So that’s how the left “protects free speech”?

Wise-cracking funnyman Al Franken yesterday body-slammed a demonstrator to the ground after the man tried to shout down Gov. Howard Dean.

…

“I got down low and took his legs out,” said Franken afterwards.

Franken said he’s not backing Dean but merely wanted to protect the right of people to speak freely. “I would have done it if he was a Dean supporter at a Kerry rally,” he said.

So, protecting free speech means physically taking out someone exercising their right to what, speak freely?

“I was a wrestler so I used a wrestling move,” Franken said.

Oh, I get it now.