One of the reasons that people are talking more and more about Fake News is that the reporters are able to make up anything they want by claiming is comes from anonymous sources. So far the judges have protected the sources of journalists. I think the idea is that people won’t speak up if they fear reprisals. Although that is a genuine concern, it also works both ways. People will speak a lot of lies about targets of their hatred if there is no consequence for their deceit. It makes cowards and Progressives, I repeat myself, into saviors of the people. It is also clearly forbidden by the constitution.
Trial by media based on anonymous sources is a violation of the Constitutions requirement that we be allowed to face our accusers.
The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution tells us that a person accused of a crime has the right
“...to be confronted with the witnesses against him;...”. The obvious reason for that is to keep people from making up lies to drag you through the dirt. It slows people down who want to destroy you. It is a basic protection in a free society.
When the courts allow “journalists” to hide behind protection of sources they violate this clear statement of the Constitution. Freedom of the Press is supposed to make it possible for people to criticize the government without prior restraint. It is not about tabloids printing all the filth their imaginations can come up with.
There are times when I think it would be nice to require judges to read the Constitution.
homo unius libri
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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.