# Is throwing an egg at a candidate considered free speech? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 4, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598 "2003-09-04T20:59:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/1 "2003-09-04T20:59:30Z")
First and foremost, I think its a crime. Being the polished candidate that he is, Arnold did not persue the matter and brushed it off (literally and figuratively) [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=796&ncid=799&e=3&u=/eo/20030903/en\_celeb\_eo/12435](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=796&ncid=799&e=3&u=/eo/20030903/en_celeb_eo/12435) Saying that he deserved it comes close to the same rationalization a recently late death row inmate used to kill abortion doctors. While I am not saying egging a candidate is equal to murdering a doctor, I find it despicable that people in this day and age would do something like that. What would be next? A flying produce fest at a Davis rally? Cream pies in the face for Bustamante or Ueberroth? or can it escalate to bomb threats and hoaxes? ---
**Author:** ![Svt4Him](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@Svt4Him](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svt4Him)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/2 "2003-09-04T21:03:53Z")
Well, to answer the question, when I was younger, the police didn’t consider it free speech when I _“commented”_ on their car. ---
**Author:** ![TonyJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9c0ed/32.png) [@TonyJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonyJ)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/3 "2003-09-04T21:19:43Z")
Maybe someone was just offering Arnold some quick protein, Rocky style. Ha. Get it? Cuz he was a bodybuilder… the protein… raw eggs… quick absorption… uh. So. I wouldn’t say it’s free speech. First, there didn’t seem to be a message to it - well, aside from “I don’t like you.” Second, it falls more under the category of an attack - who knows, it could’ve busted his eye, caused some damage. You’ve got no right to hurt someone, even accidentally. It’s too physical to shrug off. The person who did it should get some punishment. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/4 "2003-09-04T21:22:05Z")
There is a fine line between a creme pie and an egg. Creme pies have usually represented a humourous gesture of disapproval. Eggs are more serious. Oddly then, I’d say a pie was freespeach, but an egg wasn’t. Arnie took that well- too bad he blew his lead by blowing off the debate. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/5 "2003-09-04T21:25:00Z")
Crime? Maybe. I’d be interested in a lawyer addressing whether this falls under the doctrine of _de minimis no curat lex_: The law doesn’t sweat the petty stuff, or Stop Trifling! A thrown egg might technically be assault, but nobody got hurt, and nobody was likely to get hurt. It should not be punished in the same way as if, for example, a candidate punched Arnie in the face. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/6 "2003-09-04T21:26:28Z")
On second thought, is egg difficult to dry-clean? The egger ought at least to be liable for the dry-cleaning bills for the suit, and it’d be appropriate to charge them for vandalism to the suit, I’d think. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/7 "2003-09-04T21:27:58Z")
Did anyone say it was free speach? No one even knows who the egg tosser was. I’d like to see the guy get caught and get about 30 days plus commnity service. What a stupid and potentially dangerous thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/8 "2003-09-04T21:31:52Z")
Arnie said it was free speech. Frankly, he’s wrong - it’s assault, but it’s sufficiently minor that brushing it off is appropriate, imho. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/9 "2003-09-04T22:13:37Z")
Throwing things at people is not free speech. ---
**Author:** ![MrTuffPaws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MrTuffPaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrTuffPaws)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/10 "2003-09-04T22:42:30Z")
No, it may not be free speech, but is it freedom on expression? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/11 "2003-09-04T22:49:25Z")
It’s assault. Your right to throw eggs ends when the egg hits someone. There’s no way to defend this (or a creme pie) as freedom of speech or expression unless both people (thrower and target) agree to the action. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/12 "2003-09-04T22:57:22Z")
What **Telemark** said. Minor vandalism, IMO, since “assault” seems a tad overreactionary. Give the guy a fine. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/13 "2003-09-04T23:00:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dogface \* > \*\*Throwing things at people is not free speech. \*\* As affirmed by the courts here in the case of an idiot who doused some women with ice water for protesting the war in Iraq. His lawyer claimed “free speech”; the judge wasn’t having any of it. I would include a cite, but would have to pay for the privelege. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/14 "2003-09-04T23:02:14Z")
Where did he say it was free speech? All I read was him making a joke about next having bacon. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/15 "2003-09-04T23:05:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MrTuffPaws \* > \*\*No, it may not be free speech, but is it freedom on expression? \*\* You mean freedom of eggspression, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/16 "2003-09-04T23:08:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chefguy \* > \*\*As affirmed by the courts here in the case of an idiot who doused some women with ice water for protesting the war in Iraq. His lawyer claimed “free speech”; the judge wasn’t having any of it. I would include a cite, but would have to pay for the privelege. \*\* Here’s a quote from the article: > [@](#): > > Author: TOM KIZZIA > Anchorage Daily News > > Staff > Date: July 29, 2003 > Publication: Anchorage Daily News (AK) > Page: A1 > > A local fishing guide was sentenced Monday to 320 hours of community service for dumping water on street-corner peace demonstrators last spring while his son was fighting in Iraq. > > Jeff Webster drew the relatively stiff sentence for three misdemeanor counts of harassment and violating constitutional rights after he refused to say he was sorry or had learned a free-speech lesson, though he promised not to do it again. ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/17 "2003-09-04T23:30:28Z")
So everyone here seems to agree that egg tossing is not covered in the articles of the constitution (disregarding the odd wittisms of a few pun-dits here) While crime may sound like an overreaction, in actuality it is against the law thus a crime albeit a minor one but in serious bad taste. I agree that a fine or community service is just punishment. So why didnt anyone point the guy out? and that was deadly accurate aim by the way. Judging by the arc of the trajectoriy that was a toss from at least 10 feet. ---
**Author:** ![Jojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecd19e/32.png) [@Jojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jojo)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/18 "2003-09-04T23:46:53Z")
Arnie’s a wuss. UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott would have [floored the guy.](http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_295946.html) ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/19 "2003-09-05T06:23:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by X~Slayer(ALE) \* > So why didnt anyone point the guy out? Maybe nobody saw him? Or, alternately, all of the witnesses were friends of his? Here’s an interesting spin-off from the OP: What if the thrown egg had _missed?_ (Either intentionally or accidentally) Would it still be considered “assault” or “vandalism” if no damage was done? Or would it be equivalent to raising a fist in anger (but not actually punching someone)? ---
**Author:** ![T.Mehr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@T.Mehr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Mehr)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598/20 "2003-09-05T10:53:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jojo \* > \*\* UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott would have [floored the guy.](http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_295946.html) \*\* Some nice pictures in this one! A bit off topic: Egg throwing is effective. Two cases from Berlin: Helmut Kohl, after being hit by an egg in a rally went after the attacker and had to be stoped by his own security - and made a total idiot of himself. And the conservative candidate for major in Berlin two years ago hid behind some other politicians when eggs flew. He was viewd as a coward after this and lost the election (arguably not only because of this). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-throwing-an-egg-at-a-candidate-considered-free-speech/199598.md?page=2)