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Posted on 05/26/2013 4:57:16 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
Dick Durbin: Are bloggers and tweeters entitled to constitutional protection?
Share By Doug Powers • May 26, 2013 05:53 PM
**Written by Doug Powers
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin has in the past had a very subjective and abstract view of the Constitution, and on Fox News Sunday he once again wondered which people might be “entitled” to constitutional protections and which people might not:
“You’ve raised an important point and I heard Sen. Graham call for special counsel,” Durbin said. “I’m not ready to do this at this moment. I would like to know if Holder has any conflict in here beyond what we heard when it comes to the Fox case.”
“But here is the bottom line — the media shield law, which I am prepared to support, and I know Sen. Graham supports, still leaves an unanswered question, which I have raised many times: What is a journalist today in 2013? We know it’s someone that works for Fox or AP, but does it include a blogger? Does it include someone who is tweeting? Are these people journalists and entitled to constitutional protection? We need to ask 21st century questions about a provision that was written over 200 years ago.”
Does Dick think the First Amendment only covers journalists (and apparently only ones who write with quills on parchment)?
If Durbin ever bothered to actually read the Constitution he’d know that the Founders knew all too well the danger of having somebody like, well, Dick Durbin, ever ending up as the arbiter of who’s “entitled” to rights.
I couldn’t believe that he told Chris Wallace that the reason he targeted Carl Rove was because Carl was bragging about how much money he was raising—really, is that a reason to sic the IRS on a private citizen because you don’t like what they are saying. Chris Wallace just sat there like a bump on a log and let him get away with that insane reasoning. Made me furious. Did anyone see that?
Durbin and his ilk hate it when bloggers and reporters report all the heinous stuff that they are doing. They don’t like to get caught. Such a great platforms for Republicans to use from now on. The dems have always painted us as mean and uncaring, it’s time to get back at them hard—if they will.
Dumbass Senators are entitled to way more than Constitutional protection.
They are immune from most laws.
Even smoking is still allowed in congress I am told.
They have voted to be immune from Obama care, et al.
My Senator’s license plate reads D 1. Though I’ve been told that no preferential treatment and just a lottery is how plates are determined. BS.
Her kids go to the Elgin Academy, which runs about 25 grand a year. Yes, pro-bono, but she is a union shill for the public schools. Which is odd, because it is a non-union school, with private teachers....
Her kids will get free college as well, as a senator can designate a number of people to get that free college. You bet, as with all Illinois Senators and Reps, that she’ll pick her 2 kids.
In addition, all of her west point appointments have been sons and daughters of political workers. How convenient... Oh, it’s just coincidence. And these asshats claim that politics will play no part in healthcare? Gimme a break
They ARE above the constitution.
We are BELOW it.
Dick wants to limit your First Amendment Rights. Don’t be a Dick.
Come on, Dick has it partially right:
You can’t yell, “Fire!” in the middle of a theater [unless there really is one] ...
You can’t defame or libel [with immunity from litigation] ...
Other than that - Dick can blow it out his ass ...
So, freedom of speech doesn’t count if it is typed from a computer keyboard of smartphone? Idiot.
That’s the headline. You’ve missed Durbin’s mentality. He supports the “media shield law”, not the Constitution.
That’s the Cook County mentality completely. People’s rights are those granted by government. There are no natural rights, only positive rights. Isn’t that communism?
That’s how Cook County and Ill-annoy politicians think. That’s why Obama was such a natural fit there.
Durbin.. the same guy who railed on about the rights of terrorists at Gitmo and Abu Ghraib.
No credibility for the Dick. None whatsoever.
Yes.
Does it include someone who is tweeting?
Yes.
Are these people journalists and entitled to constitutional protection?
Yes.
Furthermore, people doodling on a pad are journalists. People speaking by a water cooler are journalists. People texting by telephone are journalists.
When it comes to the First Amendement, EVERY CITIZEN is a journalist.
We need to ask 21st century questions about a provision that was written over 200 years ago.
No, we don't. The Founders did just fine.
AS I PREDICTED, the Socialists and Communists are coming for the First Amendment.
Consider Georgia.
“Dumbass Senators are entitled to way more than Constitutional protection.
They are immune from most laws.”
Comrade, clearly you don’t understand that in Oceania all citizens are equal - but members of the ruling class are more equal than others.
See you at the Two Minute Hate at noon.
And remember_
“Oceania Tis For Thee”
His parents named him Richard for a reason.
The real question is “Does Durbin have a brain?”
According to Joe Biden, the answer is a three letter word - “NO”.
There are few as detestable as Little Dick Durbin in CONgress. He hunts for food in sewers.
(H/T Mark Levin for giving Durbin his nickname, which actually comes from the fact that he’s no taller than a rabid kobold.)
Unfortunately, it isn’t that Dick doesn’t understand this concept, he just simply doesn’t care. Durbin is an evil little kobold, eh ?
Dick Durbin has no idea Tom Paine was nor does he care. As far as he’s concerned, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Dictator Roosevelt, and LBJ were the Founders.
Only communication done by smoke signals, stone engraving, or sign language is constitutionally protected. This question is too stupid to even ask.
The Supreme Court has already ruled that foreign corporations have more right to political speech than American citizens.
What case?
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