Is Jeanette Rishell's Campaign Infringing Upon Free Speech?

This question has every right to be posed, as Jeanette Rishell and her campaign have disabled two YouTube videos due to copyright infringement. The videos in question criticize Rishell’s selection of her campaign manager, who posted pictures of used condoms on her Facebook page and including pornographic videos in the University of Rochester library, along with Rishell’s claim that she supports family values.

Rishell contacted YouTube and requested that these videos be removed, as two small clips of her campaign video were used. Greg Letiecq of Black Velvet Bruce Li, who produced the videos commented on YouTube’s decision.

“YouTube maintains a policy of disabling video content
after receiving any complaints regarding copyright infringement,
so the videos are currently unavailable on YouTube” said
Letiecq, the blogger who operates the Black Velvet Bruce Li
blog. “It is unprecedented for a political campaign to
allege copyright infringement when someone uses short clips of
their campaign videos, and this is a clear effort to stifle
criticism of her bad judgment by misusing the law.”

Rishell’s campaign is clearly infringing upon free speech, as copyright law allows for the limited use of other’s material under the “fair use doctrine.” This is true, considering that the use of this material was used for criticism. Using short clips from campaign video without authorization is allowed under “fair use” (Title 17, Section 107 of the U.S. Code).

Look at the video in question and make your own decisions on whether this was warranted.