What's with Berry's lack of respect for the press?

When the Constitution was amended, it was to offer protection
of the human right to be a free press; to collect one's thoughts,
put them to paper, and pass them around.

They believed it was necessary to protect the press in order
to protect the country and a government of the people, by
the people and for the people.

I suppose they were protecting them from the government
smashing their printing press. In this day and age, the need is
for protection from some Public Information Officer jerking the
press around over imaginary "credentials" and equal access to
King Richard.

The press cannot fear the government. They cannot write in
fear of having their printing press destroyed or their equal
access denied. The effect is the same; those who don't write
the company line, or as close to it as their conscience will allow,
fear punishment for not doing so. The pressure, the coercion,
compels reporting the truth in the best possible light or
suffering the consequence; no more access.

This is not about "journalism" and "journalists". Access has
been denied to bonafide journalists whose bona fides far out
shine those of PIO Huffman-Ramirez himself. It has to do
with the abuse of power entrusted to a politician and his
minion, both of who work for the people and are servants of
the people. It has to do with the need of the people of a press
free to print the truth with no fear other than prosecution
under the laws on slander and libel.

Mayor Richard Berry has a chance to step up, though there
is little evidence that he is up to it.

He knows full well that Huffman-
Ramirez is screwing with members
of the press who won't write what
he wants them to write. Or, more
importantly, who won't kiss his ring.

It just seemed particularly onerous
today; the first day back from a few
days of reflection on the writing of
a declaration of independence and
amending a constitution.




photo Mark Bralley