Rock musician-turned-conservative activist Ted Nugent recently made comments at the NRA convention in Saint Louis that was interpreted by many as death threats against President Obama, Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Clinton, and Attorney General Holder. Just watch this DNC video linking Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee for POTUS, to Ted Nugent's vile remarks.
There is a line between voicing criticism of public leaders and advocating violence against public leaders. Nugent is basically advocating for Obama, Biden, Clinton, and Holder to be beheaded if Obama is re-elected. If Nugent's comments are purely political hyperbole, then Nugent is protected by Watts v. United States, a 1969 SCOTUS ruling drawing the line between political speech critical of the President and true threats on the life of the President. It's perfectly fine for anyone to criticize the President or other public officials for any reason. We have a long-standing tradition of free speech in this country. However, it is NOT acceptable for anyone to advocate violent acts against public officials, up to and including the President of the United States, for any reason whatsoever. It is socially unacceptable to advocate violence against public officials, if not outright illegal.
Nugent will meet with Secret Service agents later today, and, if Nugent is not arrested for Threatening the President of the United States, my only hope is that the Secret Service will inform Nugent that, while it is well within Nugent's First Amendment right to criticize the President and other public officials, he does NOT have the right to advocate violence against the President and/or other public officials.
Why would Mitt Romney say that "it's been fun" getting to know a guy that is a loose cannon that advocates beheading the President and other top officials?