Senate Panel OKs Measure Defining a Journalist

breitbart.com ^ | 9/12/13 | ap

[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.

[Tzimisce]

They’re making a play for our Free Speech?

Well, like most in the conservative movement I’m gonna sit on my ass being the smartest person in the room and suggest that they can actually do this. :)

[Political Junkie Too]

They are attempting to define "journalist" for the purpose of carving out a journalist-source privilege.

For what purpose?

There are no special privileges for anyone, not even Congressmen and cabinet members, except that Congressmen are exempt from arrest when traveling to and from Congress, and cannot be sued for statements made in chamber during deliberations.

Kerry is illegally withholding access to witnesses from Congress. He has no "secretary-source privilege."

Why should a journalist?

-PJ

[Tzimisce]

We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force.

Ayn Rand

[Conscience of a Conservative]

There are no special privileges for anyone, not even Congressmen and cabinet members, except that Congressmen are exempt from arrest when traveling to and from Congress, and cannot be sued for statements made in chamber during deliberations.

There's an attorney-client privilege, doctor-patient privilege, spousal privilege, and and priest-penitent privilege. All of those privileges allow (and in many cases require) witnesses to withhold information depending on the source of the information. I don't think such a privilege ought to be extended to journalists, but it would not be unprecedented.

[VerySadAmerican]

It’s not cover for “journalists”. It’s so they can shut up people who are NOT journalists. Such as people posting on the internet.

[matt04]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I rest my case.

[Slambat]

“of an entity that disseminates news or information.”

And whats their definition of “entity”.

“Feinstein said the intent was to set up a test to determine a bona fide journalist.”

Like the ones at NBC CBS ABC CNN etc..
This is state controlled media. The state will control
who a “bona fide journalist” is.
Communist takeover or what?

[Political Junkie Too]

Aren't there cases where even people in those situations have been compelled to testify unless they invoke their 5th amendment protections?

I wonder how much of this is related to the jailing of Judith Miller during the Scooter Libby investigation? Or more concerning, how much of this is Eric Holder wanting to deny protections under the cover of offering protections?

-PJ

[Slambat]

“Perhaps Conservatives will be counted as 3/5 of a journalist by the Left.”

Good one.

[Kevmo]

Good place to bump this scary thread.

[Flick Lives]

Covered journalist: person who has made sufficient campaign contributions to the political party in power.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

We need a “Peoples’ Panel” to determine who qualifies as a “Senator”.

That would definitely wipe out the Democrat’s control of the US Senate, and would fill up the unemployment lines.

I like that idea, and I approve of it.

MadMax, who knows a marxist phony-baloney politician like Obama when he smells one

[clintonh8r]

insanity

[CondorFlight]

Now, if you want to be a whistleblower (about corruption in government, or Benghazi, or anything else), you’re going
to have to find a government-defined “journalist”
to report your info to. Otherwise, your identity
won’t be protected.

I think future whistleblowers are going to be much more circumspect (frightened);

which I’m sure won’t bother the Senators at all.

[abb]

See here the pertinent USSC case.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0408_0665_ZS.html

408 U.S. 665
Branzburg v. Hayes

[wastedyears]

Trying to destroy blogging, and sites like Brietbart and Drudge.

[boxlunch]

These is just another reason why we need a Convention of the States to propose amendments for pruning the federal government back to it's proper size and place.

One of Mark Levin's proposed amendments allows states to nullify federal laws.

Another is for term limits for all members of Congress.

Also the proposed amendment to limit federal judges terms to 12 years and to be able for states to have power of super majority override of Supreme court rulings. This might make federal judges more apt to stick to the constitution for fear of being overturned (in a sane world this kind of law would be immediately ruled unconstitutional.)

The Convention of States Project

The Liberty Amendments by Mark Levin

Here is a good summary of some of the Liberty Amendments Mark Levin proposes

[Third Person]

The political elite are getting nervous. Anarchists and bloggers, oh my!

[Political Junkie Too]

We need a “Peoples’ Panel” to determine who qualifies as a “Senator”.

Before the 17th amendment, that panel used to be the state legislatures. They appointed their Senators.

-PJ

[Drill Thrawl]

Another day.

Another insult.

Another step closer.