Posted on 02/05/2018 6:17:06 PM PST by EdnaMode
Rep. Eric Swalwell told THR that a recent threat against CNN staffers showed his bill is needed. Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, who represents California's 15th Congressional District, wants legislators to do more than just use words to convey the importance of a free press. He's hoping the House of Representative will pass a bill he introduced on Monday, the Journalist Protection Act, which would make it a federal crime to harm a journalist in the field with the intent of impeding their work.
The safety and security of journalists has been top-of-mind throughout Donald Trump's presidency, and was ratcheted up in importance after a Michigan man was arrested and charged on Jan. 19 with threatening to kill CNN employees. (CNN president Jeff Zucker assured his employees that they were never at risk.)
Swalwell, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, said the bill was already in the works at the time of the arrest but that efforts were expedited. He said the threat against CNN "hastened the need" for his bill and validated the concern he and his co-sponsors have for members of the news media.
The bill announcement mentioned the president's decision to tweet, on July 2, a video that was edited to show him body-slamming and punching a person who had the CNN logo superimposed on them. Swalwell called the tweet "childish."
"It's the president of the United States, who has millions of followers and who is supposed to be the leader of our country doing it," he said. "I do fear that could embolden people themselves to take up violence against a journalist who they don't like."
But, Swalwell, who makes regular appearances across cable news, made clear that his bill is intended to protect journalists of all stripes. "I seek to protect the CNN journalist as much as I seek to protect the Fox News journalist," he said.
According to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, 44 journalists were attacked last year.
Bernie Lunzer, president of The NewsGuild-CWA, offered his support of the bill in a prepared statement. The bill, he said, should be embraced by "everyone who believes our democracy depends on a free and vibrant press."
Swalwell's bill stands little chance of passage in the Republican-controlled House, but he said he's hopeful it will attract bipartisan support.
Eric Swallowell
He makes my blood boil.
AND longer than the original pile of lies.
AND longer than the original pile of lies.
Yup. He’s out to make a big name for himself by any means necessary. They used to be called demagogues.
Incredibly the Rats decided not to sacrifice Congreesswoman Walters or A$$hat’s “credibility” so they dug up this twit for the belly laugh stuff.
Yeah, let’s protect a class of professional liars who are rated below car salesmen for honesty by the American people.
Has moron written all over it.......
I'd say gay...but I dunno.
Inside every liberal is a totalitarian screaming to get out.
This worthless turd (Swalwell) took over from Fortney (Pete) Stark. Young turd takes over from an old one. I was tickled to no end, when a couple of years ago, the building in Walnut Creek that housed Stark’s bank ( which had a “neon peace symbol” near it’s top ) Was demolished for a new structure. Stark was such and evil ba$tard, he’d swear at his constituents when he had telephone town meetings. And even his wife, the former Carolyn Wente (of the Livermore winemaker, Wente Vinyards) divorced him.
Here’s the scoop on both of them.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/11/pete-stark-defeated.html
I think you meant urinalist.
“...but propagandists are everywhere and should be hunted for sport.”
Yeah, and no bag limit.
++The President is seated at the desk in the Oval Office++
I am the President of the United States
I am being attacked and investigated for the sole reason to remove me from office.
I am being set up for destruction by the head of every department in our government.
They have illegally used their powers to try to perform a coup and take over your government and our country.
I have no choice but to end this hostile take over and I shall remove every one of the ones guilty of these acts of treason against our country, from the very top to the very bottom.
My military is in the process of making arrests, and are also on guard to stop any riots or damage to property. Stay off the streets for the next 48 hours. I shall speak to you again soon.
And ...Pray for our United States!!
God Bless America...
I think they misspelled “urinalist”, someone who figuratively pisses on his readers or viewers.
Yeah, I’m sure Trump will sign THAT bill, after it makes it through Congress (like not in a million years).
This is just for consumption for the Leftist rubes back home.
From your keyboard to God’s eyes!
The whole “aura of protection” that so-called journalists and the media enjoy is B.S. The Constitution does not afford them any more special privilege or access than the average public.
This bill won’t help CNN. It would only protect journalists.
Define Journalist.
I post on FR, I’m a Journalist.
+1. Or 2.
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