Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Journalist Shield Law

Heh,  I blog, that makes me a journalist too.  I want to get shielded. 
Obama has been trying to dodge the flak from the snooping of a Fox News man's cell phone and email.  So he comes out in favor of a "shield law" for journalists.  Groovy.  Last time they talked about shield laws, they allowed journalists to refuse to reveal their sources when called to testify in court.  Right now, federal judges can compel anyone to answer questions under oath.  Unless the witness takes the fifth, they have to answer.  Last journalist who refused, some lady from the NYT a while ago, the judge threw her in jail, contempt of court.  She spend quite a few months in the slammer. 
   That kind of shield law wouldn't help the Fox guy much.  He was not being compelled to rat on his sources in court.  Instead, the DOJ  was reading his email and tapping his cell phone.  Eric the Holder signed off on it.
   I'm against laws that give special privileges to some individuals.  America is a democracy, all men are created equal.  Journalists should not have any privileges at law that you and I don't have. 

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