One of the very few noteworthy questions during a White House press briefing. I dont think Ive seen anything like it before except from Helen Thomas. He may get demoted if his questions dont stay within the propaganda framework. [video=youtube;a8NXsw_OIQ4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8NXsw_OIQ4[/video]
ABC News: The WH Loves Aggressive Journalism Abroad Todays Qs for Os WH 2/22/2012 (Note: White House press secretary Jay Carney began todays briefing by praising journalists who have died covering the unrest in Syria: Marie Colvin and Rémi Ochlik as well as Anthony Shadid.) TAPPER: The White House keeps praising these journalists who are whove been killed CARNEY: I dont know about keep I think - TAPPER: Youve done it, Vice President Biden did it in a statement. How does that square with the fact that this administration has been so aggressively trying to stop aggressive journalism in the United States by using the Espionage Act to take whistleblowers to court? Youre currently I think that youve invoked it the sixth time, and before the Obama administration, it had only been used three times in history. Youre this is the sixth time youre suing a CIA officer for allegedly providing information in 2009 about CIA torture. Certainly thats something thats in the public interest of the United States. The administration is taking this person to court. There just seems to be disconnect here. You want aggressive journalism abroad; you just dont want it in the United States. CARNEY: Well, I would hesitate to speak to any particular case, for obvious reasons, and I would refer you to the Department of Justice for more on that. I think we absolutely honor and praise the bravery of reporters who are placing themselves in extremely dangerous situations in order to bring a story of oppression and brutality to the world. I think that is commendable, and its certainly worth noting by us. And as somebody who knew both Anthony and Marie, I particularly appreciate what they did to bring that story to the American people. I as for other cases, again, without addressing any specific case, I think that there are issues here that involve highly sensitive classified information, and I think that, you know, those are divulging or to divulging that kind of information is a serious issue, and it always has been. TAPPER: So the truth should come out abroad; it shouldnt come out here? CARNEY: Well, thats not at all what Im saying, Jake, and you know its not. Again, I cant specific TAPPER: Thats what the Justice Departments doing. CARNEY: Well, youre making a judgment about a broad array of cases, and I cant address those specifically. TAPPER: Its also the judgment that a lot of whistleblowers organizations and good government groups are making as well. CARNEY: Not one that Im going to make.