Your suppression of this video is beneath contempt. A democratic society demands the free exchange of ideas — as “journalists” you should know this. The people of this democracy deserve better from a group that we have granted special rights and protections. The role of the First Amendment isn't to protect journalists; it is to protect the rights of ALL people to have access to information they need to participate in the democratic process. By suppressing this video — you subvert everything the first amendment is about. For shame.
bttt
here is the text of my message
have grown up reading the Los Angeles Times. I have watched this once great paper of record turn into nothing more than a tabloid rag sheet. Again and again, your paper has violated the principals of journalist integrity.
I am always amazed at the audacity of your paper to purport to be an unbiased source of information when it is nothing more than a public relations arm of the Democratic Party. However the latest example of the non release of a video the paper is sitting on of Barack Obama is reprehensible and one in which the paper will never recover.
This election has revealed in no uncertain terms the weakness and utter corruption of our nations' newspapers. The Los Angeles Times will be out of business within a few years but the everlasting damage the paper has done to the profession of journalism will never be repaired. Please for the sake of the last shred of dignity this paper once held, release the video of our soon to be president Barack Obama toasting a PLO leader at a party in his honor. The public has a right to know about this event. Even more than we needed to know about the plumber in Ohio's tax situation and Sarah Palins' family issues.
One can only wonder the reasons for it not being released. At the very least the paper needs to be transparent about it's reasons for protecting their candidate.
PS if anyone needs help forming a letter, please let me know.