If we criticize the President, do the terrorists win?

"The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."
Theodore Roosevelt -- May 7, 1918


This is what Theodore Roosevelt wrote during World War I. Theodore Roosevelt, a Republican President, had already served his term and was in private life.

He made these comments during a war that was much more dangerous for American soldiers than is the current Iraq war.

Of course, the idea that quelling our freedom of speech helps our cause of "spreading freedom" or reducing terrorism is so patently false and inside-out, that it shouldn't have to be addressed at all. But the sad fact is that the cult leaders on Fox and on the radio airwaves have planted this seed so deeply in our brothers and sisters, that you will find yourself defending this concept over the coming weeks and months.

Thought the quote might be helpful.