Hillary > Cassel > Kerry

[SNR]

Old Man Kerry is almost as bad as Biden with his tact.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/...t-to-be-stupid

John Kerry To German Students: Americans Have 'Right To Be Stupid'
by EYDER PERALTA
February 26, 2013

In his first foreign trip as Secretary of State, John Kerry defended America's civil liberties during his talk with German students.

Kerry said that the United States' tradition of freedom of speech — even if it includes offensive speech — is a virtue.

He said, according to Reuters:

"As a country, as a society, we live and breathe the idea of religious freedom and religious tolerance, whatever the religion, and political freedom and political tolerance, whatever the point of view.

"People have sometimes wondered about why our Supreme Court allows one group or another to march in a parade even though it's the most provocative thing in the world and they carry signs that are an insult to one group or another. The reason is, that's freedom, freedom of speech. In America you have a right to be stupid — if you want to be. And you have a right to be disconnected to somebody else if you want to be.

"And we tolerate it. We somehow make it through that. Now, I think that's a virtue. I think that's something worth fighting for."
The "stupid" line, by the way, received a round of laughs.

If you remember, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had to defend the First Amendment after a U.S.-produced film depicting the Prophet Muhammad inflamed the Arab world.

"I know it is hard for some people to understand why the United States cannot or does not just prevent these kinds of reprehensible videos from ever seeing the light of day," she said. "In today's world with today's technologies, that is impossible. But even if it was possible, our country does have a long tradition of free expression which is enshrined in our constitution and our law.

"And we do not stop individual citizens from expressing their views no matter how distasteful they may be."

[SNR]

The bold quote was the right way.

Kerry's quote was the wrong way.

[listopencil]

I am awaiting his diplomatic mission to Kyrzakhstan.

[KChiefer]

So you think the people of Westboro deserve to be acknowledged in more euphemistic ways?

I like it when a politician calls a spade, a spade.

[BucEyedPea]

I don't have a problem with this especially to Germans who suppress political speech.

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by KChiefer

So you think the people of Westboro deserve to be acknowledged in more euphemistic ways?

I like it when a politician calls a spade, a spade.

I thought he was referring to American Neo Nazi morons as well as WBC idiots.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by SNR

The bold quote was the right way.

Kerry's quote was the wrong way.

Context and setting. Hillary's was right for the situation. Kerry's, in a more informal setting to students, seems fine to me.

[mlyonsd]

To me actions speak louder than words. Until Kerry ignores an embassy's pleas, that leads to them being massacred and drug through the streets, and then tries to cover it up I'll refuse to say he's worse than Hillary.