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WillyT

(72,631 posts)

27. I'm Pretty Sure THIS Was His Point...

Sat Sep 21, 2013, 01:32 PM

Sep 2013

I think I mentioned a while back that, while I was in journalism school -- And, yes, I went to J-school. Don't let that get around, OK? -- we were all the time debating the notion of a shield law. It was the late, great George Reedy, without whom I likely would have been the one lawyer who broke the camel's back, who pointed out that, if we accepted a shield law, then we also would have to accept government's right to define who it would be that the shield law covered, which meant we had to accept the government's right essentially to define what a journalist was, and this way, George said, lay madness. He mentioned the Royal licenses against which colonial pamphleteers rebelled. And the Stamp Act. And the use of the post office to restrict the circulation of unpopular ideas, from abolitionist newspapers to the Comstock laws.

From the OP.

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Highlight:

By Popular DU Request... Charles Pierce On DiFi Defining A Journalist And The Shield Law... [View all] WillyT Sep 2013 OP

More reaction: ProSense Sep 2013 #1

Oh... There Is All Sorts Of Reaction... WillyT Sep 2013 #2

I know, I posted the ProSense Sep 2013 #3

Are You Gonna Be OK ??? WillyT Sep 2013 #4

Are you OK? ProSense Sep 2013 #6

I'm Fine... And Hey, Thanks For Asking !!! WillyT Sep 2013 #8

Trojan Horse thing.... Junkdrawer Sep 2013 #5

Precisely. n/t Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #9

Crafted to survive judical challenges. Junkdrawer Sep 2013 #11

It kind of reminds me of the ACA, it looks good on paper and has some nice features but Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #13

+10000 woo me with science Sep 2013 #23

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Sep 2013 #7

Anytime Uncle Joe... Anytime... WillyT Sep 2013 #10

We don't need their silly pretexts at protecting journalists. We have all the protection needed sabrina 1 Sep 2013 #12

Agreed. We don't want them picking and choosing who gets to be LuvNewcastle Sep 2013 #25

+1 leftstreet Sep 2013 #28

Thank you. woo me with science Sep 2013 #36

1988 My friend. We let them get the camel's nose under the tent and lost our most Egalitarian Thug Sep 2013 #14

If I may, can I ask to what you are referring? Thanks. n/t Benton D Struckcheon Sep 2013 #52

Al From's reich wing DLC was formed and funded that fateful year. n/t Egalitarian Thug Sep 2013 #54

. blkmusclmachine Sep 2013 #15

I love Charlie Pierce catchnrelease Sep 2013 #16

That is one kick ass article. truedelphi Sep 2013 #17

K&R n/t NealK Sep 2013 #18

K&R woo me with science Sep 2013 #19

Doubling Down Dianne? boston bean Sep 2013 #20

Kicked and Recommended. Enthusiast Sep 2013 #21

K&R n/t myrna minx Sep 2013 #22

kick woo me with science Sep 2013 #24

So, Pierce and DU support what happened to James Risen. geek tragedy Sep 2013 #26

I'm Pretty Sure THIS Was His Point... WillyT Sep 2013 #27

His point has been disproven by history. geek tragedy Sep 2013 #30

If they can decide who to shield, they can decide who NOT to shield. hunter Sep 2013 #38

Juries don't determine evidentiary issues--judges do. geek tragedy Sep 2013 #39

Traditionally, journalists would sit in jail to protect a source... hunter Sep 2013 #42

So, Judy Miller is a journalist and James Risen isn't. nt geek tragedy Sep 2013 #44

Say what? Do you think Risen should get special treatment... hunter Sep 2013 #45

Okay, so then you really can't complain about how the Eric Holder's DOJ threatened geek tragedy Sep 2013 #46

Someone needs to "press" back. And "complain." hunter Sep 2013 #47

So you agree that the law should remain such geek tragedy Sep 2013 #48

If I can be thrown in jail, they can be thrown in jail. hunter Sep 2013 #49

Think we need to write some rules about political spouses and egregious real estate profits libdem4life Sep 2013 #29

Worth Repeating: bvar22 Sep 2013 #31

Agreed !!! WillyT Sep 2013 #32

Typical authoritarian responses will indicate that we need our government to tell us rhett o rick Sep 2013 #33

I've noticed that they can't wait to start shutting people up, too. kenny blankenship Sep 2013 #35

They like to use the alert system a lot to try to shut down opposing views. nm rhett o rick Sep 2013 #37

'By Popular DU Request'? What does that mean? Anything? randome Sep 2013 #34

K & R Liberal_Dog Sep 2013 #40

Dianne Feinstein needs gone. 99Forever Sep 2013 #41

She's also entrenched. Le Taz Hot Sep 2013 #43

K&R! n/t Skip Intro Sep 2013 #50

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Benton D Struckcheon Sep 2013 #51

That's my take on shield laws as well. DirkGently Sep 2013 #53