We all turn to things like the news to tell us what's going on in our communities and around the world. However, if you ask most people, they'll tell you that they turn on the news to hear and see factual, objective information. Journalists and the news media should NOT be allowed to express their biased/political opinions without a limit. Yes, they have just as equal a right to free speech as any other citizen, but the only difference is that when they are working as journalists, part of the job description is to be objective, not subjective
However, nowadays that isn't always the case. Some members of the news media do tend to carry their opinions on their sleeves. Viewers are smart enough to make their own judgements and create their own opinions based on FACTS presented by the news media.
I would totally agree with a ratings system or an on-screen message for news that would inform the viewer whether opinions were being represented or pure factual information. This would be a great way of ensuring that viewers were not manipulated into taking in peoples' opinions as facts.
However, when it comes to celebrities and other personalities, I think as long as they are in no way related to the news media or any other organization that claims to tell the “news”, they should definitely be able to express their opinions, both biased & political. Why? BECAUSE WE'RE A NATION THAT CLAIMS TO HAVE FREE SPEECH. And free speech is what defines us as a democratic country.
So in 2003, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks diecided to use that right of free speech. At a concert in London, England, she told the audience while laughing, “"Just so yo
u know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." It turned out, using her right of free speech had many consequences. Lipton, the Dixie Chick's sponsor of their 2003 “Top of the World” tour disassociated themselves from the group, many country radio stations pulled the group's songs off air and former fans destroyed their CDs. Why? Well, President Bush's popularity was sky high which was why people were shocked and upset that, “Texas' own have attacked the state and the president.” For example, Terry Dorsey, host of WBAP 820 in Arlington, Texas said, “Natalie Maines is not paid to espouse her ideas on stage.” Others told the Dixie Chicks to “Shut up & sing.” What didn't come to the minds of many was why. Maines is a citizen of the U.S., and as such has the right to express her opinions freely. By telling the Dixie Chicks that they need to "Shut up and Sing," they were sending a messgage to everyone else who doesn't agree with the government to also shutup. What happened to democracy? So instead of asking the question, should they be allowed to express their biased or political opinions, we should be asking the question, why not? It's just the news media that shouldn't have been allowed to express their opinions as some did.Songs aren't news; they have the opinions, feelings and emotions of the artist(s) embedded in them. The Dixie Chicks weren't the only non-news media related celebrities that spoke out politically against George Bush, the president of the United States.
During a live Hurricane K
atrina fundraiser on TV, Kanye West said, “George Bush doesn't care about black people,” referring to the late and slow recovery efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He was then immediately cut off air, which I think is wrong. What ever happened to FREE SPEECH? Although I would definitely say that this comment was much worse than Natalie Maines' comment about President Bush, Kanye West wasn't as highly criticized for it and didn't have to pay as many consequences as the Dixie Chicks. Weird, right? Well, not exactly. The key was that Kanye West made his comment after President Bush's approval rating had dropped and was at it's all time low because of the late response to Hurricane Katrina. Natalie Maines' comment came at a time when the president's approval rating was high. What message does that bring to the public...It's wrong to publically say the oppposite of what the majority is believing but when the majority also starts to believe that way, then it alright to express your belief? 
Many other artists have written protest songs. Pink and the very popular Rolling Stones are just some examples from the recent past. However, it's important to note that Pink's song has unofficially been banned from American radio stations and DJ's have been told not to talk about her song if if she's a guest on their show. TALK ABOUT CENSORSHIP! This all sends out a message to the public that says that you really don't have the right to free speech as much as you think you do and if you use your right to free speech and go against the majority belief, there could be consequences.
Protest songs aren't a new trend at all. There have been many in the past. In the sixites, youth culture was defined by protest songs. They were well recieved too. Just take Edwin Starr's 'War' for example. it rose to become the United States' #1 song in 1970. Another proetst song of the past is Bob Marley and Wailers 'Get Up, Stand Up' (1973), rebelling against opression and Phil Ochs' 'I Ain't Marching Anymore'(1965) , rebelling against war. Check out this list of even more past protest songs:
http://www.spinner.com/2007/07/13/20-protest-songs-that-mattered-no-20/.
All in all, do I think that there should be NO limit to free speech? The answer: no. There should be certain limits as are already in place such as no hate speech (e.g. racist and sexist comments) and things of that extent. But expressing our feelings about the government should not be limited...because isn't that what a democratic government is all about?
Froomkin, Dan. Was Kanye West Right? 13 Sep. 2005. 15 June 2008 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/09/13/BL2005091300884_pf.html.
Edgers, Geoff . Protest Singers Renew Their Cry. 16 Apr. 2006. 15 June 2008
Unknown artist. “Dixie Chicks' album.” No date. Online image. 8notes.com. 15 June 2008.
Unknown artist. “Pink-the singer.” No date. Online image. EnjoyFrance.com. 15 June 2008Unknown artist. “Kanye West singing.” No date. Online image. DirectNews. 15 June 2008.
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