How liberals view free speech

Meet Karen "Largemouth" Bass. She is the Speaker of the California Assembly, which makes her the most powerful Democrat in the Golden State.

California, of course, is in the worst fiscal condition of all the states, due in part to the ridiculous spending habits of the past 10 years. California's government spending has far outpaced the rate of inflation, largely because the public employee unions (huge contributors to Ms. Bass and her fellow Democrats) exercise powerful control over the legislature.

This past session, Bass led the way for the liberal knee-jerk response to a crisis: Raise taxes. Despite having one of the highest tax rates in the nation - and a business tax structure that is driving hundreds of thousands of jobs out of the state - she saw a tax increase as the only way out.

In response, California conservatives - including a number of talk radio hosts - opposed the tax increases, and let their legislators know that they would not accept tax hikes. Ms. Bass was asked about the role of talk radio in opposing the proposed tax hikes, and here's what she told the Los Angeles Times:

"The Republicans were essentially threatened and terrorized against voting for revenue. Now [some] are facing recalls. They operate under a terrorist threat: "You vote for revenue and your career is over." I don't know why we allow that kind of terrorism to exist. I guess it's about free speech, but it's extremely unfair."

Got that? Letting your representative know you are against tax increases equals terrorism. Producing obscene art with a government grant is "free speech," of course, but if you dare to question the need for higher taxes, you are a terrorist.

Note to Ms. Bass: Here's the text of the 1st Amendment to the Constitution. I've bold-faced the points of emphasis you should make yourself familiar with. The Constitution remains in effect, even under the Obama administration, and even in the People's Republic of California.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."