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JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)

53. Let the First Amendment speak for itself.

Wed Feb 1, 2012, 03:34 PM

Feb 2012

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.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment

Congress shall make no law . . . 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.

How do you define "abridging"?

I would define it to prohibit our government from curtailing or cutting short our freedom of speech, and of the press to any degree. I think the plain language of the First Amendment is utterly clear and that a lot of Supreme Court decisions on this issue are utterly wrong.

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House Republicans Order Journalists Arrested at Public Hearing. [View all] Stuart G Feb 2012 OP

Wow! Thanks for posting the update. myrna minx Feb 2012 #1

ABC News website said they DID NOT have credentials groundloop Feb 2012 #16

Should we need credentials to film our government at work? The Wielding Truth Feb 2012 #17

Yes. Unless you want the O'Keefes of the world to have free reign. yellowcanine Feb 2012 #34

not sure if these guys were down to O'Keefes' level ... zbdent Feb 2012 #35

I don't want hordes of O'Keefes to have free access to the House, Senate and White House either. Do yellowcanine Feb 2012 #40

Well, now, chervilant Feb 2012 #50

Yeah that's a cogent on topic argument ..... yellowcanine Feb 2012 #54

What IS instead of what you want... saras Feb 2012 #86

? yellowcanine Feb 2012 #89

And didn't the bushes let in gay male prostitutes as reporters? fasttense Feb 2012 #66

It's not like something as silly as the law would keep the O'Keefes out Blue_Tires Feb 2012 #75

You are probably right about that. But rules are made to help people do the right thing, whether yellowcanine Feb 2012 #78

That is what I want. carla Feb 2012 #104

So, "transparency" only for the vetted elite? PavePusher Feb 2012 #37

You can look at it that way I suppose - or accept (as I do) that there is a place for news yellowcanine Feb 2012 #38

Simple, first in line get into the room until it's full. PavePusher Feb 2012 #41

Nothing worse than a bunch of amateurs running around filming. They interfere with everyone elses yellowcanine Feb 2012 #47

"highly respected documentations" are not exactly amateurs dixiegrrrrl Feb 2012 #55

Note: My posts were in response to: 17. Should we need credentials to film our government at work? yellowcanine Feb 2012 #67

ABC news had credentials and were blocked. dixiegrrrrl Feb 2012 #68

And I never mentioned ABC, or said that they should not have been allowed in. Again, I was yellowcanine Feb 2012 #73

If they interfere with the hearing THEN you arrest them, not BEFORE SunSeeker Feb 2012 #57

You might want to call the Academy Awards people Missy Vixen Feb 2012 #72

See Response 67. And I made no arguments against the premise of filming proceedings. yellowcanine Feb 2012 #76

This post endorsed by the Chinese Communist Party. JackRiddler Feb 2012 #117

Yes, or a lottery draw of those who wish to video. The Wielding Truth Feb 2012 #62

they are really sad trash but nonetheless, even the Racist Organization of the KKK MACARD Feb 2012 #39

"the hearing, which is open to the public" The Wielding Truth Feb 2012 #69

OMG! chervilant Feb 2012 #45

OKeefe was allowed access. His CRIMES came afterwards when he doctored footage. /nt October Feb 2012 #64

Well, criminals may need to be blocked. The Wielding Truth Feb 2012 #70

This is a false comparison. roody Feb 2012 #95

That is as an outrageous a statement as I've read on DU. EVER. SusanaMontana41 Feb 2012 #114

Huh? Do you understand the O'Keefe reference? O'Keefe is a wannabe muckraker. yellowcanine Feb 2012 #116

Let the First Amendment speak for itself. JDPriestly Feb 2012 #53

I agree. The Wielding Truth Feb 2012 #71

People object to some posts on DU. But did you ever think you'd have to defend free speech SusanaMontana41 Feb 2012 #115

No, we should not (n/t) bread_and_roses Feb 2012 #61

Thanks for that link and thanks to Stuart G. The gloves are off now. freshwest Feb 2012 #94

First they came for the journalists... orwell Feb 2012 #2

Hell no. You got them just right. It seems to be 1984 movie. The crazy thing is they republicans southernyankeebelle Feb 2012 #5

But they'll never come after Chill Keney Feb 2012 #111

Are comparisons to totalitarian strongmen now out of order? rfranklin Feb 2012 #3

Yes they are still out of order! atreides1 Feb 2012 #19

Frightening news. Has this ever happened before in hearings?????? northoftheborder Feb 2012 #4

should be some great video of this soon and ABC news needs to lead with the story nt msongs Feb 2012 #6

LAWSUIT! Demeter Feb 2012 #7

Outfuckingrageous! ... More GOPer transparency, eh? Bozita Feb 2012 #8

Can't have The People know what deals are being made by the bought-and-paid for Kochsucking Caucus Old and In the Way Feb 2012 #9

Wow is right....they aren't even bothering to put up a facade of civility anymore... truebrit71 Feb 2012 #10

I thought at first. In what country did this happen? Not in US? Not here? The Wielding Truth Feb 2012 #32

If it had been Fox "News" instead of Josh Fox, complete access would have been afforded. alfredo Feb 2012 #11

Disorderly conduct is now against the law? Islandlife Feb 2012 #12

'Disorderly conduct' has always been against the law. elleng Feb 2012 #21

This is feakin' insane! daleanime Feb 2012 #13

Absolutely Missy Vixen Feb 2012 #74

It's official. We've become a banana republic. Atman Feb 2012 #14

What's next? Gonna revoke the right to peacefully assemble? raouldukelives Feb 2012 #15

"They hate us for our freedoms." - George W. Bush Bozita Feb 2012 #18

He was right, but the question is, who is 'they?' elleng Feb 2012 #26

And yet, even under Bush, we had the AttorneyGate hearings in public view. dixiegrrrrl Feb 2012 #59

Just WOW! Plucketeer Feb 2012 #20

What are they afraid of? lovuian Feb 2012 #22

Filming, prolly; obviously not just sitting in the gallery/audience. elleng Feb 2012 #27

How much more are we going to take? deminks Feb 2012 #23

The Capitol Police are the country's most contemptible police force. provis99 Feb 2012 #24

Why not arrest all the Democrats on the Committee and their staff for Disorderly Conduct? leveymg Feb 2012 #25

i can see it now: rethugs saying Shh you arn't supposed to expose our plans. MACARD Feb 2012 #33

Obviously, the brave Capitol Police acted to protect national secrets. leveymg Feb 2012 #36

They should answer one simple question: savannah43 Feb 2012 #49

"Truth cannot live on a diet of secrets, withering within entangled lies. dixiegrrrrl Feb 2012 #60

Nearly all the Democrats ARE "Members of the Club" bread_and_roses Feb 2012 #63

Fascist a-holes. Shame on the House GOP. AtomicKitten Feb 2012 #28

I've looked around..two hours later..for some reason MSM ignoring this ,but at Daily Kos & Truth OUt Stuart G Feb 2012 #29

I have been stating since 2003 Kelvin Mace Feb 2012 #30

Gonzalo Lira, who lived in Argentina under Pinochet, said the US is WORSE dixiegrrrrl Feb 2012 #65

Pinochet was in Chile Art_from_Ark Feb 2012 #121

Art, you are correct, my error. dixiegrrrrl Feb 2012 #123

I can see how it would be easy to confuse the two countries Art_from_Ark Feb 2012 #124

You keep saying that and you will be called a terrorist, too. dixiegrrrrl Feb 2012 #122

I think the GOP has probably just killed itself. caseymoz Feb 2012 #31

This story hit the New YOrk Times one minute ago..from Reuters: Stuart G Feb 2012 #42

It was already being streamed live on the internet??? Autumn Colors Feb 2012 #43

+1 slay Feb 2012 #58

"which is open to the public." Found in Yonkers Feb 2012 #44

This is a result of letting Cheney keep his energy committee savannah43 Feb 2012 #46

A result or a continuation. eyewall Feb 2012 #98

GOP = huge fans of hidden government and backroom deals slay Feb 2012 #48

They should be having themselves arrested! RoccoR5955 Feb 2012 #51

Information is power, the uninformed are helpless! UCmeNdc Feb 2012 #52

And the police state marches on slay Feb 2012 #56

they protect the rich and powerful FROM us freefaller62 Feb 2012 #81

Complete Video of the Hearing Here jberryhill Feb 2012 #77

Thanks for the link it happens right at the start. Enfuriating. Thanks Mr. Miller. joshcryer Feb 2012 #99

Republican is just English for gopiscrap Feb 2012 #79

For what it's worth olddad56 Feb 2012 #80

Outrageous! The GOP is so Effing out of control. Firebrand Gary Feb 2012 #82

It's because these republicans are FASCISTS. Period. gtar100 Feb 2012 #83

yet another glimpse of what things will be like when the repukes are back in charge. Javaman Feb 2012 #84

scumbags ibegurpard Feb 2012 #85

The only argument sulphurdunn Feb 2012 #87

This shouldn't be a surprise. smiley Feb 2012 #88

These reptilian tea bagger elected fuck heads are jimlup Feb 2012 #90

same shit walker and his minions pulled in wisconsin.... madrchsod Feb 2012 #91

Wow. Al Rowden Feb 2012 #92

Just saw the video. ChairmanAgnostic Feb 2012 #93

The video of the hearing no one can see... jberryhill Feb 2012 #100

Yes. Of the arrest ChairmanAgnostic Feb 2012 #102

This will draw more attention to the issue. roody Feb 2012 #96

Time for a "GasLand" viewing party this weekend radhika Feb 2012 #97

The rules are applied willy nilly on the whims of a rich man. fasttense Feb 2012 #101

the People's House? florida08 Feb 2012 #103

The RepubliCONS need to remember they work for us, all of us. Major Hogwash Feb 2012 #105

We should get Michael Moore to show up and film them. Major Hogwash Feb 2012 #106

VIDEOS: L. Coyote Feb 2012 #107

Thanks for posting that! countryjake Feb 2012 #119

K&R Solly Mack Feb 2012 #108

Typical Goddamn Teabaggers - We need a documentary on this bunch of idiots! santamargarita Feb 2012 #109

According to the video I saw: GeorgeGist Feb 2012 #110

Strait-up fascism. UnrepentantLiberal Feb 2012 #112

Not ALL House Reoublicans - you should say "SOME" to avoid bigotry! dmallind Feb 2012 #113

Kick for a hero. JackRiddler Feb 2012 #118

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Feb 2012 #120