Judge: Journalist must face charges in voting incident [Criminal charges filed in Palm Beach, FL]

Palm Beach Post ^ | Wednesday, July 06, 2005 | Susan Spencer-Wendel

[summer]

"The (statute) is designed to allow voters to cast their votes unmolested and with some degree of peace," Evans wrote. "There must come a time when the constant bombardment of partisan politics and news gathering will stop and voters may be free to walk into a voting booth undisturbed."

Well, I agree with that.

[summer]

FYI.

[Tribune7]

The photographer has only himself to blame for his problem.

Wonder how Theresa will make news in 2008.

[skinkinthegrass]

Hmm..Maybe his photos, would've shown how the Liberals were lying/cheating @ the poll booth

..."Didn't I see you @ the other precinct, too?"..."Many many times did you vote? 5x...10x".."Just where, Did you get those drugs and cigarettes?".."Did you just get off that (Union Paid) buses from Detroit, MI.?..this is FloriDuh." :D

[summer]

The photographer has only himself to blame for his problem.

I'm also wondering - if he's taking a photo of a supposedly long line, then why did he need to go inside the 50 foot buffer zone? I would think his best shot of a long line, if there was one, would be well outside the buffer zone.

[summer]

LOL...the other aspect of this is: he was writing a BOOK and reportedly taking photos for a BOOK, and not everyone who goes out to vote -- in their flip flops or curlers or work clothes -- wants their photo plastered forever in a BOOK. Did he have signed releases from all these voters??? Do voters expect to have their photos in a book when they engage in voting? I don't think so.

[Colorado Doug]

So, any fool that claims to be writing a book is "The Press" now?

[summer]

Yeah, I am glad you mentioned that - I was wondering about that point, too.

[Polyxene]

So, any fool that claims to be writing a book is "The Press" now?

I guess all you need these days is a notebook or a camera (and maybe one of those little "Press" cards to put in the hatband of your fedora!)

[geezerwheezer]

He will certainly have plenty of time to write and edit his book if gets 90 days in the pokey. Must be what he was thinking, get somebody else to cook for me while I write my book ! Who said them Harvard guys is stewfid????

[James S. Henry]

Well, "Free Republic" indeed. For what's its worth, I'm a bona fide free-lance journalist whose written for a wide variety of leading publications. This case is an outrageous invasion of the First Amendment -- writing books and free lance articles is not yet outside the bounds of the First Amendment, so far as I know. We will contest this case vigorously, and would appreciate your support -- the Constitution is not some liberal conspiracy.

[mware]

Notice you are new to Free Republic.

I understand what you say but the rules apply to everyone, when it comes to this. Do you realize that, that is exactly what the Democrats were claiming in the 2000 election.

People were being intimidated.

[Miss Marple]

So, you think that the law doesn't apply to journalists? I disagree.

He could have taken pictures from outside the 50-foot buffer zone. He could have taken pictures of people after they emerged from voting and cleared the zone.

The law makes no exception for journalists. If that were the intent, the law would have provided for an exemption.

This is not a First Amendment case, if you ask me. The First Amendment doesn't give photographers the right to take pictures wherever they please; it also doesn't guarantee photographers a "good shot."

[mware]

Dark will be here momentarily.

[Darksheare]

Funny, when the Constitution stops Libs from doing something, they see it as a conspiracy.
A 'vast rightwing conspiracy' to be exact.
Welcome to FR!

And Free Republic is PRIVATE PROPERTY, it is privately owned and operated, not government funded.
SO guess what, if you are not welcome here, out you go.
Just as if you'd run across my lawn to berate me about some imagined sleight.

[Darksheare]

James would probably scream that it was okay for KGB agents to photgraph Christians going into a church during the communist era.

[mware]

I understand that Gore TV vido taped Iranian youth going into a rave party.

Sure hope the Mullahs don't get a copy of that video.

It would be a death sentence.

[Darksheare]

"This case is an outrageous invasion of the First Amendment -- writing books and free lance articles is not yet outside the bounds of the First Amendment, so far as I know."

Voter intimidation is not protected under the First Amendment.

[Darksheare]

Those kids probably are already dead.

[AppyPappy]

I feel safer knowing this law is on the books.