Encouraging advertisers to stop doing business with an entity whose opinions you oppose it not censorship nor suppression of speech. It is using one’s influence in the marketplace to further one’s own views. This tactic is similar to what we conservatives did when the Dixie Chicks made their reprehensible remark about the President. We did not attempt to censor them nor suppress their right to express their opinion. We did, however, exercise our right to express disapproval in a way that caused economic consequences for them. They squealed “censorship” when none existed. Let’s don’t make the same claim here. If MoveOn et al can in fact persuade advertisers to neglect the millions of Fox viewers, other advertisers will fill the void. And if that happens, we should be vigilant to reward those who do — and punish those who do MoveOn’s bidding.
