This isn't a long diary. I just want to put something out there for your consideration, in light of recent bullying events here at Dkos.
Free speech isn't a shield. Normally, I write that in response to some Republican bitching about being held to account for lies, being stupid, or for their discriminatory and divisive advocacy. They experience some real push back, often from the targets of their speech, and they respond with something along the lines of it being harder to speak, a violation of their rights, due to that impact being felt in a material way.
It could be something as simple as just looking really stupid, or losing some AD revenue. On the other hand, it could escalate to death threats, vandalism, physical harm, or worse too.