The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Speech handed out the Jefferson Muzzle Awards today to organizations and persons who’ve been particularly bad examples of free speech. From the Boston Globe:
CBS was cited ”for acts of self-censorship demonstrating both hypocrisy and an unwillingness to stand up to public and political pressure,” the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression said in a statement.
CBS also refused to air a 30-second commercial from Moveon.org, a group critical of the Bush administration, during the Super Bowl, while it allowed erectile dysfunction commercials and the halftime show featuring Janet Jackson’s bared breast, it said.
Other muzzles recipients announced in the 13th annual edition of the awards include Baseball Hall of Fame President Dale Petroskey, who canceled a 15th anniversary showing of ”Bull Durham” because of opposition to the Iraq war by its stars, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins.
”Although the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, and more recently the war in Iraq have created new pressures on free speech, an examination of this year’s and previous Jefferson Muzzle winners reveals that threats to free expression come from all over the political spectrum,” said Robert M. O’Neil, director of the center.
I can only assume that the Justice Scalia nonsense happened after they’d already picked this year’s winners…
