After numerous controversial attempts during the first Trump Administration, the first lady finally decorated the White House Christmas trees this year with beautiful ornaments and garlands to the satisfaction of even her critics. But, poor Melania, even though the house is in order, she hasn’t been able to get her husband into the spirit of the season. Instead of preaching peace, love and brotherhood from his big pulpit, the president has been growling and spewing what can only be labeled as “hate” speech at everyone from the Somali immigrants (“garbage”) to female news reporters (“stupid”) to American governors (“retarded”).

Dr. Jeffrey Haggra, director of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, founded in 1832, observed recently, “We have not witnessed such vile and hateful displays of racism, antagonism and incivility by an American president in this lifetime.  No part of Trump’s hate speech can be defended, affirmed or interpreted otherwise.”

The irony, of course, is that while “hate speech” has been around for a long time — recall Father Charles Coughlin, the Depression Era “Radio Priest” who blamed Jews and bankers and supported the fascists — it’s clearly First Amendment protected speech.

Don’t get me wrong: no one likes or supports hateful attacks on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual preference. It can be argued they have little value.

But we tolerate and protect them because, as renowned First Amendment scholar Floyd Abrams points out, hate speech is “the price society has determined it must pay in order to assure a system of free expression.” Unless it’s a direct incitement to violence, even ugly words are protected.

Far be it from me to take issue with Abrams, a great modern champion of free speech, but we surely must wonder and ask, do we have to put up with the slurs when they come from Donald Trump, president of the United States?

I don’t want him in jail, I just want to muzzle him because, as numerous studies show,........

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