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New York Times Protested by FreeRepublic and AIM, Washington DC, 7/03/06: After-Action Report
DC Chapter, FRee Republic | July 6, 2006 | Albion Wilde

Posted on 07/06/2006 5:52:32 PM PDT by Albion Wilde

WASHINGTON, DC, MONDAY, JULY 3, 2006--The D.C. Chapter of FreeRepublic.com and the online watchdog Accuracy in Media (www.AIM.org) held a press conference and demonstration Monday at the Washington, D.C., bureau of the New York Times to protest the newspaper's publishing of stories exposing national security intelligence programs.

The two conservative groups called for the prosecution of New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., Executive Editor Bill Keller and reporters James Risen and Eric Lichtblau for "giving aid and comfort to al-Qaida."

The initial group of 14 FReepers, led by FreeRepublic's National Spokesman Kristinn Taylor, soon swelled to 29 protesters. They were joined by speaker Cliff Kincaid, AIM's Director of Policy and Communications, and a group of AIM staffers. Several bystanders also joined the ranks during the demonstration, borrowing signs or unfurling their own.


The protesters, locating themselves on the pavement across the street from the NYT's Washington bureau building -- in full view and earshot of the Times' offices -- were surrounded by some two dozen members of the press. Photos by [Mrs.] Trooprally.


News organizations included CNN, FoxNews, the Sinclair Broadcast Group, Getty Images, Voice of America, RussianTV, Michelle Malkin and staffers from her Hot Air daily video site, and novelist and Time magazine columnist Ana Marie Cox (formerly of Wonkette).


Cliff Kincaid (left), veteran journalist and author of many books on national policy and defense, including several co-authored with AIM's legendary founder, the late Reed Irvine; and Kristinn Taylor (right and below), FreeRepublic.com National Spokesman and co-leader, DC Chapter.


Kristinn Taylor, national spokesman for FreeRepublic.com, began by addressing the media. Among his remarks, he said, "We're out here today to make a point not only to the New York Times, but also to the Federal government. We are in a real war; but it's not just being waged in Afghanistan and Iraq -- it's also being fought on the home front."


FReeper Nina0113's sign (right) points to the dangers of indiscretion when terrorism is on the march -- it's a parody front page of the times showing the house in which a Jewish family hid from Nazi terrorists for years during WWII, with the headline, "ANNE FRANK IS IN THE ATTIC."

"We want the New York Times to act like a responsible newspaper," Taylor continued. He called for the Federal government to investigate the four individuals most responsible for the leaks -- the owner, Arthur Sulzberger, Executive Editor Bill Keller, and the two reporters who broke the story, James Risen and Eric Lichtblau -- and prosecute them for treason.

"There is no excuse," he continued, "for their publishing this story. It served no purpose but to undermine the War on Terror. It's clear that they hate the Bush administration more than the terrorists."

Cliff Kincaid's remarks were sharply illustrative of the risks to reporters of "loose lips" in the War on Terror. "What motivates the New York Times to publish information that helps the enemy kill Americans?" he began. "Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. and his editors and reporters are Americans, too. This is a paper based in a city that lost almost 3,000 citizens on 9/11. The next time the terrorists strike, the Times and its employees could be incinerated. The next time we are hit by al Qaeda, Times employees could be jumping out of windows to their deaths. But the paper decided that it's better to risk another terrorist attack on America than withhold information that might help prevent another attack. What accounts for such a strange view about the value of human life? Why has this paper turned its back on the absolute necessity of protecting the lives of our fellow Americans?

"If the answer is freedom of the press," Kincaid continued, "then it is freedom without responsibility. Curiously, though, the practice of aiding the enemy is something that is not only honored but encouraged by the journalism establishment today. That is why the Times, after publishing the James Risen/Eric Lichtblau Pulitzer Prize-winning story about the NSA terrorist surveillance program last December, has followed up with a story about another secret program to uncover terrorist financial transactions."

The full text of Mr. Kincaid's remarks is reproduced here on the Accuracy in Media web site. His essay refers to a bitterly satiric send-up of the NYT from the www.peoplescube.com site, reproduced for the demonstration by Vietnam veteran and FReeper [Mrs.] Trooprally.



Underscoring Mr. Kincaid's point about Pulitzer Prizes awarded to reckless reporting was a tall FReeper in a Boris Badinov costume (center), with a sign reading, "WHERE'S *MY* PULITZER?" His image was displayed on FoxNews that evening. Kristinn (left) is interviewed by Ana Marie Cox (right), Kerry supporter, novelist and blogger formerly known as Wonkette.



A different quality of attention was paid to this demonstration than the usual press indifference to conservative viewpoints. The reporters and crowd were silent and attentive during the speakers' remarks, and their questions afterward were serious. One reporter asked what steps should be taken regarding this story. Kristinn Taylor again pointed to the obligation of the media to behave responsibly.

Referring to FreeRepublic's position as a highly popular conservative news forum with unique visitor traffic ranking with the Drudge Report, Taylor remarked, "We support a free press; but with that right comes responsibility. I exercise my Second Amendment right to own a firearm. But that right does not entitle me to shoot anywhere I want in any way I want. The same principle applies to the First Amendment freedom of the press."

Mr. Kincaid responded to a question about what would constitute a successful prosecution. "A successful prosecution would only mean that the New York Times and other [news outlets] would obey the law. The question is, will the press hold itself to be above the law? Let's bring the case and see..."

Directly challenging the reporters in the necessity of self-restraint, Kincaid continued, "What's going to happen next time? Are you going to be jumping out a window? Are you going to be one of those incinerated?"

At this, the tension level rose directly. Reporters wanted to know whether Taylor's and Kincaid's call to prosecute also carried an expectation of the traditional legal penalty for treason, a death sentence. Taylor pointed to the precedent of the Rosenberg case during the last century. Kincaid rejoined, "The question at this point is not about the death penalty, but to ask, "Why are these publishers risking the lives of other Americans? Why did they violate the law?"

The demonstration was not to end without a Freeper chant loud enough to penetrate the closed windows of the news building across the street. Taylor led the group in shouting many repetitions of

SULZBERGER, KELLER,
RISEN AND LICHTBLAU --
ROUND THEM UP FOR TREASON!
SEND THEM ALL TO GITMO!

You can hear it for yourself on Michelle Malkin's Hot Air site, as well as in this video story of the protest on Voice of America.



Michelle Malkin and the crew of Hot Air interview Kristinn Taylor.


In addition to Kristinn, FReepers who attended the protest, by screennames, were 3D-Joy, AaronArnwine, Albion Wilde, BufordP, Christopher Lincoln, Cindy-True-Supporter, Jimmy Valentine's Brother, Just A Nobody, [Mrs.] Mason-Dixon, Nina0113, ShadowMayhem, [Mrs.] Trooprally, TBP and W04Man. Accuracy in Media was represented not only by Mr. Kincaid, but also by Curtis Kincaid, Charles Rozier, Director of AIM's Educational Foundation Speakers Bureau, a photographer and several interns. Another two women holding signs said they heard about the protest on Michelle Malkin's blog. Several men from nearby offices joined in.

The sole counterprotester in attendance was Terry Krepel, a self-described conservative media watchdog, who saw this demonstration as "one piece in a history of eliminationist rhetoric," claiming that the goal was "not to have a dialog with the opposition, but to suppress it and silence it." When it comes to suppressing and silencing national security secrets in wartime, Terry, uh, yes.

That is the goal.




Additional media links:

The backstory from CNN: The debate in Congress over "loose lips" at the NYT
Photos by Alex Wong of Getty Images


Related FreeRepublic stories:

All of FReeper [Mrs.] Trooprally's excellent photos of the demonstration. Speak Truth to the New York Times
Groups to Protest Treasonous Reporting by New York Times at Washington, D.C. Bureau
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1660599/posts
Michelle Malkin: The newspaper of wreckage
Times must share blame if people die in attack
Wiretapped, denounced, indicted, journalists and ‘leakers’ feel heat around globe
Protest the New York Times Revealing of U.S. Secrets, Monday, July 10, 5 p.m.


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; US: New York; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 4thestate5thcolumn; aar; accuracyinmedia; aidandcomfort; aim; biasmeanslayoffs; cliffkincaid; dcchapter; enemedia; enemediaprotest; gitmo; keller; kincaid; kristinn; kristinntaylor; leaks; lichtblau; nationalsecurity; newyorktimes; nyt; nyttreason; protestnyt; risen; sulzberger; taylor; treason; trysellingthetruth
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To: jan in Colorado

Good - you found it. ;*)


41 posted on 07/06/2006 8:51:02 PM PDT by Just A Nobody (NEVER AGAIN..Support our Troops! www.irey.com and www.vets4Irey.com - Now more than Ever!)
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To: Albion Wilde

Excellent. Thanks to all participants.


42 posted on 07/06/2006 8:51:13 PM PDT by blam
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To: Albion Wilde; kristinn; All

Dang, you folk rock!!

Thank you for your service to the USA. Your contributions at home are as important as those in harms way. Because it is your efforts that allow them to do their job.

I can't hit all of you on this post. Please take this to mean all you great FReepers manning the walls.


43 posted on 07/06/2006 9:05:33 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (Let them die of thirst in the dark.)
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To: Albion Wilde; All

Thank you!


44 posted on 07/06/2006 9:10:13 PM PDT by Valin (http://www.irey.com/)
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To: Albion Wilde

The other day we heard on the radio that some publication printed pics and security camera information on vacation houses leased by Sec. Rumsfeld and VP Cheney.

We're not sure, but believe the publication was the Washington Post, or NYT. (If anyone else knows for sure, please clarify.) The publication argued that it was all public information, thus no harm no foul.

So my question is: How would he like it if WE printed pics of Sulzberger's home and relevant information regarding security for he and his family?

What's good for the goose....


45 posted on 07/06/2006 9:11:52 PM PDT by Humidston (Congress is like the Mafia - NO PAY, NO PLAY.)
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To: Albion Wilde
... The sole counterprotester in attendance was Terry Krepel, a self-described conservative media watchdog, who saw this demonstration as "one piece in a history of eliminationist rhetoric," claiming that the goal was "not to have a dialog with the opposition, but to suppress it and silence it."

Cripes, what a lout!

Go Kristin and DC Freepers ...
46 posted on 07/06/2006 9:15:06 PM PDT by George - the Other (Prosecute the New York Times ...)
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To: Albion Wilde
Thanks for the ping.


47 posted on 07/06/2006 9:16:29 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: Albion Wilde

The sole counterprotester in attendance was Terry Krepel, a self-described conservative media watchdog
http://conwebwatch.tripod.com/

Note: You might want to bring a LARGE size heaftybag when you go there.


48 posted on 07/06/2006 9:16:37 PM PDT by Valin (http://www.irey.com/)
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To: Albion Wilde
"Anne Frank is in the Attic", and "Where's My Pulitzer?"

Top-notch!

49 posted on 07/06/2006 9:21:08 PM PDT by GVnana (Former Alias: GVgirl)
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To: Albion Wilde

Great job, thanks!


50 posted on 07/06/2006 9:23:55 PM PDT by Coleus (I Support Research using the Ethical, Effective and Moral use of stem cells: non-embryonic "adult")
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To: Albion Wilde
For all you FReepers in the New York City area, there is a FReep at the NYT building there.

NYT in NYC FReep

Don't let the D.C. Chapter have all the fun. Please post your Report and ping us so we can enjoy your handy work.

51 posted on 07/06/2006 9:25:12 PM PDT by trooprally (Never Give Up - Never Give In - Remember Our Troops)
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To: Albion Wilde

God Bless you all!!

B U M P


52 posted on 07/06/2006 9:36:48 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Taglines for sale or rent. Good "one liners", 50 cents.)
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To: freedumb2003; Albion Wilde; kristinn; All

"Dang, you folk rock!!

Thank you for your service to the USA. Your contributions at home are as important as those in harms way. Because it is your efforts that allow them to do their job.

I can't hit all of you on this post. Please take this to mean all you great FReepers manning the walls."

Worth repeating!

B U M P


53 posted on 07/06/2006 9:39:33 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Taglines for sale or rent. Good "one liners", 50 cents.)
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To: Humidston

Here's a link to an FR thread about the vacation homes of Rumsfeld and Cheney, It's a Malkin piece.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1660884/posts


54 posted on 07/06/2006 10:06:10 PM PDT by jazusamo (DIANA IREY for Congress, PA 12th District: Retire murtha.)
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To: Albion Wilde
Thanks for the ping! Glad to see my "revised" NYT masthead made it!


55 posted on 07/06/2006 10:57:34 PM PDT by End_Clintonism_Now (MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL CLINTON!)
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To: Albion Wilde

56 posted on 07/07/2006 2:33:17 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: Albion Wilde

57 posted on 07/07/2006 2:38:00 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: Albion Wilde
Hey! The woman on the left is using one of my graphics! Woo hoo! Go me! Go me! It's my birthday! It's my birthday!


58 posted on 07/07/2006 3:59:04 AM PDT by The G Man (The NY Times did "great harm to the United States" - President George W. Bush 6/26/06)
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To: Albion Wilde
Great work! This fish-wrap rag's feet (metaphorically speaking) must be held to the fire without let-up. Too bad FR is doing what the higher-ups should be doing (let's hope they're doing SOMETHING).

Leni

59 posted on 07/07/2006 4:00:03 AM PDT by MinuteGal
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To: Albion Wilde

Thanks for the ping and to all the FReepers out there on the front lines!


60 posted on 07/07/2006 5:02:04 AM PDT by stopem (God Bless the U.S.A the Troops who protect her, and their Commander In Chief !)
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