Ethics, not politics, prompts journalist to make her stand

Baltimore Sun ^ | July 8, 2005 | Jules Witcover

[Cincinatus' Wife]

WASHINGTON - The jailing of New York Times reporter Judith Miller for refusing to reveal a source in the drama of the CIA agent "outed" by a leak to columnist Robert Novak has split the journalism community wide open.

Ms. Miller's incarceration is defended by some in the news business who say nobody, even a star or celebrity journalist, has a right to defy a direct order by a court. Her jailing is excoriated by others who say a reporter has an ethical obligation to protect a confidential source at all costs.

This is one of those rare cases in which there are strong arguments on both sides. In a companion case, Time magazine reporter Matthew Cooper was saved from similar jail time by his publisher. He ruled that... Cooper's notes in the same drama should be turned over to the federal prosecutor, and Mr. Cooper, reluctantly, he said, finally agreed to reveal his source when that source released him of his confidentiality pledge.

Those decisions enabled Mr. Cooper to stay on the street while not entirely shedding the cloak of martyr to journalistic principle, leaving Ms. Miller to wear it alone in this case.

.. Mr. Novak, who printed the leak he received revealing the name of the CIA spy, Valerie Plame, has refused to say even whether he has been subpoenaed or has sung to the grand jury. That he remains free, however, suggests he has not bucked the prosecutor.

......Mr. Bush's chief political strategist, Karl Rove,... acknowledged through his lawyer that he spoke with Mr. Cooper but said he did not name Ms. Plame to him. Nevertheless, Mr. Rove's reputation as an official who has often dealt with reporters on a confidentiality basis has continued to make him suspect, especially in the minds of his political foes.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

But it's not political.

When they say it's not political, it's political.

[mewzilla]

Snort. Some stand. Miller's got cushier digs than Martha Stewart had.

[Zacs Mom]

Yeah, it's not about "politics"...

[PzLdr]

"Reporter" and "ethics" [or any of its variants] in the same sentence [in a positive way] is the ultimate oxymoron [and that's coming from a lawyer-but a career prosecutor].

[YOUGOTIT]

Must have been a democrat else she would have revealed the source. Since they can make a father or mother testify against their children why should a reporter have immunity. They are no better that anyone else and in most cases are worse.

[mewzilla]

Miller's Home in Alexandria Known as a "New Generation" Jail

[lionheart 247365]

Her 15 minutes of fame will cost her four months .. .. ..

[ResignedRepub]

Ethics, not politics, prompts journalist to make her stand.

Thanks for my first laugh of the day, Witcover.

[libs_kma]

She had to be brokenhearted yesterday when the London bombings knocked her "ordeal" off the front page...

[speedy]

Now that's really an insult to Alfred E. Newman!! What me worry bump.

[Tacis]

NONSENSE!!! There are many other alternatives. My bet is that she made the stuff up and has no secret source. Another bet is that the source is now a "property right" that she can tap in the future for other stories/information.

People who work for big city newspapers have no ethics; they are socialists whose job is to advance a particular agenda.

She was censoring the public's right to know and this had a chilling effect on the freedom of the press. I have a right to know all the facts she knew so I can make up my own mind.

Why would society give a better shot at confidential sources to reports than to cops? Imagine a cop telling a judge, "but, I promised HIM I wouldn't tell who gave me the information." This bimbo believes ( or, says she believes) that she has a greater obligation to her snitch that she does to the public. It sounds like the HUAC commie witnesses!

[SkyPilot]

[SkyPilot]

I lie that photo montage.

[SkyPilot]

Sorry---Like.

[facedown]

Nevertheless, Mr. Rove's reputation as an official who has often dealt with reporters on a confidentiality basis has continued to make him suspect, especially in the minds of his political foes.

When all else fails, blame it on Rove.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Journalists think they're God's gift to humanity and that it's their place to decide and hand down "justice," just as all LIBERALS do.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

So very true!

Her LIBERAL credentials are gold plated now.

[Zacs Mom]

Thanks ~ I think I need to add a couple of more "Dishonorable Mentions" though....Matt Lauer, for instance ~ who, throught the clinton impeachment, remained totally silent about thefact that hitlary had specifically stated (directly to him) that if it were true that slick had had sexual relations with an intern "it would be very serious" and "if it were true, the public should very concerned."

[SkyPilot]

Thanks buddy. I bet you and I can set a date for her book release. You take good care, and thanks again for the great posts. You are doing a wonderful job.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thanks SP.

You're top notch.