Amendment IGov. Palin apparently interprets this to mean that the press ought not criticize her speech:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
"If [the media] convince enough voters that that is negative campaigning, for me to call Barack Obama out on his associations," Palin told host Chris Plante, "then I don't know what the future of our country would be in terms of First Amendment rights and our ability to ask questions without fear of attacks by the mainstream media."Well, actually, Gov. Palin, the First Amendment protects your right to say whatever you please - without fear of being silenced by the Government... and it also protects the press's right to report what you say and comment on it! - without fear of Government retribution.
[Excerpt from Gov. Palin's interview with radio host Chris Plante, WMAL-AM, posted on Salon.com]
Maybe I'm reading too much into Gov. Palin's words, but to me it sounds like she'd really like to muzzle media criticism of Candidates and - by extension - the Government!
Actually, we - the U.S. - tried this once with The Alien and Sedition Acts, back in 1798.
The Sedition Act (officially An Act for the Punishment of Certain Crimes against the United States) made it a crime to publish "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against the government or its officials. Enacted July 14, 1798, with an expiration date of March 3, 1801.... Tho' I note that this Act applied only to "the government or its officials"... NOT to candidates for elective office!
Stop the madness!!!
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