Dalglish: Justice Dept. Probe of 'NYT' Shows Need for Shield Law (Journalists worried?)

Editor and Publisher ^ | 12/30/05 | Joe Strupp

[HonduGOP]

Dalglish: Justice Dept. Probe of 'NYT' Shows Need for Shield Law

By Joe Strupp

Published: December 30, 2005 1:11 PM ET

NEW YORK Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, expressed outrage at the Justice Department investigation into who leaked classified information to The New York Times about the Bush administration's controversial domestic spying program, saying it is even more serious than the Valerie Plame probe.

"This is much more of a classic whistleblower than the Plame case was and that is why the stakes are much higher," Dalglish said. "The public needed to know about it and that is a classic reason why reporters need to protect their sources and it is even more reason why there is a need to have a federal shield law."

Dalglish believes that the seriousness of this case could drive regular citizens to speak out against such investigations and push more for a federal source protection bill to be passed by Congress. "Hopefully the public will begin to understand," she said.

Times spokeswoman Catherine Mathis declined to comment on the Justice Department investigation and said no Times officials would be commenting. Executive Editor Bill Keller did not return calls seeking comment because, his office said, he was out on vacation

[Paloma_55]

This is national security.

It is no different than announcing plans to invade Normandy in 1944. It gave the enemy information that was useful and damaged the US. The claims that Bush Administration were acting illegally have already been shown wrong and this is why we can not allow people to disclose top security information just because THEY think its OK.

[MizSterious]

Just so you don't put panties on their heads. That would be inhumane. (Note: that was sarcasm.)

[gunnedah]

Another piece of Liberal Propaganda. America is at war and they are traitors. If there is something illegal to be revealed let them take it to Congress instead of giving the enemy aid. Our problem is that our diverse nation is not made up of Americans,it is made up of those trying to overthrow America while sucking away all of our wealth.If one does not want th be an American they should not come here. For those of us whose ancestors have paid the price and we are nothing more than Americans our identity and our way of life is being snuffed out. We in effect are prisoners in our own country and it is time to take up arms if necessary and take our country back.Enough is enough.

[conservative barking moonbat]

Is mccain on vacation? He is usually the first a-hole to come out in support of the MSM and the Times.

[sgtbono2002]

These Effin people have lost their effin minds.

No secret is safe ,they fall over themselves to prove which is the biggest traitor. It has often been said that a journalist would sell their mother for a story, How can it be denied when the Washington Post and the NY Times have already sold out their country.

[MNJohnnie]

Maybe after they throw a few of these knuckleheads in jail

I am afraid you would have to execute a few to wake the rest up. These clowns are Political Activists first, any other concerns like DECENCY, CITIZENSHIP etc

[Eric in the Ozarks]

100 percent agree.

[paguch]

We need to prosecute the NY times and the person who leaked. We need to realize reporters such as these are people of the world first and US citizens second. They have no allegence to the US. If a high level Senator or Federal Judge goes to jail for 20 years we will finally get people to understand we are at war.
Who is the NY Times to decide to jeopardize our lives because they disagree with the President? They should be put on notice. No more warnings and pleading. If they are going to release sensitive material, shut them down. They are a propaganda rag.

[olezip]

Lucy belongs in jail! Where is the outrage at the release of classified information? Scumbags who illegally obtain and publish such info make a few bucks for their newspapers, but probably caused untold damage to the country and lives of others. IMHO release of classified information trumps the shield law! Maybe Lucy is guilty of something!

[MNJohnnie]

Hmm Where is the People's Right to Know in the Constitution?

This is the self serving propaganda of the Failed Media. they do NOT have "a right to know". That is WHY we are a Constitutional Republic and NOT a Democracy. We elect people to deal with certain societal needs like NATIONAL SECURITY, we do NOT elect any "journalist" to anything. They are NOTHING but a self selected, self important bunch of arrogant twits who have NO official standing to do ANYTHING on our behalf.

[Semi Civil Servant]

In the eyes of the media::

The Bush Administration spying on US citizens talking to terrorists overseas to protect the country:

EVIL

The Clinton Administration spying on US citizens:

NO BIG DEAL

The MSM spying on the government and reporting classified information that benefits America's enemies:

GOOD

No wonder growing millions despise the MSM.

[MNJohnnie]

Just so you don't put panties on their heads. That would be inhumane. (Note: that was sarcasm.)

The thought of the scum in the "Journalist" community being forced form a naked pig pile by jailer with a GED makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

[jimbo123]

Lucy A. Dalglish
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Arlington, VA
(703) 807-2100
ldalglish@rcfp.org

[RedRover]

Well said! The "right to know" serves as cover for all manner of abuses.

[Wasanother]

They have a shield law, if they turn over their "sources" when a crime is committed then they are shielded from going to jail.

[Brilliant]

The media thinks it's above the law.

If you break the law, then you go to jail. If the law is bad, then change it, but don't create artificial impediments to prosecution if someone violates the law.

[skimask]

"Just so you don't put panties on their heads."

I'd put the panties in his mouth, panties as big as a king size pillowcase, just before i start waterboarding him.

[Cboldt]

A shield law for the press would create a "safe haven" for passing classified and otherwise sensitive information. Pass the information through a reporter, and the reporter asserts "shield law" to protect the spy on the inside.

There is no need for a shield law. As we saw in the Plame case, the name of the source is not published, but is kept secret (e.g., by the grand jury) unless there is a violation of law.

[doc30]

The NSA wirwtapping isn't something Bush should be held accountable for; it's something he was elected to do - protect this county!

[TheGeezer]

Dalglish believes that the seriousness of this case could drive regular citizens to speak out against such investigations and push more for a federal source protection bill to be passed by Congress. "Hopefully the public will begin to understand," she said.

This spokesperson is in the liberal MSM echo chamber. The citizens have already realized that the press prints information that is a threat to national security not to protect citizen rights, but to advance the liberal Democrat political agenda.

GWB's approval ratings went up after the possibly treasonous NYT publication of state secrets, which must have given the anti-American MSM elements pause: the expected political outrage did not (and has not) occurred!

What do you know? Americans want the presidency to do what it must constitutionally do to defend the nation, and they are willing to let him do it!

The answer to "Journalists worried?" is, thankfully, "YES!" I hope the leakers will be found, tried, and if found guilty, imprisoned. I also hope a few "journalists" spend some time in lockup for refusing to reveal their sources (since they can't be jailed for publishing what they were given illegally).