OK, you know this story by now...

At a campus news conference Monday, the Chicano Caucus handed out a list of statements supporting its position from other groups, including the university's Black Students Organization and the International Socialist Organization and several academics.

Gilchrist was speaking on stage Oct. 4 when members of the university's Chicano Caucus emerged with banners denouncing his organization, which advocates action to prevent illegal immigration from Mexico. The protesters accused the group of being "racist" and "fascist" in its views toward illegal immigrants.

While the interruption led to some pushing and shoving and forced Gilchrist to cut short his talk, a videotape showed no real violence. Nonetheless, members of the Chicano Caucus claimed they had been "violently attacked" by Minuteman "goons," and Columbia President Lee Bollinger ordered an investigation of the incident.

In response to queries on Monday about the investigation, a university spokeswoman said there was nothing new and referred reporters to a 3-day-old statement by Bollinger deploring the incident as "one of the most serious breaches of faith that can occur in a university such as ours."

..in other words, the minutemen got what they deserved.

Now consider this:

"Come on, be polite!" the well-known liberal implored during the sketch as she and "Bush" exchanged zingers. But one heckler wouldn't let up. And finally, Streisand let him have it.

"Shut the (expletive) up!" Streisand bellowed, drawing wild applause. "Shut up if you can't take a joke!"

With that one F-word, the jeers ended. And the message was delivered _ no one gets away with trying to upstage Barbra Streisand, especially not in her hometown.

Once the outburst (which Streisand later apologized for) was over, Streisand noted that "the artist's role is to disturb," and delivered a message of tolerance before launching into a serenely beautiful rendition of "Somewhere." That put the focus back on what the audience came for _ her voice, one of the greatest female instruments of her generation.

Just two current examples of the liberal love affair with Dred-Scott style free-speech.