President Bush did not remain above the fray last week, when NBC's Tom Brokaw questioned him about the Dixie Chicks and others who opposed military action in Iraq.

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Instead, he may have added fuel to the fire for those inclined to diss the hot country music group for speaking out against the war.

The Chicks opened their U.S. concert tour in Greenville, S.C., last night amid controversy, complete with an alternative country music concert that honored Chicks tickets with free passes.

Brokaw asked Bush whether the Dixie Chicks would be welcome at White House.

Bush replied, "... the Dixie Chicks are free to speak their mind. They can say what they want to say. And just because - they shouldn't have their feelings hurt just because some people don't want to buy their records when they speak out. You know, freedom is a two-way street. But I have - don't really care what the Dixie Chicks said. I want to do what I think is right for the American people, and if some singers or Hollywood stars feel like speaking out, that's fine. That's the great thing about America."

Of course, Bush was absolutely right about freedom in America, but it would have been better for him to defend their right to speak out, encourage those who disagree to join the debate, and wish them luck.

The Chicks are just young entertainers; the president is the leader of the free world, a public figure and can commandeer the airwaves at will.

In a fight, he wins every time.

The whole thing started in March, before the first bombs fell in Iraq, when Dixie Chick Natalie Maines told a London audience: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." She later publicly apologized, but it was too late.

Chicks CDs were destroyed, radio stations boycotted their music. They even received death threats.

As an obvious jab, Thursday's alternative concert featured the Marshall Tucker Band and comedian Gallagher, promoted as a way to raise money for military families.

It's all very silly. America must remain a place where citizens can engage in civil discourse, unpopular or not. Stop punishing the Dixie Chicks for being American.

Byron McCauley