Freedom of speech does not include the right to be heard. Mr. Card (and everyone else for that matter) is free to say whatever they want. You are not however, free from the repercussions that arise from that speech- nor does that mean that you have to be listened to or accepted. . If I walk around all day saying that I hate pudgy little assholes with glasses & they're abhorrent in (insert deity's name) eyes, it's quite likely that my job where my boss is a pudgy guy with glasses might find a reason to get rid of me. In this case, readers and coworkers don't like what Mr. Card tends to spout off about outside of his stories. This has affected the potential of a project which he was hired on for, even if his beliefs aren't part of the story. Speaking your mind outside of your work can most certainly affect your work. See Tom Cruise, multiple politicians, etc. who said things that were not part of the actual work they were doing, but had severe repercussions for what they said in their work environment.