Q We’re told the Vice President is going to make similar comments at his appearance today. With the President and the Vice President, in essence, going after The New York Times today, are they trying to create a chilling effect on media outlets that might cover stories of this nature?MR. SNOW: I don’t think so, no. No, I don’t think so. It’s a very good question. No, if The New York Times decides that it is going to try to assume responsibility for determining which classified secrets remain classified and which don’t, it ought to accept some of the obligations of that responsibility; it ought to be able to take the heat, as well. So the administration certainly is going to lay out its concerns and what it may mean for the safety of the American people and the integrity of the process of developing intelligence that can permit us to track down terrorists and prevent them from killing again.
That’s what this is all about. It’s about what we can do in a time of war. Traditionally in this country in a time of war, members of the press have acknowledged that the Commander-in-Chief, in the exercise of his powers, sometimes has to do things secretly in order to protect the public. This is a highly unusual departure. It’s interesting, The Times, talking about this being a—this program having been a departure from previous banking efforts. This is also a departure from long-standing traditions here in the United States.
So it is—it’s not designed to have a chilling effect. I think what it’s—if The New York Times wants a spirited debate about it, it’s got it. But, certainly, nobody is going to deny First Amendment rights. But The New York Times and other news organizations ought to think long and hard about whether a public’s right to know, in some cases, might overwrite somebody’s right to live, and whether, in fact, the publications of these could place in jeopardy the safety of fellow Americans.
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5:08 pm [ Quote ]
There’s the Left’s famous Tim Robbins “chill wind” again.
The next “chill wind” Keller might experience will come from a terrorist bomb blast that he and his newspaper brought on.
5:11 pm [ Quote ]
Tony is a genius. He is rightly tossing the ethical ball back into the MSM’s court. Is there any secret regarding national security that they would not publish if they could? It is the “Times” and their defenders that have much to answer for in light of this disclosure.
5:15 pm [ Quote ]
The media, those asking these questions about his matter do not like anyone talking about the bias or responsibility of the press. They believe they are the 4th branch of government; and that they are above the law, any laws.
No matter what happens now, the NYT has four times in the last year decided to accept Top Secret information, which is itself a crime; and they have made decisions about the safety of this nation, how we should prosecute a war, and in doing so they have aided and abetted the terrorists in their efforts to kill Americans. If and when the terrorists attack here again, the media will not accept any responsibility, they will blame the President or anyone but themselves. If the terrorists are emboldened because the NYT is helping them hide their activities, the NYT will hide behind the public’s right to know.
While we need a Free Press to expose governmental abuses, in time of war the media needs to act responsibility for the safety of this country. If they fail to act responsibility, then the people need to stop buying their product.
5:21 pm [ Quote ]
Funny, I don’t remember the right minding the NY Times much in 2002 when Judy Miller was publishing the secrets/propaganda about Iraq to help sell the impending war on the front page (above the fold) that Scooter Libby passed off to her.
I am not saying that one shouldn’t debate the Times’ decision in publishing this story, but there is a question of consistency here… It seems the criterion for anger on the right about publishing sensitive info goes like this: Stories that bolster the President’s agenda = good! Stories that reveal potential misdeeds = TREASON!!
Again, while I agree it’s good to debate the judgement call in publishing this info, the right’s credibility in this argument is diluted because of their well-known hatred of the institution of the press in general.
5:27 pm [ Quote ]
Instead of Snow rabbiting on about the press, maybe they should start looking in their own backyard for the leaker. No leaker = No story for NYT.
5:29 pm [ Quote ]
The Bush administration decides what is national security, then tells the NY Times what they can and can’t print.
You neocons are so anxious to make Bush the King. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Snow is no genius. In fact, he’s pretty shallow.
5:37 pm [ Quote ]
“Funny, I don’t remember the right minding the NY Times much in 2002 when Judy Miller was publishing the secrets/propaganda about Iraq to help sell the impending war on the front page (above the fold) that Scooter Libby passed off to her.”
We aren’t talking moral equivalancy here are you. Trying to triangulate the two is pretty weak.
“Stories that bolster the President’s agenda = good! Stories that reveal potential misdeeds = TREASON!!”
And if you leak information that hurts the administration, it is called whistleblowing, leaking the name of desk jockey, I mean agent, is considered treason by the Democrats.
So, by your logic,
Leaking information that hurts our cause in a time of war is called treason, the NYT has done this 3 times now.
Once, a Mistake.
Twice, a Trend.
Three times, a Pattern.
5:56 pm [ Quote ]
The Bush administration decides what is national security, then tells the NY Times what they can and can’t print.
You neocons are so anxious to make Bush the King. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Snow is no genius. In fact, he’s pretty shallow.
Making Bush king is stupid! No one wants him or anyone else to be king of the United States. Reasonable support for the Commander-In-Chief in a time of war is what every America should do!
Snow holds a Master’s Degree in mathematics, he has served in a prior administration, he has had a successful radio and television career, and he is a civil, honorable person with an incredible talent for communicating. Plus, he is no shill for the administration! What have you done with your life?
DKM: The left always engages in moral equivalency, moral relativism, and situational ethics. They are incapable of sticking to a single subject and discussing it intelligently.
5:59 pm [ Quote ]
Funny, I don’t remember the right minding the NY Times much in 2002 when Judy Miller was publishing the secrets/propaganda about Iraq to help sell the impending war on the front page (above the fold) that Scooter Libby passed off to her.
If I’m not mistaken, the information was declassified and utilized to debunk some very egregious false remarks made by Mr. Wilson. I don’t think the two are equal in their comparison, although I can understand why you went down that road.
There’s a HUGE difference between revealing secrets and having declassified information presented to the press.
And Umnumzana I do agree with your post on the consequences of an irresponsible MSM, there needs to be standards and practices for which they are held accountable, of which there is none now and they hide behind the 1st Amendment bellowing Free Speech Rights.
I would like to see the Congress/Senate hold hearings, hold accountable the “leaker” and send a message, in some form, to other newspapers that your “proxy” days are over and you will be held accountable for misinformation, deliberate misleading information and the revealing of classified information.
If I’m not mistaken isn’t it illegal to accept classified information from someone if you have no clearance? Not sure about it, but I thought that was the case.
6:02 pm [ Quote ]
Oh, I forgot, aren’t you glad Tony Snow is our White House Spokesman? He handles these things so eloquently. If you ever have a chance to visit the website and watch the briefings, it’s an art!
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/briefings/
6:10 pm [ Quote ]
Instead of Snow rabbiting on about the press, maybe they should start looking in their own backyard for the leaker. No leaker = No story for NYT.
That is a fair comment and the administration should pursue the leaker because that is their job. It is the job of the public and blogosphere to rake the NYT over the coals for needlessly exposing the public to risk in the name of serving the public. The NYT is really serving their own huge egos.
6:18 pm [ Quote ]
“Former Admin. Official (Lawrence Wilkerson) Needs Only Three Words To Explain Manipulation of Intel: ‘The Vice President’....”
“Swift boating of Wilkerson in
three…..two……one…….”
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/06/26/wilkerson-vp/#comments
6:48 pm [ Quote ]
New York Times vs U.S. National Security…
There appears to be a lot of anger still brewing with regard to the New York Times latest printing of yet another leaked U.S. national security program. Many calling for the prosecution of the Times.
National Review Online
Stop the LeaksEvery passi…
7:02 pm [ Quote ]
I love this guy!...
Just caught Expose The Left’s video of Tony Snow answering a pressie’s question on the President’s reaction to the NYT’s publishing of the story on financial transaction monitoring, a program the gov’t uses to track terror…
7:50 pm [ Quote ]
There it is, that famous liberal double standard where they can say or print what they want without regard to consequence of their actions while everyone else has to abide by the rules. I’m really tired of the hollow words from the Bush Administration—it’s time to level some charges and have some heads roll! It’s gone on for far too long!
8:24 pm [ Quote ]
Scott Hennen on Sean Hannity’s radio show made a prediction the word “chilling” would be used today…
9:21 pm [ Quote ]
Yep it’s going to look great to see all those democrats swinging by the neck on the end of a noose all along the downtown square in Washington DC.
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
10:19 pm [ Quote ]
Yep it’s going to look great to see all those democrats swinging by the neck on the end of a noose all along the downtown square in Washington DC.
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
Deja vu…
12:50 am [ Quote ]
“Former Admin. Official (Lawrence Wilkerson) Needs Only Three Words To Explain Manipulation of Intel: ‘The Vice President’....”
“Swift boating of Wilkerson in
three…..two……one…….”
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/06/26/wilkerson-vp/#comments
You just crack me up HappyTokerUK, you leftists claim to be progressive but yet are actually regressive. LOL
12:59 am [ Quote ]
“Swiftboating?”
Nah.
Keelhauling would be more appropriate.
—Mac
1:12 am [ Quote ]
There it is, that famous liberal double standard where they can say or print what they want without regard to consequence of their actions while everyone else has to abide by the rules. I’m really tired of the hollow words from the Bush Administration—it’s time to level some charges and have some heads roll! It’s gone on for far too long!
Did you not notice the Wall Street Journal also printed the story?
1:49 am [ Quote ]
There it is, that famous liberal double standard where they can say or print what they want without regard to consequence of their actions while everyone else has to abide by the rules. I’m really tired of the hollow words from the Bush Administration—it’s time to level some charges and have some heads roll! It’s gone on for far too long!
Did you not notice the Wall Street Journal also printed the story?
Yes, that’s true.
However, it’s worth mentioning that the WSJ didn’t decide to run the story in their newspaper until AFTER they got confirmation that the NYT had already decided to run it themselves.
That said, the WSJ is not at all exempt from prosecution if they also ran a story containing highly-classified information.
2:54 am [ Quote ]
There it is, that famous liberal double standard where they can say or print what they want without regard to consequence of their actions while everyone else has to abide by the rules. I’m really tired of the hollow words from the Bush Administration—it’s time to level some charges and have some heads roll! It’s gone on for far too long!
Did you not notice the Wall Street Journal also printed the story?
Yes, that’s true.
However, it’s worth mentioning that the WSJ didn’t decide to run the story in their newspaper until AFTER they got confirmation that the NYT had already decided to run it themselves.
That said, the WSJ is not at all exempt from prosecution if they also ran a story containing highly-classified information.
... so, where is all the vilification of the WSJ?
3:09 am [ Quote ]
[...] Update: For more on the issues parodied in the promo see: Michelle Malkin. Hot Air [and video here] and at Expose the Left, Bush’ reaction and Tony Snow’s comments. [...]
3:21 am [ Quote ]
BRAVO TONY
6:53 am [ Quote ]
Who cares about peoples lives when inquiring minds want to know!
Walks off singing “What’s life got to do got to do with it? What’s life but a conservitive conviction?”
8:54 am [ Quote ]
NYT Reveals Timmy Durgin’s Hiding Place…
New York Times reporter Erich Licthblau remains on a roll after his keen investigative skills have helped to locate three-year-old Timmy Durgin’s favorite hide ‘n’ seek spot. Acting on a tip from a concerned inside source, Licthblau revealed Durgin…
9:41 am [ Quote ]
Just like the DailyKos attitude of “screw them”, the NYTimes marches in step with this DemoLib mantra.
10:44 am [ Quote ]
The NYT and most of the MSM does not see the war on terror as being a “real” war. Since there is no real war there are no real secrets to be kept
11:44 am [ Quote ]
[...] UPDATE: Here’s a transcript and an alternate video format for Tony Snow’s remarks. Posted by Ian S. in [...]
11:52 am [ Quote ]
Just thank God Bin Laden’s butt buddy Eric Lichtblau the child rapist wasn’t around in WW2 to leak the DDay invasion.
If we had reporters like Lichtblau the rapist then we would all be speaking German.