Not that we needed affirmation that Democrats are pulling out all the stops in their efforts to derail Republicans, but the Left's efforts to stifle free speech are equally, if not more, disturbing to Republican commissioners with the FEC. In fact, one of them is warning conservatives to be aware that the left is actively engaging in steps to "amend the First Amendment" in their effort to sideline them completely. 

The Washington Times reports: 

In some the toughest criticism leveled at Democrats, Commissioner Lee E. Goodman said that the attack started once the Tea Party changed American politics in the 2010 election and now dominates the politics of the Left.

"It has triggered a very aggressive movement by people to amend the First Amendment, left intellectuals have placed it on the table," Goodman said on Boston's Howie Carr show. From trying to reverse the Citizens United decision to using the IRS to kill Tea Party groups, Goodman said that the Democrats have moved to change free speech in the country.

"I have been concerned about bias both in how complaints are brought to the commission just like in the way, the lobbying campaign for Lois Lerner," Goodman said before adding: 

 "I have been concerned from time to time about every time a conservative group comes up, somehow, some way, exceptions and distinctions are made and this is the problem giving government the power to regulate speech in the first instance because ultimately human beings have to make that decision."

The Left created an environment in which freedom of speech truly is under assault, yet its members seem to have no concerns their crusade will come back to bite them. True, there may be some classical liberals remaining who, based on their so-called principles, could fight back against this travesty. If they do exist, so far they've been deafeningly silent.

With media -- both print and televised -- Hollywood, the music industry and other influential cultural institutions all leaning left and shaping what the public consume -- conservatives have more than an uphill battle. 

The irony, of course, is that the left always patted itself on the back for being the "defenders of free speech" while accusing conservatives of promoting censorship. As always when it comes to the Left, the truth is the polar opposite of what they claim.