Daniel Ellsburg - the indictment of Julian Assange is the first shot in new war against journalism

[Beringia]

https://www.thenation.com/article/julian-assange-extradition-daniel-ellsberg/

This is very important. First of all, let me just repeat that the indictment of Julian Assange is the first shot in a new war directly against all of journalism, and certainly investigative journalism—against what Trump calls “the enemy of the people,” the news media. And especially the ones that he says publish “fake news,” like The Washington Post and The New York Times. In other words, this indictment is meant to criminalize journalism and especially investigative journalism. It’s a direct campaign against democracy in this country. That has nothing to do with Julian Assange’s character or practices or status.

It’s no coincidence that they chose, as the first defendant, a man who has in the last couple of years lost the support and even the respect of nearly everyone. He’s probably the most unpopular person in the media. The administration hopes that by using this law against an unpopular person, the press will dissociate itself from him, the Congress will not support him, the public will not support him. But the First Amendment does not apply only to a responsible press, to a press that checks all of its information carefully with the government and elsewhere. That’s not what the First Amendment is.

[still_one]

1. Assange illegally worked with people to illegally steal information. That is illegal, and has

nothing to do with freedom of the press. Assange has allegedly worked with a foreign power to interfere with our election. What does that have to do with freedom of the press?

Using trump's "fake news motto", as a defense for Assange is ironic, since allegedly people within the Trump administration used illegally hacked information obtained by Assange against the Democratic nominee.

Really Daniel, what are you are you really defending?

[Beringia]

2. Wasn't Ellsburg doing something illegal too?

[still_one]

5. Yes, and he willingly admitted it. He also did not use other people to illegally obtain that

information, or allegedly work with foreign governments.

He also did NOT run away from what he did, and most likely would have been sent to prison if a mistrial did not occur due to the Nixon administration illegally breaking into his office. (I think that was the reason)

[hunter]

19. There won't be a similar mistrial here because government break ins were invisible and electronic.

I don't think anything good will come of an Assange show-trial.

He's a pawn, an unlikable useful idiot, in a much larger battle of international electronic warfare that will never be exposed in court.

[still_one]

21. He is no innocent, and there won't be a public trial let alone a show trial I think

My belief is that he is implicated with Russia and the Trump administration interfering with the elections, and will be kept out of the public eye, at least if he is ever extradited here

[hunter]

22. I didn't say he was innocent.

Any prosecution in the U.S.A., or even plea bargaining, and confessions and such, would be for "show." And the rabbit hole probably goes much deeper than Trump or Russia.

There will be no justice, there will be no light.

I'm curious to see where Assange ends up, but not much.

[still_one]

23. Our views are pretty aligned on this then

[LanternWaste]

11. Ellsburg did not run away from the consequences of his actions or breach bail.

Ellsberg publicly surrendered to the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts in Boston. In admitting to giving the documents to the press, Ellsberg said: "I did this clearly at my own jeopardy and I am prepared to answer to all the consequences of this decision."

Ellsburg didn't run away and hide. He instead stood up to and accepted the judicial consequences of his actions. A most relevant difference between the two, one would think.

[hunter]

24. I hate that argument.

It's too fucking "Christian."

A person shouldn't have to sacrifice themselves in the course of doing the right thing.

It's always better and no less noble to do the right thing and get away with it, suffering no adverse consequences, than to do the right thing and get punished for it.

[G_j]

4. Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow any many others

have been saying the same thing,
-just sayin’

[G_j]

3. absolutely

Perilous

[Blue_Tires]

6. For the last time, Assange isn't a journalist

and no amount of whining is going to change that reality.

[Beringia]

7. The argument is this is to erode the law, and journalists are next up

[LanternWaste]

12. You'll provide objective evidence to support that argument, yes?

You'll of course then provide objective evidence that leads from directly from premise to support that argument, yes?

[Blue_Tires]

16. The argument is Assange will use any

flimsy "slippery slope" argument to save his own ass, and he's been hustling suckers with it for damn near a decade...

[Wellstone ruled]

15. Your post is the truth.

Assange never was or is a Journalist.

[comradebillyboy]

8. I don't equate Assange dabbling in espionage with journalism.

[mathematic]

9. The Nation's still carrying water for russia

They even get to dress it up as principled integrity. A win-win!

[Maru Kitteh]

10. Assange isn't in the media, but they are using him to go after the media.

The threat to media is very real.

The notion that Assange is just some beleaguered ignoble journalist, is not.

[G_j]

13. Hayes and Maddow saying essentially the same thing

Last edited Tue Jun 4, 2019, 02:37 PM - Edit history (1)

Chris Hayes,

[PSPS]

14. Ellsburg should know better. Assange is no journalist. Ellsburg didn't publish anything himself.

[struggle4progress]

17. Was Assange ever actually charged with anything before Trump needed some distance from him?

[Beringia]

18. I think he came out with that statement saying he knows nothing about Wikileaks

after Assange was arrested, if that is what you are asking.

[ismnotwasm]

20. Assange is a pig who didn't bother to protect his sources.

Among his many other faults. I hope he rots in jail.