[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 27852]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1930
                   POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS DISCOURSE

  (Mr. POE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, the first amendment protects the fundamental 
natural rights of free speech and free press.
  These pillars of principle are listed first because they are the most 
important. These 2 freedoms ensure the protection of all the other 
rights that follow in the Bill of Rights.
  Many years have passed since these values were chiseled into the 
Constitution, but they are still under attack by the elites who 
advocate Federal control of both. Why? Because these censors disagree 
with the content or claim it's inaccurate or it's not fair. Even former 
Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said last year that people 
should not harshly criticize the Supreme Court or its rulings.
  The Constitution does not guarantee speech or press to be fair or 
even accurate. It guarantees it to be free. ``Fair'' is too subjective 
a term.
  Our Framers were primarily concerned about protecting the political 
and religious discourse. Why? Because they are the most controversial 
and the most important.
  Any action by the Federal Government to control speech or press 
should be met with loud, harsh words; fiery oratory; and a blazing pen.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________