At the UN, the Obama administration backs limits on free speech

The new UN resolution, championed by the Obama administration, emphasizes that the exercise of the right to freedom of expression carries with it "special duties and responsibilities . . . which include taking action against anything meeting the description of negative racial and religious stereotyping. It also purports to "recognize . . . the moral and social responsibilities of the media" and supports "the media's elaboration of voluntary codes of professional ethical conduct" in relation to "combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance."

This new UN resolution is co-sponsored by the US and Egypt, and the language was formulated following the Danish Cartoon "crisis". The Egyptian Ambassador Hisham Badr is delighted. He praised the development by telling the Council that "freedom of expression . . . has been sometimes misused," insisting on limits consistent with the "true nature of this right" and demanding that "the media must . . . conduct . . . itself in a professional and ethical manner."

Good lord.