Quadruple-down! Howard Dean thinks Chaplinsky should apply to Ann Coulter, adds FCC twist

Greg P. | 9:13 PM on April 23, 2017

By our count, this is now the 4th time since Friday — quadruple-down, baby — that former Vermont Governor Howard Dean has falsely claimed that the 1st Amendment doesn’t protect “hate speech,” this time using the old Chaplinsky SCOTUS case to say that Ann Coulter is using “fighting words” and can therefore be kept off of public university campuses:

Howard Dean on Ann Coulter: 'It's actually true' the First Amendment doesn’t protect "hate speech" pic.twitter.com/N7s0HTOOdI

— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) April 23, 2017

Dean later tweeted an example:

Coulter: I'd like to see 'a little more violence' from Trump supporters https://t.co/e1uCaSQHPe

— Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) April 23, 2017

This is NOT protected speech under the first amendment. Check Chaplinsky V New Hampshire SCOTUS 1942. https://t.co/wr3rMaRnAB

— Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) April 23, 2017

This does not mean she can be prosecuted for saying this but I argue this kind of stuff is grounds for barring her from a University campus https://t.co/7TkRFTHBp2

— Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) April 24, 2017

Still wrong, Howard:

Dear Howard Dean, as a Constitutional attorney, I can assure you that @AnnCoulter's speech is protected by the First Amendment.

— Emily Zanotti’s Great & Unmatched Wisdom (@emzanotti) April 21, 2017

Howard Dean Doesn't Get That First Amendment Protects Ann Coulter's 'Hate Speech' https://t.co/3ZVgbpc2EY pic.twitter.com/tJ885WSnhz

— Law & Crime (@lawcrimenews) April 23, 2017

Dean also suggested that FCC rules apply to all public speeches:

On MSNBC, Howard Dean just asserted that the FCC rules for unacceptable language apply to all public speeches.

— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) April 23, 2017

It's as if Dean never considered that the FCC's language restrictions only apply to broadcasts on public airwaves.

— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) April 23, 2017