Palin: First Amendment Rights Threatened By Criticism

ABC News reports:

In a conservative radio interview that aired in Washington, D.C. Friday morning, Republican vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin said she fears her First Amendment rights may be threatened by "attacks" from reporters who suggest she is engaging in a negative campaign against Barack Obama.

Palin told WMAL-AM that her criticism of Obama's associations, like those with 1960s radical Bill Ayers and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, should not be considered negative attacks. Rather, for reporters or columnists to suggest that it is going negative may constitute an attack that threatens a candidate's free speech rights under the Constitution, Palin said.

"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."

Salon's Glenn Greenwald explains why this argument is frighteningly wrong:

If anything, Palin has this exactly backwards, since one thing that the First Amendment does actually guarantee is a free press. Thus, when the press criticizes a political candidate and a Governor such as Palin, that is a classic example of First Amendment rights being exercised, not abridged.

This isn't only about profound ignorance regarding our basic liberties, though it is obviously that. Palin here is also giving voice here to the standard right-wing grievance instinct: that it's inherently unfair when they're criticized. And now, apparently, it's even unconstitutional.

According to Palin, what the Founders intended with the First Amendment was that political candidates for the most powerful offices in the country and Governors of states would be free to say whatever they want without being criticized in the newspapers. The First Amendment was meant to ensure that powerful political officials would not be "attacked" in the papers. It is even possible to imagine more breathaking ignorance from someone holding high office and running for even higher office?

Comments

[applescruff]

Is it too much to ask a candidate for the position of VP to make herself familiar with the country's Constitution? If she really cares about the country as she claims then why can't she take the time to find out the most important things about it? This woman is a pathetic ploy and prop dvised and invented to rile the worse traits of humans. That is an auspicious foundation for a man claiming he will unite and help this country.

[HoraceOvidson]

Yes, you are asking too much. If a Cliff Notes version were available, that might do the trick.

[sweetsnail]

The woman even has a degree in journalism, right? As a JT major myself, I distinctly recall many instances where we got the First pounded into our skulls. And one of the biggest things about the amendment is how it is designed to be a check on the government.

[homas]

Don't worry Sarah, just go listen to MSNBC’s Norah McDonnell. She won't criticize you or anything in your campaign since she is obviously a Rethug shill for MSNBC.

[chriro]

what you would get is a tepid reportage. Interestingly enough, the UK has very strict libel laws when it comes to talking ill of politicians, royalty included. If you recall a few years ago, it was alleged that prince charles had a homosexual relationship with a member of his house staff. Because of law, the british media spoke in ridiculous innuendo because of fear that the facts weren't 110% true. while these controlled euphemisms were on a subject of relatively little importance, imagine the consequences if we are talking about a prime minister and policy.

I think stephen t. colbert summed it up best, while he was still on the daily show:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=108395&title=prince-charles-scandal

classic

[Onyango]

chriro--good points

"The liberty of the press is a blessing when we are inclined to write against others, and a calamity when we find ourselves overborne by the multitude of our assailants."

"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up.....If any man have an ear, let him hear." Revelation 13:1,9

[RS20JS]

Why is it that right wingers tend to boast about patriotism but forget the very basic notions of our country? We have rights precisely so that leaders CAN be questioned and criticized. This is truly scary that her "fans" might believe some of her nonsense.

[littlemoon]

Alaskans brains seem to be as frozen as the TUNDRA UP THERE...

the checks they receive from the OIL companies on an annual basis seem to insulate them from the financial worries and realities of those of us DOWN HERE in the "Lower 48", because of course our pockets don't receive any benefit from oil companies... those dollars are immediatly funneled into the OIL company's coffers..., and then we pay state SALES TAX and state income tax in some states... AND we ALL in the lower 48 pay PROPERTY TAX...

what in HELLS name does palin really know about AMERICA?

absoultuely NOTHIN...

[Londonforobama]

Error in previous comment. She will not release her medical records as Trig is not her baby!!

[HarryMonster]

Is someone writing all this down? Oh never mind, we have the internet and every stupid thing she has said will be played over and over again when she runs in 4 (maybe 8) years. But I think just like Joe the Plumber, her 15 minutes are over and she can go back to Alaska never to be heard from again. Do you think JTP or Hank Williams, Jr will be her running mate? How about Elizabeth H? While we have had to suffer this woman for 2 months, John McMaverick did Alaska a favor and exposed her lies, deceit, theft and stupidity.

[Londonforobama]

She will not release her medical records as baby Trig is hers.

[grf67]

Governor, you are as stupid as rpublicans come and that is saying something. It would be good if you had read the Constitution and had some understanding of its contents. Go back to Alaska and face the voters.

[hortonhearsawho]

Sarah you need to learn the 5th amend., your gonna need it soon enough...

[HoraceOvidson]

Or is it the 6th, or perhaps the 10th. Darn it, the Constit, uh Constitutional stuff is tuff.

[littlemoon]

PLEASE read and UNDERSTAND the constitution Govna before you open your stupid mouth... you insult more intelligent Americans than you can even imagine... it must be only the under-educated who attend and support you at the rallies where you spew this kind of ignorance...

sheesh... as a female AMERICAN I couldn't be more embarrassed... and I AM a REAL American, not one of those "AMERICANS" you so blithely tout to and define in your small town picked for votes venues...

I AM an AMERICAN.. and you embarrass me to NO end.... slink your miserable self back to the Alaska that would secede from the UNITED STATES... freeze in the little hell hole you came from, and disintegrate under the microscope that this National venue has exposed your TRUE colors to...

you are NOT a thread of American fiber... you DO NOT represent the PEOPLE... you are FOR yourself ... and that we have had enough of... ENOUGH...

go to hell or just GO AWAY... either way... just GO... we have no use for YOU....

[sonoffestus]

Alaskans.Tuesday's vote will give you an opportunity to begin your States re-hab. First, you must all confront your demons. Stand up and state loudly and clearly, my name is__________ , and I am stupid. Then, take step one of your rehabilitation, vote Uncle Ted out of office. Step two, vote Obama into office, step three investigate, indict and imprison Sarah. You'll still have a way to go , but it is important to start. Tuesday will be the first day of the rest of your lives. It is a much better life when you are sober.

[Shanti]

Sarah 6 pack is the best thing that could have happened to the progressives and I think we should all donate a few dollars to keep her around. Are Alaskans really this politically, ignorant that they overwhelmingly support this lady who is not playing with a full deck?

[HoraceOvidson]

They arleady have a politician with a full deck (with a nice view) and much, much more in Ted Stevens.

[Jules1]

Geez, I guess if she believes that,then she is threatening Obama's, she better watch out or she will be hauled off!!! What a doof, what a Flaming pile of dog doo doo!!

[Lombard1006]

It would seem to me that the First Amendment is alive and well for both Palin and the press. She has exercised her freedom to speak candidly, inappropriately and unintelligently over and over and over again. In fact, she doesn't know when to stop. Just ask "Nicolas Sarkozy".