First things first

You won't find too many partisan political statements on this blog unless they come from commenters. But there is one thing I believe in: the idea behind the First Amendment.

People have the right to speak, write and think as they please.

Jeremiah Wright, Pat Robertson, and anyone else in the public realm may say things that are mean, stupid, wicked or offensive. They may also be speaking the truth -- uncomfortable truths that we would rather not hear. Whatever the case, if America means anything, it means that they have the right to speak.

We should be zealous in guarding that right.