Hey, gimme back my soapbox!

It appears that the progressives are a bit put out when freedom of speech is on the other foot.

Example #1- Miss California USA, Carrie Prejean, stepped forward to commend the National Association for Marriage and stands alongside them in support of marriage between a man and a woman. In return, the California pageant organization chimed in with this critique of Prejean: “In the entire history of Miss USA, no reigning title holder has so readily committed her face and voice to a more divisive or polarizing issue. We are deeply saddened Carrie Prejean has forgotten her platform of the Special Olympics, her commitment to all Californians, and solidified her legacy as one that goes beyond the right to voice her beliefs and instead reveals her opportunistic agenda.”

So is YOUR judge’s question about gay marriage an “opportunistic agenda”?And Mario (aka Perez Hilton), a rabid gay rights advocate, has a right to put out a vulgar video attack about Prejean personally? She’s just standing up for marriage between a man and a woman. This is an agenda?

Example #2- It was a rather clever protest I thought. People pushing baby carriages around the Notre Dame campus. The carriages contained dolls splattered with blood. The school kicked them off campus (not very open-minded of them) and told them never to come back. According to the news story “such orders remain in effect forever unless the university decides to rescind them.”

But Randall Terry returned to the school the next day and was arrested on the spot by campus police and put in jail. He paid his $250 and is out on bond.

Example #3- Also from Notre Dame, the Laetare Medal is given annually to an American of note worthy of Catholic accolades. Past recipients include JFK and Dave Brubeck. This year Mary Ann Glendon was to receive the award. Glendon is no slouch, having been our ambassador to the Vatican and a current Harvard law professor.

But Mary Ann Glendon sent word to Notre Dame that she would not attend the commencement and would not accept the award. Why? Because the college is having Obama speak and will give him an honorary degree.

Notre Dame is “disappointed.”

Example #4- A congressional hearing was held on April 30th on the subject of immigration reform. Senator Diane Feinstein said this about those who disagree with her view on legalization: “There is indeed a dark side in this country. And that dark side really prefers to distort the issue. That dark side really caters to the fear in people that if we repair a broken system, that if we develop a comprehensive immigration plan that is fair to people, that moves people out of the shadows, which uses them in their most constructive and productive way, that it is harmful to this nation.”

Senator Schumer talked about toning down the rhetoric about illegal aliens.

Perhaps they want an ignorant citizenry, willing to trust them with this issue despite the repeated dismal results from Washington. How many times do commissions have to tell them they need to control the border, control the visas, deport those who are here illegally, and provide some sort of employee verification?

One can scarcely say they are doing their best when the very enforcement tools we need (fence, detention beds, ICE, border agents…) are regularly decimated by funding cutbacks?

Is it a “dark side” to suggest that family unification programs grow exponentially within a single generation? Or that “stacked deck” testimony from “experts” is a blatant attempt to ignore the very realities that have doomed past reform efforts?

Feinstein’s remarks point up the fact that our efforts are having an impact and are worth continuing.

Conservative Americans are beginning to step up on the soapbox, and that troubles the left.