That might be an oversimplification. A free press is essential to a free people. We have a government that is out of control and protects "national security" by a simple declaration that national security is involved. There was no national security interest in the IRS intimidating citizens. The government just said there was. We don't even know if there was any national security interest in the sham prosecution of James Rosen since the government has never said what the issues of national security were.
Investigative reporters investigate. Then they expose their investigations to the public. If there are leaks of national security, the government employee who did the leaking is prosecuted. The reporter is only doing what reporters are supposed to do.
The interesting find is that underneath it all, democrats feel that the government should be able to muzzle the press.
No they don't.
You obviously haven't even seen the poll.
According to this poll, all Americans, both Dems and Republicans, overwhelmingly support the free press over national security concerns.
This has nothing to do with the IRS scandal. It's in response to
tapping AP reporter phone records.
(My bold)
Is this about the DOJ getting the AP phone records? That's one thing. Tapping or wiretapping would be listening in or otherwise intercepting the actual phone call, e-mail, fax, telegram, etc. These are two separate activities - the PATRIOT Act allows the federal government almost unlimited power to search, intercept, record, etc. communications, right down to the materials you've borrowed from the public library, in the interests of national security. A gag order is also included, & automatic - on all the people/organizations that have to cough up your records.
That is an immense amount of power, & we should revisit the PATRIOT Act to reclaim our Constitutional rights. I don't know when that will happen, though ...
