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comment by mlmacchia
mlmacchia  ·  4233 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Obama DOJ formally accuses journalist in leak case of committing crimes

Like other reasonable limitations to constitutional freedoms (you can't yell "fire" in a crowded theater), you can't be a journalist while being an accessory to treason. Google "Judith Miller."





mk  ·  4233 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Of course, but this information wasn't classified, stolen, or purchased, and reporting it is hardly treasonous. Journalists that released the Bradly Manning leaks weren't committing treason, even if Manning was.

mlmacchia  ·  4233 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Regarding this particular case, on the surface it looks like a cut and dried assault on the press, but I don't think the public knows enough of the details enough to make a sound judgement. The DOJ will have to make its case in court, and I seriously doubt any Federal court will want to give even the appearance that they are willing to basically repeal freedom of the press. If only the press felt the responsibility to do its job better instead of sell airtime to advertisers and turn a profit for its stockholders...but that's another issue.

b_b  ·  4233 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Well if they do try him hopefully it won't turn into one of those Kafkaesque farce trials where the govt says they have evidence but that they can't show it due to national security concerns.

easynow  ·  4233 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    If only the press felt the responsibility to do its job better instead of sell airtime to advertisers and turn a profit for its stockholders...but that's another issue.
Not only is this another issue, but it has absolutely nothing to do with the topic.

What will be interesting to see is whether the right gives the Obama DOJ a pass on this because they're not opposed to such tactics and welcome the opportunity to employ them. Let's face it, when it comes to civil liberties and the like, the Obama admin is cut straight from Bush's cloth. If there is one thing that history shows is true, once the executive has a power, it does not relinquish it. Obama has been no different.