Cons, do conservatives protect hate speech?

The SC has ruled that a person cannot be prosecuted for what the person says, even if it is "hateful," but that a person CAN BE prosecuted for a crime they committed, and if what the person said before/when committing the crime proves the crime was motivated by "hatred," that can validly be used to increase the punishment imposed.

Both SC rulings were unanimous (in their conclusions).

In R.A.V. v. St. Paul, the Court unanimously overturned the conviction of a white person who burned a cross on the lawn of a black family. The only crime the white person committed was the crime of portraying a symbol that conveys racial hatred, not a crime like vandalism or assault.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._A._V._v._City_of_S...

In Wisconsin v. Mitchell, the Court unanimously upheld the conviction of a black person who savagely beat a white person, and who had said something like "There's a white dude, let's mess him up!" right before the attack began. There was also evidence that the group of blacks had been viewing a movie about racial injustice in the South in the mid-20th Century (the movie "Mississippi Burning").

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin_v._Mitchell

I completely agree with the Mitchell ruling, and I disagree with the R.A.V. ruling (because I don't think anybody burning something is "a form of speech," although I could agree with a ruling that a person could not be convicted of a "hate crime," just for *saying* something hateful).

Free speech and free press. Nazis and Communists have a 'right' to march in Chicago. So.... people have a right to say the 'N' word. There are laws, however, against thievery, murder, etc.

The only time speech can be banned is when it promotes violence. You can't hold up a sign saying, "Kill the cops", or hold a protest calling for the assassination of the President, or yell "fire" in a theater or "bomb" in an airplane.

Other than that - free speech and free press. I'd support the right of Nazis and Communists to hold demonstrations. Doesn't mean I support what they believe one iota. I wouldn't be upset if they all simultaneous have heart attacks.

Conservatives protect FREE speech. Hate speech is only what some progressives feel is insulting, like disagreeing with them on any subject. Progressives have stated over and over that hate speech should be punishable by long prison terms. I have even seen some of the more tolerant progressives advocate the death penalty for hate speech. Progressives must believe that what they consider hate speech is much more insidious than mass murder, for which they oppose the death penalty.

The Obama administration is saying speech against Muslims is criminal. If you draw a cartoon with Mohammad in it. The Obama administration will prosecute as hate speech. They will not win be run you out of money

The supreme court ruled that even offensive speech is protected so yes.

Really they did and it is available on yahoo search with case law cited.

Here is where I have a problem. Why would anyone want hate speech. And when its against a certain group they run tell it and feel offended. Dishing it out usually is followed by taking it like a man or a women big enough.

I'm old. It was never illegal to insult someone or perhaps I should say, speak your mind. People are held accountable in society for what they say. Its a lot easier to know what people are about if they don't have a clamp on their mouth. The idea of making it illegal is like putting duct tape on people's brains and emotions. Most people don't go out of their way to be offensive unless they are either very young or sometimes very old or even have mental issues.

Round and round the wheel we go.