This free speech thing

I am sure that these musings on free speech are very obvious to most folks, but as an immigrant to the US, perhaps I have a bit more thinking to do about these things than many other folks.
I remember being struck a few years ago (post 9/11) that some people, especially in the entertainment industry, had a very strange idea of what free speech entails. I do not mean in the legal sense - I am sure I am just as clueless as any non-lawyer in that regard. I mean rather in the common sense sense (sorry about that word repetition!).
What triggered my musing was, if I recall correctly, some comments by the Dixie Chicks (or at least, by one of them) that were less than flattering toward President Bush. Yes, I know this happened a long time ago - so I do not think (or at least commit to paper) very quickly - I will not say "so sue me" because somebody might!
Anyway, an inevitable response to the comments by the chick or chicks was a certain public outcry condemning them, and encouraging folks to boycott their music. The next step was a (possibly tearful?) interview with the offending chick saying in essence how everyone was very mean, and by disagreeing with her, and threatening to boycott her music, they were trampling on her right to free speech.
This is of course, total nonsense. As I understand it, the constitution does indeed allow us free speech, but it does not guarantee that everyone will like what we say. Furthermore, those who dislike what we say are at total liberty to let the world know that they disagree with us. And, if we happen to sell stuff, they can refuse to buy it.
What I found most disheartening in the Dixie Chick response was that she expected that there would be no repercussions to what she said, and clearly felt that the repercussions (people disagreeing with her, and possibly even a drop in her sales) were terribly unfair. This is a typical elitist response - the little people have to do what I want, because I clearly know better. At the time that this event happened, I had a little chuckle to myself wondering how exactly one could enforce "fairness" toward the outspoken Dixie. Perhaps certain people who disagreed with her would be required to not only buy her albums, but even listen to them!
Of course, the absurdity of this is obvious. But what is also fairly obvious to me is the unwillingness of some to accept the consequences of their actions (or, indeed, their inactions). We are learning these days in very real ways that "freedom is not free." But this applies not only in the sense we now face in the ongoing War on Terror, but also in a more mundane sense. I am free to exercise the liberties guaranteed me by the Constitution, but that does not mean there is no cost attached!