The Bush Administration is attempting to control every facet of American’s lives, even those that are guaranteed under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. Let me refresh your memories as to exactly what that amendment guarantees us. Below provided by the web site http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com.

U.S. Constitution: First Amendment

First Amendment - Religion and _Expression

Amendment Text | Annotations  

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.

In an article from the Boston Globe, (Jackson, Derreck Z., May, 4, 2006, “The War on the Press”), Jackson warns all journalists to get ready because Gonzales is coming after them with both barrels firing. As time moves forward it appears we should heed his warning. 

Gonzales had said numerous times that he may prosecute reporters who obtain classified information and make breaking news. He (Gonzales) said “Some statutes on the books, if read carefully, seem to indicate there is a possibility (to prosecute). It is a policy judgment by the Congress. We have the obligation to protect National Security.” Specifically those reports (and reporters) taken from “classified” documents that outline or make reference to the Bush Administrations terrorist surveillance program. Gonzales makes honorary mention of the New York Times and states that he is “trying to find the appropriate course of action”. (Liptak, Adam, May 22, 2006, “Gonzales says prosecution of journalists are possible”, www.freepress.net ) 

Gonzales authored the “Torture Memo” that gives the Bush Administration the ability to toss the Geneva Convention into the incinerator with regard to detainees on the war on terror. Furthermore, he stated (Jackson, 2006, p1) “ …in my judgment, ….renders obsolete the Geneva’s strict limitations on questioning of enemy prisoners…”. 

Time and again Gonzales has worked to cut off the Bush Administration from accountability helping them with stall tactics that can and do block the release of Presidential documents, withholding or delaying classified documents from the Department of Government Accountability in cases where Cheney and Libby had previously been called to task. (Jackson, 2006, p1)

When directly questioned about the legality of warrant-less phone monitoring programs that the Bush Administration spearheaded, Gonzales said “I would not rule it out.”. When pressed from the press about the possibility of monitoring their phone records in an attempt to identify their confidential sources Gonzales sidestepped the issue entirely. Liptak, 2006, p1)

Why this hard line against what can be reported and what cannot? The Bush Administration according to Jackson (2006, p1) has set the all time Presidential record for skirting the law in more than 750 instances. Are they above the law? Do they perhaps have something to hide? I say they must or they would not be so secretive and defensive. 

If this had been the case during the Nixon Administration then the world may not have even known about Watergate or the break-ins in the DNC. Without Woodward and Bernstein’s tireless research and confidential information Nixon may not have been prosecuted and impeached. Is the American public supposed to live in a vacuum?

Doesn’t the American public have the right to know if our elected officials are breaking the law? Didn’t we elect these officials to safeguard our rights and freedoms? Without the reporting of all topics important to America and the rest of the world we only have “censored freedoms”. Censoring our guaranteed freedoms appears to me like a direct breach of the rights we have been afforded under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. What do you think?

If you believe that our fundamental rights and freedoms are being cast aside or trampled on please call or write your local or state congress people or senators and tell them that we (the American public) are fed up. Demand that they support our rights afforded under the First Amendment of the US Constitution or tell them we will elect those that will!

Sources;

www.freepress.net, article by Liptak, Adam (2006) “Gonzales says prosecution of journalists are possible” (May 22, 2006) NY Times

Jackson, Derreck Z. (2006) “The War on Free Press” (May 24, 2006) Boston Globe

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