Larry King got it (almost) right with Dr. Laura

As someone who hasn't been reluctant to criticize future ex-TV host Larry King, I've got to give him credit when he gets it right.

And, for the most part, King got it right with Laura Schlessinger recently.

"Dr. Laura" went on "Larry King Live" to announce she's quitting her radio advice show at the end of the year, perhaps because she knew that King has never been big on challenging outrageous statements.

If you missed it, Schlessinger made headlines when she used the "n-word" 11 times on her radio show. She apologized and insisted that she was making a "philosophical point," to little effect.

(In 2010, it's amazing that somebody as media savvy as Schlessinger would use the n-word, oblivious to the obvious blowback that would result.)

Schlessinger went on "Larry King Live" to announce that she would give up her radio show "to regain my First Amendment rights. I want to be able to say what's on my mind and in my heart and what I think is helpful and useful without somebody getting angry, some special interest group deciding this is the time to silence a voice of dissent and attack affiliates and attack sponsors."

Thus, she clearly demonstrated she doesn't understand the First Amendment.

And, much to his credit, King challenged her false assertion.

"Why is your freedom of speech denied on radio?" he asked. "Because people can criticize what you say."

Schlessinger again made her ignorance clear. And made herself out to be the victim.

"When I started in radio, if you said something somebody didn't agree with or they didn't like, they argued with you. Now they try to silence you," she said. "They try to wipe out your ability to earn a living and to have your job. They go after affiliates. They send threats to sponsors."

"But that's their right, too," King said.

"Yes, but I don't have the right to say what I need to say. My First Amendment rights have been usurped by angry, hateful groups who don't want to debate, they want to eliminate," Schlessinger said.

Perhaps she's never read the First Amendment. Here it is:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.