Kansas Sens. Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback need to support the Free Flow of Information Act, which the Senate is expected to vote on this week. The act would protect the public’s right to know by preventing reporters from being imprisoned and fined if they don’t reveal confidential sources. The protection isn’t absolute; reporters would have to provide confidential source information if it could prevent acts of terrorism or other significant harm to national security, as well as some other exceptions. But in order for the press to serve as a watchdog and provide the public with information it needs, it must be able to protect its sources.
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18 Comments
But in order for the press to serve as a watchdog and provide the public with information it needs, it must be able to protect its sources.
Watchdog? What a joke. More like attack dog where Republicans are concerned and guard dog where Democrats are concerned. When the MSM starts reporting on John Edwards being found with his lover and their love child with the same glee as they do any Republican who goes bad, then they may earn the title of watchdog.
The modern day press has become a large uncontrolled unit of editorializing. They seldom report accurate, non-prejudiced news unless its mundane.
In order to have trust one must show that they are trustworthy.
The press has shown more dishonesty in the past few decades than I can remember.
At least the Aussies are covering it…
Scandal sinks Edwards’s VP hopes
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24085903-5013948,00.html
Is John Edwards running for something / anything? Is he a private citizen? Guess we’ll hear something about his life when he attains a celebrity status. Did you hear that Shia LaBeouf cashed his truck? Yeah, he was drunk! Oh, and the Madonna and A-Rod saga has caused Madonna to look really old!
I could go on about all these juicy details of utmost interest about the goings on of people from the private sector! It would prove that we really should be spending lots of time on every rumor about who is sleeping with whom because that is what our world should be all about!
/sarcasm
Now, let’s move on to getting assurances that those who should be working for us, are being paid with taxpayer money, are held accountable by someone! They sure have forgotten the parts of their jobs that entail oversight.
So President Bush has started drinking again and beats his wife, Chris? The same source that reported on Edwards and Ms. Hunter has repeatedly reported the above. And even if the story was true, all it reports is that Mr. Edwards was in the hotel at the same time as Ms. Hunter, a former campaign staffer. What is wrong with visiting a friend?
And even if Mr. Edwards is having an affair with Ms. Hunter, what the hell difference does it make? Both are adults, and in most states are doing nothing illegal. It’s not any of your phucking business.
Edwards is a presidential candidate with a suspended campaign. He was also allegedly on a short list for VP or Attorney General. I’d say that makes him fairly relevant. But that toe tapping in a men’s restroom, now there is a story for you…
Since Obama’s campaign has not yet released anything remotely related to a short list for VP, that would be totally BOGUS…. And as for Edwards having a suspended campaign??? He QUIT!!! Geez!! Where does this CRAP come from???
Protect the public? ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Phillip, is that why the kansas press association TOTALLY rolled over on the open meetings laws? Now two memebers of the WaKeeney city council can meet in private. And the KPA called it a worthy compromoise because.. wait for it… the law forbids “rollin”?
Um, yeah.
Oh well, at least all those private meetings out of ear shot of the public are legal.
Now.
sorry, should have been “rolling meetings”.
KPA = government lacky P@###sy’s.
No wonder the country and state are so screwed up when the “fourth estate” just lines up for their doggie biscuits every day…
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.” -Groucho Marx
(Does this make me a Marxist?)
Hehehehe. But the press is ALL OVER anything that might harm their precious minions.
Like this has ANYTHING to do with “protecting the public”?
Nope. It’s a “cover your ass” move done undercover of “protect the public”.
I’m all for having “journalists” not having to disclose their confidential sources. I’m all for not jailing “journalists”.
But dont piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining when this is ONLY a CYA move by the stenographers for the Ministry of Truth.
Monkey, are you sure that wasnt written by nancy pelosi?
PORTER FREAKIN’ GOSS??????????
He suspended his campaign idiot.
iowansforedwards.blogspot.com/2008/01/john-edwards-suspends-campaign.html
And Edwards was on the short list…
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1816620,00.html
Damn you’re dumb.
Historically, the greatest leaders have had the largest libidos. Sexual success is the mark of a great man or woman (Catherine the Great comes to mind). If we had any sense, we’d vote for the candidate with the hardest dick or most lovers.
Used to be such a thing as investigative reporting in the tradition of Woodward and Bernstein that needed such protection. Anymore, the sources for journalists are 99% press handouts.
If you reporters, if there are any left out there, could start actually investigating news instead of rewriting what you’re fed, and speculating on the paternity of the latest celebrity baby, such a law could be justified. How about showing us you can still write important stories where protected sources are necessary?
The Australian… owned by Rupert Murdock, with links to Faux News.
There’s a reliable source for ya.
Linda
Senator Edwards is a PUBLIC figure.
Edwards still has a federal campaign fund, reporting to Federal authorities.
Edwards was considered a top candidate for VP.
Ok
If we pass this law, a prediction:
A reporter will just makes stuff up, much like Dan Rather and others have done.
When called into court, the reporter will simply claim a “confidential source” and protect the reporter’s own falsehoods.
The press does not deserve any special protection. Contempt of court is the price reporters must pay, if they feel they must protect any source.
The media is far, far too irresponsible to allow a blanket immunity of any kind.