Sen. introduces bill to protect reporters

[seemslikeadream]

Friday, November 19, 2004 · Last updated 12:12 p.m. PT

Sen. introduces bill to protect reporters

By DONNA CASSATA
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

WASHINGTON -- Reporters would not be forced to reveal their sources, and their notes, photographs and other material would be protected from government eyes under a bill introduced Friday.

Amid a spate of First Amendment fights pitting the government against journalists over confidential sources, Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., proposed the legislation as critical to ensuring the nation's liberties.

"Democracy is premised on an informed citizenry," Dodd said at a Capitol Hill news conference. "A free press is the best guarantee of a knowledgeable citizenry."

Journalists contend the First Amendment, which established freedom of the press, gives reporters the right not to divulge their sources. Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia have "shield laws" to protect the media from disclosing sources in state cases.

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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apwashington_story.asp?category=1153&slug=Reporters%20Sources

[lovedems]

1. Somehow I don't think the bushies will go along with this.

Wouldn't it be akin to aiding the enemy? They treat the press as their enemy so I don't suspect they will help out much.

[banana republican]

11. THINK PLAME THEY'LL GO ALONG TO CYA.

[tk2kewl]

2. Good!

I hope this and Kerry's statement today are the beginning of some serious opposition. Have the dems finally grown a set?

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Just in time to save Novak & his Bush connection.

What a lucky sap, that one.

[drunkdriver-in-chief]

4. There goes plamegate

Why is a democrat suggesting this????

[Robert Oak]

6. because it's only reporters exposing abuses getting nailed

They are targeting reporters who are exposing the Shrub machine.

Notice Robert Novak not getting any hassle whatsoever yet he did
the most outrageous thing by outing a CIA agent.

that's why...they are using jailing the press to supress the news and
specifically the news they don't want to get out.

[schultzee]

7. If he is not a traitor, he is probably thinking of future reports about

this administration, and our civil liberities. I have become so cynical. I think the DLC has infliltrated the democratic party and found a way to sell all of us out and is supporting the rePIG plan for a one party corportatist government.,

[drunkdriver-in-chief]

22. Many people think the same

The democrats and republicans and media work together to further their own agenda and it has nothing to do with helping america. It's amazing the way bush has effed up everything and yet the media never criticizes him and the dems just occasionally.

[msgadget]

14. Because

it's open season on reporters. Already the stories are more about the besiged reporters than the guilty leaker himself. And, they can't help them without - dag blast it - saving Novak as well.

[The Zanti Regent]

20. Good!

F all the Presstitutes. Lock 'em up and let Jesus sort them out!

[Worst Username Ever]

5. GOOD

[denverbill]

8. This is a mistake. Bad idea Dodd.

The whole reason for keeping a source confidential is to protect that source. If the source of the leak is the government, the press should not be allowed to protect the government or an individual in that govt from the people it is supposed to be serving.

It's one thing to protect a whistleblower from his more powerful superiors, or a small-time crook from his big-time cohorts.

But it's quite another thing to use the press to protect the powerful and attack the less powerful, especially when it involves criminal conduct by the powerful leaker.

[Straight Shooter]

9. "democracy is premised on an informed citizenry"

Uh, what happened to the ballot?

Oh. Wait. Nevermind. It's time to adopt the platitude attitude of those in charge.

[MidwestTransplant]

10. I hope Bob Novack is exempted

[IndianaGreen]

12. This is a bad bill for it protects criminal behaviour

This is nothing more than amnesty for those that leaked the Valerie Plame story to Bob Novak.

[KansDem]

19. Am I missing something here?

What Novak (and others in the press) did was actually take part in the commission of a crime. They simply didn't report information about a crime as a "third party" based on confidential sources, but rather assisted and abetted that crime, for without their positions in the press, that crime would not have occurred (well, yes it would have as far as the Administration officials are concerned, but not the reporters. Should we suppose that Novak et al should have reported to the authorities that certain Bushistas had leaked high-classified information?).

I don't see how they can claim journalistic standards for protecting the confidentiality of a source when they are part of the commission of a crime.

[IndianaGreen]

21. That's a very good point, KansDem

I don't see how they can claim journalistic standards for protecting the confidentiality of a source when they are part of the commission of a crime.

In fact, Novak el al should be prosecuted for disclosing the identity of a NOC agent. Their taking cover under the First Amendment is nothing but a charade designed to prevent being held accountable over their own criminal complicity, as you indicated.

[Just Me]

13. The "rule of law" is meaninglesss,...

,...without enforcement. "Freedom of press" should NOT exceed the "rule of law".

It seems to me that the 4th wing has become the excuse for human excess rather than the epitome of human integrity. BUT, I still believe our last path to humanity WILL make a bridge,...particulary since we live in an AGE OF AWARENESS that demands their attention.

These are amazing times we are living through,...painful, awful and dark,....we have advacanced through worse,...we will experience divine justice,...we must be patient as we mourn through these ASSHOLES' rapture,...knowing they will burn in hell!!

[ooglymoogly]

15. journalists????????

these are not journalists they are cooperate suckups and bush promoters protecting their fine sallaries. everyone of us should write the texas dem (another zell miller?} outing a cia operative opposed to bush puleeezze!!!!!!!! something stinks

[Democat]

16. Democrats putting up bills to protect Republicans?

Is anyone shocked the our party would help protect Republicans at a time when we need to know who leaked illegal information?

Sometimes the whole thing seems like a scam.

The Democratic party has no strategy and many of our elected officials are either stupid or trying to help the Repulbicans take over.

[PATRICK]

17. This is the most inconsequentional

piece of out of touch legislation I have seen so far this month.

How about waiting until we get a real free press and a real Congress. This law can be used two ways. Want to guess who it will benefit and who will not receive any help from it even if it applies?

Reminds me of Rangel and the draft. Smart, noble, the right thing to do nd plenty of assistance to the nutty RW to pervert it to the dark side.

[Democat]

18. Do you think Republicans would pass a bill to help Democrats?

Of course not. It doesn't matter if it seems "right" in some people's minds, you have to look how it's going to be used. He is handing another tool to the right wing to use to protect themselves and attack us at a time when we need every little bit of help we can get.

It's like the Democrats never learn or our side just wants to hurt themselves. There are so many things we should be fighting, and Dodd chooses to do something to help the other side instead of fighting them.

[jwirr]

23. Good for Chris Dodd

he is re-introducing the second amendment!!! It is a sorry state that we have to do this in our country.