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- Jan 10, 2009
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Free press does not mean they can aid in releasing classified info.
Free press means that they can print anything that comes their way and if they feel like printing it. Our FF's wanted a free press for a reason. That reason was to keep the people informed. And obviously they didn't want the government to be able to stop the press from printing things it didn't like or they wouldn't have had the right to free press put into the 1st amendment. Here are a few words from our founding fathers.
The basis of our government being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate for a moment to prefer the latter. Thomas Jefferson
Whenever people are well-informed they can be trusted with their own government. Thomas Jefferson
Releasing classified info, airing it or giving it directly to the enemy is an accessory.
The press does not give it directly to the enemy. For that to happen they would have to literally put it in their hands. But they don't. They air it or send it out to news stands with which ANYONE can get ahold of it. The enemy getting ahold of it is a side effect yes. But you would have to prove that the Press intentionally printed out the info in order to purposely give it to the enemy. If you cannot then you are doing nothing but trying to keep them from doing their job. Which is to keep the American people informed.
There is no double standard. Freedom of press and freedom of speech does not mean you can leak classified info. I am against virtual strip searches because they violate the 4th amendment. Me not getting stripped searched does not aid in a crime. A constitutional right does not mean you can get away with a crime. For example my right to keep and bear arms does not mean I can legally murder people or randomly shoot at people for the hell of it.
And demanding that the press not print news worthy info on pain of death (the sentence for treason) violates the 1st amendment. Especially when the FF's specifically wanted the press to be able to print/air anything...even things that was bad for the government. Where is your outrage for this? Is your right to privacy worth more than the press's right to print the news that they get?
Now don't get me wrong. I have no problem with trying the people that leaked the info originally to the press in a court of law on charges of treason or espionage. But saying that the press deserves the same treatment for doing thier jobs is too extreme for me. The government does not have a free pass when it comes to what the press reports. Nor should they.