Given the fact that the mainstream media and the Democratic party work hand in hand, it’s no surprise that progressive lawmakers are pushing the Journalist Protection Act.
The act, introduced by Sen. Richard Blumenthal and co-sponsored by Sen. Bob Menendez and Rep. Eric Swalwell, is ostensibly intended to protect journalists from bodily harm. In reality, it’s intended to silence people who use less than pleasant methods to speak out against obvious bias in the mainstream media.
The fact that Democrats are eager to target conservative activists is clear as soon as the controversial Kingsman: Secret Service Trump parody video is brought up. Sen. Blumenthal specifically mentions this video when noting that journalists need a special law protecting them from assault. However, he fails to note what is obvious to every single person who has watched the video in question. Yes, it is gory, and it does show President Trump murdering his enemies along with members of the mainstream media. However, it’s still protected free speech, and the White House had nothing to do with it.
It’s important to note that the bill is vague when outlining what constitutes a “threat” to a journalist. If a person yells at a journalist, and he or she happens to be carrying a firearm at the time, does this constitute a threat? If someone films a journalist, challenges a journalist’s point of view, or creates a nasty meme about a news agency, what happens? Calling this legislation a slippery slope is an understatement.
Obviously, the media looks the other way when this sort of treatment is reversed. When Kathy Griffin held up the bloody head of President Trump in a photoshoot, she got a great deal of backlash — but did eventually bounce back. She still has her job, and the media is now eager to defend her. However, her comment that the video isn’t a joke to President Trump’s followers is nothing short of hypocritical. Conservative activists said the same thing when Kathy Griffin posted her infamous photo and they were derided. Now that the tables are turned, the media is eager to pretend an act of violence is imminent.
It’s also worth noting that while Kathy Griffin was investigated, she was never charged with a crime. However, it’s apparently now fine to charge conservative activists with a crime for doing the exact same thing a liberal did with impunity just a few years ago.
Supporters of the legislation say journalists have a dangerous job. Sometimes, that’s true. However, they are already protected — it is a crime assault journalists, as it is a crime to assault anyone. If a person were to assault a journalist, he or she could easily be arrested and charged using existing laws.
The Journalist Protection Act seems to be more about giving members of the media special treatment from the Democratic Party — because it’s hard to tell the two apart.
