When successful companies run by conservatives do something that's (at least barely) legal but might offend the sensibilities of a few, conservatives bleat that the company has every right to behave as it wants within the law. Then when companies choose to do something that might be construed as liberal (whether it's something as clearly liberal as same-sex-partner health benefits, or as much of a torturous stretch as claiming that Google's logo doodles have some greater meaning) then it's a horrible act that's trying to rend the fabric of American society.

The conservative media are just incensed that a basically liberal company has made billions of dollars without asking for their Conservative Seal of Approval.

Funny, I can't remember any one either in this story or elsewhere claiming that Google doesn't have the right to freely express whatever opinion it wants to. If anyone is a hypocrite, it would be those who think that Conservatives don't not have the same right to free speech.

Anyone saying the conservatives have no right to say Google is the liberal antichrist for not Doodling their logo at only (and all) sanctioned conservative days of celebration would be advocating violating those writers' constitutional rights to free expression. I certainly didn't advocate such a position, I merely pointed out that the conservatives crying about Google's bias and railing against liberals who cry about the conservative bias of other corporate and/or governmental entities are being hypocritical.

Personally I think the doodles are cute and couldn't care less about pagans celebrating the solstice or patriots beating the drum on Memorial day. If one group doesn't share the others' fervor about commemorating a particular event or contrived holiday, so be it. As long as they don't suggest there is something wrong with someone else celebrating different events than they personally support (the line that these complainers are at best dancing around, if not actually crossing) then no harm is done.

It's the same ridiculous non-problem as the ACLU's apoplexy about displaying a manger scene on public property, and Southies in Boston trying to pretend there are no gay irishmen. While we in theory are supposed to support freedom of expression, most Americans tend more towards thinking "It's only okay for others to express things *I* believe in."

And where is anyone saying that conservatives don't have a right to free speech?

And it is hypocritical when we conservatives tell liberals that they're overreacting when they complain about the policies of conservative businesses, then start bitching because of a liberal companies policies.

The difference between liberal concern about conservative corporate behavior and the reverse is quite simple.

'Conservative' companies tend to do illegal, sleazy things to consumers and attempt to get away with it, while liberal companies tend to be more concerned with their employee and customer well being over all. If you were to compare employee retention and satisfaction at say, News Corp, to google, you would find that Google likely wins hands down.

As a former serviceman who has witnessed fellow soldiers dying, the lack of recognition of Memorial day by Google doesnt distress me. America as a whole doesnt remember the reason for the day, but boy, would they sure be pissed off if they had to work that Monday, huh? But its Googles sandbox, and if they choose to recognize and illuminate some of the non-American things that makes this world a decent place to be, more power to them. It tickles my fancy to no end that this pisses conservatives off.