Freedom Of The Press

Tinfoil hat time.

Call me what you will, but when major news organizations such as AP and FOX have their freedom of the press messed with I get concerned. Of course many of you might simply dismiss FOX because the government doesn't see them as a “real” news organization and ,being politically correct, you'd have to go with what the government says. But if your a writer of any kind I would worry if I was you. In light of all these other things that have come out lately of what the government is doing what makes you so sure that they aren't targeting you as well? What makes you so sure that they haven't tapped in to other news organizations such as CNN or ABC? The only reason we know about these two is because they were caught.

I have been writing for years on things pertaining to the constitution and the freedom of speech being attacked ,all to no avail, and now its really coming to light as just how far they are willing to go to violate that right. I have gotten into heated battles over defending the rights of people who were not PC in what they said. I defended their rights to speak and to be seen as idiots with the simple point being that if you value the freedom of speech then you must accept the rights of those whom you disagree with to speak. If you don't who is going to defend you when what you say becomes un popular?

What continues to surprise me is the lack of concern, so it would appear anyhow, from most of the media not involved in this case, and the argument that I keep hearing that you shouldn't be worried if you have nothing to hide.

The problem with that argument is that in both these major cases their was nothing to hide. In the case of the AP they told the government what they had and they complied with waiting a bit before they published it, meanwhile, even after being cooperative, they were being investigated and their phone records seized all under the radar. What was their crime? Investigating and asking questions as journalists have done for 200 years. In the case of FOX they went so far as to accuse the head of their Washington bureau of being a “co-conspirator of possible criminal activity” as justification of searching his personal records. Again, as in the case of the AP, his only “crime” was asking for information. I also saw a brief note today that perhaps CBS has been investigated as well though I have no confirmation as of yet. I understand that the government has a responsibility to investigate things that have a serious effect on national security but neither of these cases as well as some of the whistle blowers, that they have gone after, have done anything wrong.

I have read , from other news sources, that this is already having an effect on how reporters are getting their information as insiders are a bit reluctant to give information to journalists and who can blame them? This administration has made it a point to prosecute whistle blowers and to go after reporters and their sources in clear violation of the Constitution. Who's next?

I don't care if they try to shut me down, I have about 10 readers world wide so I am no threat to them but what about you? I know that a few of you who occasionally read my blog are professional writers, people who are read by thousands world wide if not millions, aren't you even a little concerned that perhaps you are going to do some research on something and find yourself in trouble for asking the wrong person the right questions? Or that you might have sources of information that will dry up because people are afraid to share info? You might think I am being melodramatic here but these are very serious questions that you have to ask yourself. If they are willing to go after the big dogs what makes you think they won't come after you as well? More importantly though, if the government is allowed to continue this practice who is ever going to be able to keep the governments feet to the fire if not the press? Granted up until recently I haven't been sure that they have even been doing their jobs but now that they are a target it's amazing to see.

In many ways its being very hypocritical on their part. While the federal government has been passing bills or using executive orders to stop free speech, such as not being able to protest anywhere near government officials that have secret service protection or having your tax exempt status threatened or questioned if your views are not politically correct, they have remained mostly silent. Now that they are being targeted they are outraged.

So I am mot going to belabor the point but here is the first amendment emphasis is mine.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

In my humble opinion this is worse then their attempts at the 2^nd amendment because this they can do under the radar and it only becomes clear when those being investigated find out.

Just my simple minded opinion.