CBS has decided not to air a mini-series about Ronald and Nancy Reagan. This is not a decision about censorship.
Many people point to free speech issues as a reason this should be shown. The error in reasoning here is that slander was never intended to be protected by the First Amendment.
People would not be offended by an unflattering presentation of the Reagans if the depiction was true. The problem is that the writers admitted to including dialogue that the Reagans never said (they do claim they have a basis for including it - whatever that means). They even go so far as to claim that Ronald Reagan suffered from Alzheimer's disease while in office despite proof to the contrary.
Dissent is protected by the first amendment and is a principle of this country. Let's hope libel and slander aren't included in those principles.
At least CBS got a clue.
