Academics defend Flanagan’s child porn views as public debate, free speech

CALGARY – Some academics are coming to the defence of former Stephen Harper strategist Tom Flanagan.

They say the well-respected political scientist should not have been so widely condemned for his comments on child pornography.

Barry Cooper, a colleague at the University of Calgary, says people need to debate taboo topics.

And he says it’s a shame Flanagan has been thrown under the bus by his employers and politicians.

Flanagan was giving a community lecture in Lethbridge when he questioned whether people should be jailed for viewing child porn.

Mark Mercer at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax says he doesn’t know why people are so upset because Flanagan is allowed to have an opinion.