Sen. John McCain came out in support of a press shield law Monday.
Such a law would protect reporters' use of confidential sources in controversial stories.
McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, spoke at the annual meeting of the Associated Press in Washington. He called his decision a close call, because he was concerned that a shield law would be "a license to do harm" if misused by reporters more interested in getting a scoop than in remembering the nation's security.
"I take a very, very dim view of stories that expose classified information," McCain said.
But, McCain said, a shield law would more often be "a license to do good; to disclose injustice and unlawfulness and inequities; and to encourage their swift correction."
McCain said he was "willing to invest in the press a very solemn trust that in the use of confidential sources you will not do more harm than good whether it comes to the security of the nation or the reputation of good people."
McCain also called for more public transparency in newsroom decision-making.
Barach Oboma was a follower of the Reverend Wright for a number of years and has talked on the good things the minister had done (in his opinion) but not much about the false accusations made by him and his church concerning their concern ( in their opinion) for the egregious acts committed by the U.S. Govt.
Now Barach is affiliated with George Soros whose views about our society and politics are well known. The speech made by Barach closely reflect George’s views on our country and his political science views namely the validity of our constitutional rights including- the right to bear arms and freedom of religion.
I remember the Communists used to refer to our freedom of religion as a narcotic of the masses’ .I am concerned that Barach’s speech was a trial balloon to see how the public will react to Barach’s/ George Soros opinions and the direction they want the United States to go.
Posted by: Jack's Son | April 14, 2008 at 11:34 AM
I am from PA, and live in a small town. I am not bitter, and neither is my family or anyone else that I know. We are not bigoted and racist and we do not go to church in order to cling to religion in desperation. Obama's remarks were insulting and he said them to entertain a crowd of backers on Millionaire Row in San Francisco, closed to reporters, or so he thought. I didn't hear him making this statement to us when he whisked across our state on a six day bus tour. Only behind our backs, in a closed door fundraiser, he showed what he is like.
Yes there are problems here. We've had seven years of problems. But, PA voters are not stupid. Obama has associations that are highly questionable.... Tony Rezko, Jeremiah Wright (Rev.), William Ayers, Louis Farrakahn, and probably many more that have not yet been outed.
There will be an element of support for Obama next Tuesday, of course. But, PA is going to make a statement for Hillary that will not be able to be ignored.
Posted by: teach | April 14, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Leaders of the Society of Professional Journalists today welcomed Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain’s support of S. 2035, the Free Flow of Information Act.
“I’m willing to invest in the press a very solemn trust that in the use of confidential sources, you will not do more harm than good, whether it comes to the security of the nation or the reputation of good people,” McCain said. “And I would hope that when you do something controversial or something that many people find wrong and harmful you would explain fully and honestly how and why you did it, and confess your mistakes, if you made them, in a more noticeable way than afforded by the small print on a corrections page.”
Thirty-two states and the District of Columbia have various statutes that protect journalists from being forced to testify or disclose sources and information. No statutory protection currently exists for federal cases.
“Sen. McCain’s support for a federal shield law is welcomed news,” SPJ President Clint Brewer said. “At a time when overzealous prosecutors are attempting to use national security as an excuse to force journalists into acting as an arm of the law, it’s good to know that a presidential hopeful understands that the responsibility of the press is to keep a watchful eye on government.”
SPJ launched its campaign for a federal shield law in 2006. To learn more about SPJ’s efforts, please visit SPJ’s shield law page at http://www.spj.org/shieldlaw.asp.
Posted by: Joe | April 14, 2008 at 04:10 PM