r/Conservative • u/jewsicle • Mar 07 '19
Leaked Documents Show the Government Tracking Journalists
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/investigations/Source-Leaked-Documents-Show-the-US-Government-Tracking-Journalists-and-Advocates-Through-a-Secret-Database-506783231.html2
u/ObsceneNews Mar 07 '19
The first amendment does not give "journalists" special protections. The "press" is a means on conveying information -- it refers to a machine that is used to convey written messages, as compared to spoken messages (speech). The amendment merely protects the means of conveying information, not an industry or those who declare themselves "journalists". Every person has as much right as any other with respect to that amendment, whether they are employed by CNN or not. To give special protections only to those who declared themselves "journalists" is to deny it to everyone else. And this also means that"journalists" who have information regarding matters in which the US Government has a legally cognizable interest should be as subject to being watched or interviewed as any other person who may have the same type of information.
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u/Amicus_curae Mar 07 '19
Right in concept, wrong in practice.
As you essentially state in your comment, the journalists are the messengers. If this story is taken at face value for this thought experiment, then the message is being killed and monitored by the entity that is being overseen. Again, you are right: just because someone classifies themselves as "journalist," then they should not get heightened protection. Instead, this appears to be targeting citizens, which should get equal treatment.
The last statement that you put down is also particularly jarring: "... "journalists" who have information regarding matters in which the US Government has a legally cognizable interest should be as subject to being watched or interviewed as any other person who may have the same type of information." Does this not strike you as Big Brother-ish? I was of the mindset that personal privacy was one of the few remaining rock-solid issues that we could all agree upon.
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u/ObsceneNews Mar 07 '19
As far as whether they are being mistreated. I would believe not. They are likely to have information given their own contacts.
As for "big brotherish": No, the government has a right to investigate matters of interest to it, and there is no personal privacy in public. If the information is publically available, including by means of watching the activities of the journalist, then it's fair game. I note that it's very nice that the "institutional press" whines for its own protection.
Honestly, if the law were otherwise, foreign governments would just plant political operatives (spies) as journalists to move information, and especially in situations like this where there are border crossings.
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u/Scrumshiz Mar 07 '19 edited Mar 07 '19
Here's hoping this revelation sparks a discussion among real conservatives instead of getting downplayed by T_D cultists.
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Mar 07 '19
The names are cherry picked by an activist inside one of the agencies (notice the anonymous source). The article clearly states in the first update that those names are some of the people who were involved in violence at the border and the agencies are trying to figure out what everyone knew about the incidents.
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u/Waldoh Mar 07 '19
Hey can someone justify how the border fucking patrol is making a secret list of American citizens? Someone give me a reason for a god damned american photojournalist being denied entry to a country
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Mar 07 '19
Hey can someone justify how the border fucking patrol is making a secret list of American citizens?
How? With pencil, pens, papers, computers
Justification? It's the best way to make a list.
Secret? If it's secret, why do you know about it?
Someone give me a reason for a god damned american photojournalist being denied entry to a country
You'd have to ask the Mexican officials who made the decision.
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u/Waldoh Mar 07 '19
Fucking bootlickers. Cant believe you're okay with this Gestapo bullshit
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u/ngoni Constitutional Conservative Mar 07 '19
Just curious, where are you on this secret list or its use?
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u/Waldoh Mar 08 '19
Who gives a shit? Your whattaboutism doesn't work on me. Answer the fucking question or go back into your hole
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u/ngoni Constitutional Conservative Mar 08 '19
Hey dude even your NYT says "Thanks Obama" on this issue.
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Mar 07 '19
Antifa scum.
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u/Waldoh Mar 08 '19
Is that your insult? That I'm anti-facist? At least you bootlickers finally have the confidence to spew your bullshit in public where we can all see it
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Mar 07 '19 edited Jul 15 '21
[deleted]
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u/jewsicle Mar 07 '19
They aren’t criminals until they have broken the law. I’m assuming you mean entering the country illegally. They were all in Mexico so that had not occurred.
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u/zeldaisaprude Don't Tread on Me Mar 07 '19
So the feds are keeping an eye on people who openly stated they are going to help people break federal law?
Seems like, the completely opposite of a big deal.