I'm not sure the USA has much to crow about. Remember the Dixie Chicks? Further back, McCarthy?

Freedom of speech really has to do with the government, so the Dixie Chicks really don't signify. Consumers are of course allowed to boycott anyone or anything they please based on things said; the DC were unfortunate (or remiss) in that their fan base was way way to their right. Of course their fan base had bought into the Bush lies that criticizing the president was the same as criticizing the country. The same people have conveniently forgotten they ever believed that now that a Democrat is in the White House; they will suddenly remember it next time a Republican president is elected.

McCarthy was an aberration, although chillingly the Republicans look like they want to go back in that direction. They had one or two nutcases (whom the sheeple nevertheless elected) who have said things about "unamerican" this or that. I fear for people of my political beliefs if the Rethugs ever regain both chambers of Congress and the presidency. The Patriot Act will look like a bill of rights.

I understand the accusation of arrogance. US officialdom really has a bad case of it, and nobody more than Congress. And I agree an American president would probably not have done the same under analogous circumstances. Nor should Cameron have.