability for minority speech (no matter how wrong or evil) to be heard, we are in for a lot of trouble. While it is painful for the families of the dead to have to deal with this, there are times when we have to look at the overall effect on our society of trying to do the right thing to shield them from such hateful acts. — Bill Egnor, Firedoglake blog
The lawyer in me hopes the court restricts Westboro’s free-speech rights in the same way it has in the past with regard to defamation, obscenity and so-called fighting words. It’s a crime to yell “Fire!” in the theater. It should be one to yell “fag” at a fallen soldier’s funeral as well. By picketing Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder’s funeral, didn’t Westboro Baptist infringe upon family members’ First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion? And because the Westboro demonstrators weren’t protesting on a street corner or in a public park, it could also follow that they infringed upon the Snyders’ right to peaceably assemble for that private funeral. Members of the Patriot Guard were there when Snyder was buried, as they have been for hundreds of other funerals. “We have one thing in common besides motorcycles,” their mission statement reads. “We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security.” Snyder fought and died for that freedom. In this case, the Supreme Court should deny its fruits to Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church. — Michael Smerconish, Philadelphia Inquirer
A few good ones from Vice President Joe Biden, 