One of the fundamental freedoms guaranteed to us in the constitution is the freedom to think whatever the hell we want, about anything. It's constantly under attack, from teachers, and schools, and so-called "facts," but at least one politician still believes in it:

House Speaker John Boehner says Americans have a right to think what they want to think, even when they're wrong about President Barack Obama's citizenship and his religion...

When the host of NBC's "Meet the Press" asked Boehner whether he, as speaker of the House, had a responsibility to "stand up to that kind of ignorance," Boehner told David Gregory: "It's not my job to tell the American people what to think. Our job in Washington is to listen to the American people."

Now, some people might say that Boehner refuses to condemn that kind of ignorance about Obama's background because it energizes his party's base. Some people might say that ambiguous phrasing about Obama's religion—like "The president says he's a Christian. I accept him at his word."—actually encourages the belief that he's a Muslim. But it's not John Boehner's job to tell Americans what to think! It's not his job to tell us anything! In fact, John Boehner should just shut his mouth, forever.

[AP]