Superb post Marie. Thanks.
Paz
Posted by quídam at July 19, 2005 02:21 PMExcellent post Marie.
Posted by Judith at July 19, 2005 05:19 PMI'm a big First Amendment guy--I value the right to shoot my mouth off, and I think it's the greatest (sorta) guarantee any country ever provided to its citizens.
But the idea that "freedom of the press" means "freedom from the responsibility that normal citizens bear," as opposed to "free to print what you want"? From a purely legal standpoint, that can't stand. And, as you point out quite cuttingly, the only way we should cut these scribes more slack than allowed by the letter of the law is if, on balance, their use of confidential sources exposes more wrongdoing than it hides. It just ain't so.
I'd like to point out a connection between a couple TLC posts: Yesterday or the day before, discussing the tobacco case, Steve mentioned some of the cases in which Judge Sentelle has carried water for the administration; Judge Sentelle penned the opinion probably least favorable to the administration's interests in the Miller/Cooper cases. Whether they took a hard line against the two "jouranlists," or tried to take a hard line for them, the analysis always came out the same: You two need to talk, or you're going to jail.
Well said, Marie.
Posted by Matt Davis at July 19, 2005 06:03 PMReally nice post, Marie. I think we're going to continue to have Seymour Hersh show what a real investigative reporter will do to get the story out. Puts the pack of them to shame.
Posted by Mary at July 19, 2005 10:18 PMJust heard a funny line. "Remember when the news use to be reality t.v.?
Posted by Judith at July 20, 2005 04:59 AMMarie,
I want to offer my compliments on this article as well.
I think your comment, "When people learn to value personal promotion and advancement over professional standards and ethics, they donâ?™t retain those standards and ethics, assuming they had any to begin with." is worthy of much consideration. This insight can certainly explain the GOP's reckless and blatant pursuit of their agenda regardless or public opinion. If we speculate that most in office have forsaken or been forced to abandon those standards and ethics, stabilization is non-existent.
Also, regardless of his apologies or truth, I believe it is highly possible that Rather was made an example of to discourage other journalists.
Posted by OffTheFence at July 23, 2005 02:52 AM