Yesterday Joan Rivers handcuffed herself to a Costco shopping cart and exercised her God-given right to Godwin herself on camera.
The 79-year-old was holding an unauthorized book signing while protesting Costco’s violation of “First Amendment rights” … because the retailer refused to stock her new book. And as we all know, forcing stores to sell books is what freedom of speech is all about.
Rivers was eventually escorted out of Costco by police, but not before using a bullhorn to declare the chain’s decision “the beginning of Nazi Germany.”
I had no idea Joan Rivers knew so little about Nazi Germany.
— Parker (@prkrs) August 8, 2012
Joan Rivers has no idea how bad the concentration camps were. I know because I have friends & family in Germany. I am 100% German American.
— Shawn M Nordhoff CNA (@nordhoffms) August 8, 2012
Today, Rivers thanked supporters for backing her ever-so-noble free speech crusade.
Thank you ALL so much for your support! I embrace my First Amendment Rights to free speech. And my book "I Hate Everyone" sure proves that!
— Joan Rivers (@Joan_Rivers) August 8, 2012
Daughter Melissa Rivers tweeted in support of her mom.
My mom is my hero! @Joan_Rivers rocks
— Melissa Rivers (@MelRivers) August 8, 2012
Er, okay. That’s a lovely sentiment, but maybe it’s time to offer your hero a lesson or two in how that Constitution thingy works. Here’s some help from the Twitterverse to get you started.
Joan Rivers doesn't understand freedom of speech. If a store doesn't want to sell your book, Joan, that's not censorship, just good taste.
— David Daniel @? (@CNNLADavid) August 8, 2012
Recommended
https://twitter.com/RickMoore/status/233194868606918656
So let me understand: Joan Rivers enjoys 1st Amendment protection, but Costco doesn't? If it protects you, it protects them, too. Nice stunt
— Suz Carragher (@TheRedDogInn) August 8, 2012
Lol, she's confused about the 1st amendment. Costco does NOT have to sell your book.
Joan Rivers Protests Costco http://t.co/dC6QwdkE
— Matthew (@_MATH_YOU) August 8, 2012
@Joan_Rivers ur 1st amendment rights weren't denied as the gov't (fed, state, local) didn't prevent u from writing & publishing that drivel.
— El Señor Footlong (@ElSenorFootlong) August 8, 2012
But Nazis! And censorship! Or something.
Rivers also complained via Twitter that Costco stocks “Fifty Shades of Grey,” a series with explicit bondage scenes.
YES…My point exactly! And they won't sell MY book! Really??? RT @jillllo @Joan_Rivers they sell 50 shades of Gray at costco
— Joan Rivers (@Joan_Rivers) August 8, 2012
It’s soooooo unfaaaaair!
Once again, this is not government censorship. And it’s the cover of Rivers’ book, not the content, that has Costco buyers shunning the title. Via Newsbusters, here’s why Costco won’t carry “I Hate Everything … Starting With Me”:
The chain of 429 US stores is said to have banned the title because of fictional quotes on the back cover, including Marie Antoinette saying: ‘I don’t like her. Let her eat s–t’ and late basketball player Wilt Chamberlain – who claimed to have slept with 20,000 women – saying: ‘Even if I were alive I wouldn’t f–k her.”
Cameras, handcuffs and constitutionally illiterate ranting? Looks like Rivers exercised her First Amendment right to pull off a cheesy publicity stunt.
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