Drudge hates new shield bill, but is defining 'journalist' really 'fascist'?

Christian Science Monitor ^ | September 14, 2013 | Patrik Jonsson,

[yoe]

A media shield law approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee defines a “real reporter” deserving of extra protection. Bloggers, "citizen journalists," and others cry "foul!"

[snip]The first version of a media shield law that handily made it through the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday defined for the first time what constitutes a “real reporter” deserving of extra protection versus what Sen. Dianne Feinstein called a “17-year-old blogger” who doesn’t deserve a legal shield.

[snip] That Congress is attempting to define “journalist” at all in order to expand protections after a number of high-profile leak cases and ensuing Justice Department prosecutions caused blog impresario Matt Drudge to call Ms. Feinstein a “fascist” on Twitter, suggesting that the law would subvert a free press by giving institutional advantage to government-approved media outlets.

[yoe]

On its face, the bill doesn't seem to threaten our First Amendment Rights....or does it?

Senator Feinstein's state (CA) just passed a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to practice law in that state...now on its way to Governor Brown's desk...Feinstein going along with this?

[Old Sarge]

It should rightly be called The Propaganda Protection Act.

[Nifster]

simple answer YES

[JRandomFreeper]

Does the Constitution give any authority for the federal government to be involved in any way in the media? I think not.

/johnny

[freekitty]

Amen.

[PoloSec]

If not Fascist what else could it be called, Communist, Marxist, Socialist, maybe Islamist even.

[nathanbedford]

Feinstein's bill is contrary to the essence of the First Amendment. The idea of the First Amendment is to permit media of whatever technology to uncover and make known the activities of government. To suggest that a new technology is not part of the press protected by the First Amendment is Luddite thinking. Logic would compel Feinstein to say that the telegraph could not have been protected, nor radio nor television. The point is not the technology but the freedom to spread the word whether the word is pressed on a page of paper with little inked-over objects by Benjamin Franklin or sent through the ether in digital form by Drudge.

To argue that Drudge somehow was not a proper journalist is to send the entire impeachment of Bill Clinton down the memory hole.

Diane Feinstein is not even proceeding in orderly fashion. First she assaults the Second Amendment and then she goes back to attack the first.

[MeshugeMikey]

Dear Fellow Undocumented Journalist

Drudge nailed it. TRUE Facism

[Terry L Smith]

When any government sets to define what makes a ‘journalist’, which also includes historic discussions whether or not that ‘journalist’ attended an actual college and acquired a ‘journalist’ pedigree, that goernmewnt can then, decide which ‘journalists’ to LICENSE, and which ‘journalists’, to ARREST, THEREBY, CREATING AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL PUBLISHING HOUSE, CALLED GOVERNMENT, AND SHUTTING DOWN FREE SPEECH.

[Navy Patriot]

Seems to fit right in for the USSA.

[EternalVigilance]

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.

[shove_it]

Well, I sure flunked the quiz in the article - got 3 of 11 “correct”. So much for CSM quizzies.

[IMR 4350]

“Senator Feinstein’s state (CA) just passed a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to practice law in that state...now on its way to Governor Brown’s desk...Feinstein going along with this?”

Did you pass the background check, obtain you permit, and observe the 15 day waiting period before writing this?

[DaxtonBrown]

I wrote Harry Reid’s only biography exposing deep corruption. http://www.futurnamics.com/reid.php
The MSM won’t touch it, it has been blackballed, even though much of it is sourced FROM THE MSM!
Therefore I would not be considered a legitimate journalist by Feinstein, though I’d argue I’m one of the few doing actual journalism regarding Reid.

[shove_it]

“It should rightly be called The Propaganda Protection Act.”

Ditto that.

[stayathomemom]

The point is not the technology but the freedom to spread the word whether the word is pressed on a page of paper with little inked-over objects by Benjamin Franklin or sent through the ether in digital form by Drudge.

I agree! I don't see the word "journalist" in the Constitution, just as I don't see the word "musket".

[Jim Noble]

It’s not fascist - it’s Soviet.

[Mr. K]

"the law would subvert a free press by giving institutional advantage to government-approved media outlets"

That's it in a nutshell

[Domandred]

Liberals make it so they can define who a journalist is, then they say the first amendments speech and press only apply to journalists.

[nathanbedford]

We ought to remember that Benjamin Franklin was not an accredited establishment journalist at the beginning of his career but rather a runaway apprentice printer who published anonymously.He made his reputation and his wealth through innovation. He was the Drudge of his day in many respects.

Can you imagine if the crown succeeded in its efforts to control the colonial press by defining terms?

You're right about the musket.