Free Speech may be the First Casualty in the War on Violence

When I wrote yesterday that Democrats and Republicans would declare a "war on violence" this week, I was only half-joking, but it looks like this one is already coming half-true.  Today, Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin have begun to style themselves as born-again peace activists.  From Business Insider:

Beck was notably silent about the Giffords shooting over the weekend but jumped in to the deep end today on his radio show reading aloud some emails he exchanged over the weekend with Palin.  According to Beck he wrote to her saying: “Sarah, as you know, peace is always the answer. I know you are felling the same heat, if not much more on this. I want you to know you have my full support." . . . Palin responded via email, which Beck read out loud: "I hate violence. I hate war. Our children will not have peace if politicos just capitalize on this to succeed in portraying anyone as inciting terror and violence."

Meanwhile, Democrat Robert Brady has stated that he is preparing a bill to criminalize speech offensive to the ruling political class.  From CNN:

Rep. Robert Brady, D-Pennsylvania, said he will introduce legislation making it a federal crime for a person to use language or symbols that could be perceived as threatening or inciting violence against a Member of Congress or federal official.  [Emphasis added.]

Of course, given that warfare is the preferred policy solution of the Democratic and Republican parties on everything from poverty to drugs to terrorism, any statement from those quarters professing a hatred of violence and love of peace is highly suspect.  On the other hand, given that the Democratic and Republican parties have long been at war with constitutional rights, fundamental liberties and the  rule of law, any threat against the first amendment should be taken very seriously.