Free Speech Under Attack on Obama's Plane
Is Barack Obama fighting free speech?
That chilling question is what many bloggers and members of the press are considering after "The New Yorker" was not granted one of the 40 press passes available on the plane carrying Barack Obama to the Middle East.
Justifiably appalled by Obama's caricature on the cover of "The New Yorker" last week, it appears as if his camp is fighting back by the lowest, dirtiest, Bush-like means available: they're restricting the press.
Intentional or not, this move sends a message to reporters to watch what they say, or they might lose access to Barack Obama. (Like Helen Thomas with the Bush administration.) When a politician resorts to these tactics, it ends up showing favor to friendly media outlets. We've seen it over the past eight years as FOX has pulled the bar of mainstream journalistic integrity down and down and down and they've been rewarded for it.
Obama and his people need to wise up. If he wants to run as a progressive advocate of free-thinking and free speech, Barack better walk the walk.
Otherwise for all his pretty words, Obama will be just another political disappointment.
(Above: Sen. Barack Obama and U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker leave the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki after a meeting July 21, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq.
THAIER AL-SUDANI/Getty Images Europe)
That chilling question is what many bloggers and members of the press are considering after "The New Yorker" was not granted one of the 40 press passes available on the plane carrying Barack Obama to the Middle East.
Justifiably appalled by Obama's caricature on the cover of "The New Yorker" last week, it appears as if his camp is fighting back by the lowest, dirtiest, Bush-like means available: they're restricting the press.Intentional or not, this move sends a message to reporters to watch what they say, or they might lose access to Barack Obama. (Like Helen Thomas with the Bush administration.) When a politician resorts to these tactics, it ends up showing favor to friendly media outlets. We've seen it over the past eight years as FOX has pulled the bar of mainstream journalistic integrity down and down and down and they've been rewarded for it.
Obama and his people need to wise up. If he wants to run as a progressive advocate of free-thinking and free speech, Barack better walk the walk.
Otherwise for all his pretty words, Obama will be just another political disappointment.
(Above: Sen. Barack Obama and U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker leave the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki after a meeting July 21, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq.
THAIER AL-SUDANI/Getty Images Europe)
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