Date: Sat, 10 May 2014 11:55:12 -0400
From: Steve Smith
Subject: Re: Chatlist #4949 & free speech
In Chatlist #4949, someone wrote:
“Does it say : ‘do not vote for the African American candidate’ (IndyWeekly)- it says those exact words? That would be illegal …”
I realize this person was trying to make a larger point, one I happen to agree with, but this statement caught me up short. No, it would *not* be illegal for that or any newspaper to tell readers to refrain from voting for someone because of his race, or any other factor, no matter how abhorrent you or I might find it.
Even in these times of hypersensitivity and demands for political correctness, Americans still have free speech and freedom of the press. I’m pretty sure IndyWeekly would never endorse, or refrain from endorsing, a candidate because of his or her race. But they would have the absolute legal right to do so if they so chose.