February 21, 2005
Leaks
Tom Bowler points out that the Gasping Media thought the law against outing CIA agents was just ducky when it looked like it might hurt someone in the White House. Treason! We need a Special Prosecutor!
Now that the Special Prosecutor is going after reporters, we're told that it's a nasty stupid law that should never have been passed. Phooey.
Even if you believe reporters should be allowed to protect sources so they will feel free to tell the reporters about crimes and wrongdoings in government , in this case the only crime was the act of taking to reporters. (Putative crime. It isn't looking now like the law was really broken.)
The press wrap themselves in the popular image of hard-digging investigative reporters going after the corrupt "interests." But real investigative reporting is rare, and for every instance there are a thousand where a "high government official" uses a reporter to stick a knife in somebody...Most of the "leaks" from government are from various factions trying to embarrass or hinder other factions. Reporters are happy to pass on the dirt and get a story, but there is nothing noble or admirable about it.
Posted by John Weidner at February 21, 2005 05:24 PMFunny! I've read several legal blogs who say its looking increasingly like Federal law really was broken.
Personally I have no problem investigating journalists if they out undercover agents, ruining years of work, potentially putting people's lives at risk. What does bother me, though, is in this case (by all reports) while 6 or 7 reporters got the tip, only one reporter printed it - Robert Novak. Yet he seems to the the one journalist immune from questioning. Why? He is the journalist who aided the traitor in the White House (to use George HW Bush's description). Why does he get a pass? Why are journalists who did NOT print anything or pass it on being threatened with jail while Novak is ignored? And this doesn't even touch on the gay prostitute with the phoney name who claimed to get a look at classified CIA info about Pflame...
As to "Reporters are happy to pass on the dirt and get a story, but there is nothing noble or admirable about it", agree completely! They proved how low they were willing to go during the Clinton Admin, enthusiastically printing every rumor or claim leaked by the Starr folk (remember Safire's absolute certainty Hillary Clinton would be indicted within a week?). Shame they seem to have lost their enthusiasm and keep giving the Bush Admin a total pass on blatant lies, even illegal activities (ie. payola and creating phoney news gov't investigators said was clearly "propaganda").
Posted by: Zoomie at February 25, 2005 06:52 PMOh look, you've got your very own anti-Bush troll. Careful, don't make sudden movements -- I've heard these little fellows are actually quite timid.
Posted by: Andrea Harris at February 26, 2005 08:45 AMTimid? Hardly!
Troll? More like a gnome, perhaps...
hahahaha
