I think the Obama Administration's effort to paint this uprising as a response to a YouTube film was a direct and orchestrated attack on the 1st Amendment.
What does the Left do, every time it seeks to advance the "ball" of Leftism? It finds a way to broach a previously unthinkable point of view, and place the debate of it into the public discussion.
With a media compliant and eager to take whatever the administration hands it, this is easier than ever before. Want to attack the 2nd Amendment? Find a way to demonstrate that it has "downsides" that potentially isolate America from the world, and possible violent repercussions, and begin a debate over the very worthiness of freedom of speech to exist at all.