It's always amazing to me that people honestly believe that their freedom of speech means that they can show up anywhere and say anything via any method they want, no matter how inappropriate the time or place.
Freedom of speech means that the government can't prevent you from speaking on your own time with people who want to hear what you have to say. Freedom of speech does *not* mean you can force your "message" on others any time you want.
And lest there be any confusion as to *why* she wore that shirt:
Quote:
I wore the shirt to make a statement. The press knew I was going to be there and I thought every once in awhile they would show me and I would have the shirt on. I did not wear it to be disruptive, or I would have unzipped my jacket during George's speech. If I had any idea what happens to people who wear shirts that make the neocons uncomfortable that I would be arrested...maybe I would have, but I didn't.
The SOTU speech does not exist and is not televised so that Cindy Sheehan can make a political statement. It exists (and is constitutionally mandated) so the President can give his report to Congress (and through that process to the people) on the state of the union. She's free to wear and say whatever she wants before and after the event, but while she's there she should be respectful of the process and the office, even if she doesn't respect the man. At some point in the future, it'll be a Democrat president giving a similar speech. The respect one pays to the office applies across the board and despite claims by Sheehan and others, has been fairly applied when it comes to controversal messages from the gallery during the speech.
She did something incredibly stupid, and incredibly disrespectful, not just to Bush, but to the entire country. She really needs to get off herself and get over it.