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Senate Panel OKs Measure Defining a Journalist
breitbart.com ^ | 9/12/13 | ap

Posted on 09/12/2013 1:15:00 PM PDT by ColdOne

The vote was 13-5 for a compromise defining a "covered journalist" as an employee, independent contractor or agent of an entity that disseminates news or information. The individual would have been employed for one year within the last 20 or three months within the last five years.

It would apply to student journalists or someone with a considerable amount of freelance work in the last five years. A federal judge also would have the discretion to declare an individual a "covered journalist," who would be granted the privileges of the law.

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Government
KEYWORDS: 1stamendment; 5thamendment; 666; bloggers; censorship; definition; freepress; journalist; license; senate; shieldlaw; specialrights; unbconstitutional
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To: Drill Thrawl

.....To a revolt.


81 posted on 09/12/2013 7:00:38 PM PDT by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: Lazamataz

.....And the next step to a revolt


82 posted on 09/12/2013 7:01:23 PM PDT by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: ColdOne

We’re getting more like the former Soviet Union with each passing moment. I miss my country. I miss true liberty.


83 posted on 09/12/2013 7:13:57 PM PDT by ReformationFan
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To: Steely Tom

It will be used against opponents of the government. I could post, “I have reason the believe the NSA is collecting data on conservatives.” If I understand this law, I could be forced to reveal my sources, if any.


84 posted on 09/12/2013 7:15:55 PM PDT by JimSEA
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To: ColdOne

Horse do-do.


85 posted on 09/12/2013 7:28:24 PM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: Political Junkie Too

Right now we have an Administration, Congress and Judicial Branch that doesn’t obey the Constitution. Never mind the 17th Amendment. Right now I’d settle for the correct application of the first 16.


86 posted on 09/12/2013 8:01:57 PM PDT by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: ColdOne

This is to shut down blogs and other internet sources.

No freedom of the press if you are not the press. Seems the bill of rights only applies to those the Fedgov wants it to.


87 posted on 09/12/2013 8:21:38 PM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: Conscience of a Conservative

You seriously cannot be serious. You really think our government has good intentions in doing this? I truly wish I was as optimistic as you.


88 posted on 09/12/2013 8:51:10 PM PDT by wastedyears (One nation, under wub. Saints Row IV)
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To: ColdOne

Was Thomas Paine a journalist? Ben Franklin?


89 posted on 09/12/2013 8:52:26 PM PDT by ConservativeInPA (Molon Labe - shall not be questioned)
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To: ColdOne

When opinions are outlawed ... only outlaws will have opinions.


90 posted on 09/12/2013 9:02:48 PM PDT by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
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To: ColdOne

This is absurd for two reasons:

The Constitution speaks of “freedom of the press,” not “journalists.”

The Constitution guarantees “freedom of SPEECH.” Anyone who can talk or write is protected by the First Amendment.


91 posted on 09/12/2013 9:04:32 PM PDT by Arthur McGowan (If you're FOR sticking scissors in a female's neck and sucking out her brains, you are PRO-WOMAN!)
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To: VerySadAmerican

We demand laws to fight against deliberate political lies and their dissemination
by the press. In order to make it possible to create a German press, we demand:
a) all editors and editorial employees of newspapers appearing in the German
language must be German by race;
b) non-German newspapers require express permission from the State for
their publication. They may not be printed in the German language;
c) any financial participation in a German newspaper or influence on such a
paper is to be forbidden by law to non-Germans and the penalty for any
breech of this law will be the closing of the newspaper in question, as well
as the immediate expulsion from the Reich of the non-Germans involved.
Newspapers which violate the public interest are to be banned. We
demand laws against trends in art and literature which have a destructive
effect on our national life, and the suppression of performances that offend
against the above requirements.

Nazi Party Platform 1920


92 posted on 09/12/2013 9:07:05 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: ColdOne

absurd.

and employed 3 months in 5 years?

weird


93 posted on 09/12/2013 9:16:18 PM PDT by GeronL
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To: ColdOne
The FOOLS are busy REDEFINING everything so as to justify their existence in terms of usefulness. They actually think this is important.

Is America screwed or what? Geez!

94 posted on 09/12/2013 9:31:30 PM PDT by VideoDoctor
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

Well-stated. Thank you for that.


95 posted on 09/12/2013 9:45:06 PM PDT by butterdezillion (,)
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To: Lazamataz

THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS OUTLAWING ALL BUT STATE-SUPPORTED OPINION.

- - - - -

BUMP


96 posted on 09/12/2013 10:06:25 PM PDT by onyx (Please Support Free Republic - Donate Monthly! If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, Let Me know!)
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To: Lazamataz

The Founders considered Freedom of the Press so important that they codified it in the very 1st Amendment to our Constitution. The press is supposed to remain unbiased, as much as is humanly possible, and keep our government transparent by reporting what the government is actually doing.

“The freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty and can never be restrained but by despotic governments.” - George Mason, Virginia Declaration of Rights, 1776.

OK, so the government makes a mess for itself and got caught:
“[T]he Justice Department had secretly subpoenaed almost two months of telephone records for 21 phone lines used by reporters and editors for The Associated Press and secretly used a warrant to obtain some emails of a Fox News journalist.”

Then the government decides to “fix” the mess they made:
“The Judiciary Committee’s action cleared the way for approval of . . . media shield legislation designed to protect reporters and the news media from having to reveal their sources.”

And what they end up doing is legally “defining” a “journalist” -— a “definition” that will allow the government to license and regulate “bona fide journalists” -— and what the government can license and regulate they can control.

So what will the government do with their new-found power to grant only certain select people the right to freedom of the press, create a “protected class” of favored media, and silence dissent by non-government-sanctioned “journalists”???


97 posted on 09/12/2013 10:56:34 PM PDT by LTC.Ret (You'd think I would know better than to volunteer!!! www.sendmetocongress.us)
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To: NormsRevenge

Wait until they redefine what a “CITIZEN” is.


98 posted on 09/12/2013 11:05:18 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative (Liberal Democrats = Communists. RINO Republicans = Communist Sympathizers.)
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To: boxlunch
From your last link:

We can save the Republic, but someone has to start the ball rolling. If not you … then who?

Mark shamed me into action last month. I meet with my state representative next week. His copy of the Liberty Amendments arrived yesterday. Gotta start somewhere.

99 posted on 09/13/2013 1:33:48 AM PDT by Jacquerie (To restore the 10th Amendment, repeal the 17th.)
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To: ColdOne

What part of “Congress shall make no law” do they not understand?


100 posted on 09/13/2013 3:32:48 AM PDT by magellan
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