Graham: Free Speech a Great Idea, but We're at War

He's talking to you, Terry Jones
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 3, 2011 12:43 PM CDT
Graham: Free Speech a Great Idea, but We're at War
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., right, questions Gen. David Petraeus on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 29, 2010.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Lindsey Graham is pretty torqued about Terry Jones' Koran-burning stunt, Politico reports, and wants Congress to look into the unlikely possibility of limiting some kinds of speech. "I wish we could find a way to hold people accountable. Free speech is a great idea, but we're in a war," he said today. "During World War II, we had limits on what you could do if it inspired the enemy." Graham also slammed President Obama on Libya, saying his decision to pull back "comforted" Gadhafi, and further advocated "taking the fight to Tripoli." Other lawmakers had plenty to say about Jones on the Sunday dial:

  • "I don't think he should have done that at all, it was extremely irresponsible. Look what it's led to," said Adm. James Jones.
  • "It’s time for (Terry Jones) to accept his responsibility as an American to help our troops be safe,” said Dick Durbin. “I hope it is roundly condemned by everyone in America that this sort of hateful conduct, endangering the lives of innocent people and our troops is totally unacceptable."
  • "We'll take a look at this, of course," Harry Reid said. Changing the subject, when asked if John Boehner was afraid of the Tea Party, he grinned, and said, "Yeah, I think that's a pretty good choice of words. The Tea Party is dictating a lot that goes on [with] the Republicans in the House."
  • The endgame in Libya right now is "a moment in time when there is no real clarity," said James Jones. "We know the endstate is regime stage in Libya. How we get there... without Gadhafi staying in power for a long period of time, that’s the problem."
(More Sunday morning talk shows stories.)

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