by TChris

Some jurisdictions make it a crime to utter a public profanity (at least if the profanity disturbs or might disturb others) -- laws of dubious constitutionality that some courts have nonetheless upheld. Dick Cheney is leading the way toward a new defense to such charges: profanity as therapy, a form of self-defense or medical necessity.

Cheney admits he "probably" tossed the F-word at Senator Leahy this week, but says he "felt better afterwards." Good for him. And good for all the criminal defense lawyers who can now say in a closing argument: "If the Vice President can say that word in the Senate chamber as a stress reliever, how can my client be guilty of disorderly conduct for saying the same word? Isn't he entitled to a little therapy too?"

A big thanks to Dick Cheney for making clear a fact we've always known: even Republicans swear, and it's not a big deal -- making it an effing shame that people sometimes get charged with a crime for using language that others find disagreeable.