Fascists

Now we have the tale of a police officer who has been punished by the government for making a political statement (heretofore something protected by this thing called the First Amendment). Not only that, it was a statement made off-duty in the comfort of his own home.

Ah, but see, it was disparaging about the Fuhrer.

An Iowa State trooper who was investigated after it was shown that he forwarded an e-mail showing mug shots of people wearing Obama t-shirts has been suspended for 30 days.

Sgt. Rodney Hicok was at home and off-duty when he forwarded the e-mails, said an official with the Iowa Department of Public Safety Bureau and Professional Standards.

The e-mail made disparaging remarks about 15 people in the photos and referred to Obama as having "quite a fan base."

Hicok was not making a racial statement, the official said, but, rather, a political statement.

I'm sorry, but a state agency cannot have a "policy" prohibiting protected expression in direct violation with the U.S. Constitution. But, hey, if Iowa is now operating sans the Constitution these days what exactly makes them not fascists?