That is why it is the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. To the citizens of the burgeoning republic, there was nothing more important than the right to speak freely and without retribution.
While I also like the idea that free speech is in the first amendment because of its importance, unfortunately the first amendment wasn't the first proposed amendment to the Constitution, it was the third. The first proposed amendment dealt with how representatives were supposed to be apportioned after each census (technically its still pending). The second proposed amendment actually became the 27th amendment in 1992 and prohibits congress from giving themselves pay-raises which take effect before the next election cycle.
While the states did pass the Bill of Rights first, Congress didn't propose them in that order.
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That is why it is the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. To the citizens of the burgeoning republic, there was nothing more important than the right to speak freely and without retribution.
While I also like the idea that free speech is in the first amendment because of its importance, unfortunately the first amendment wasn't the first proposed amendment to the Constitution, it was the third. The first proposed amendment dealt with how representatives were supposed to be apportioned after each census (technically its still pending). The second proposed amendment actually became the 27th amendment in 1992 and prohibits congress from giving themselves pay-raises which take effect before the next election cycle.
While the states did pass the Bill of Rights first, Congress didn't propose them in that order.
Besides Ron Paul, there's also Russ Feingold (D-WI) http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00000036&cycle=Career
There's also Frontline on PBS.
But I guees that might not count as it's also available online - http://pbs.org/frontline/