Surgical Strike On Free Speech

We've talked about the Left's intention of re-implementation of the general Fairness Doctrine, as well as the method they're more likely to actually try, localization regulation.  But, it appears they may be intent on silencing dissent on the Internet before silencing dissent on the airwaves.  The first trial balloon was net neutrality, but the person pushing that got the boot.  It looks like this may be the next attempt:

Democrats Diane Feinstein and Dick "Turban" Durbin – who have long been the Dems' official trial-balloon-floaters for assaults on free speech like the "Fairness Doctrine" – are proposing an amendment to a Senate bill (S.448) clarifying the press shield law.

And it's aimed squarely at citizen journalists like you and I.  Via RWN, here's the amendment text, with some emphases added:

AMENDMENTS intended to be proposed by Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. DURBIN )

Viz:

In section 10(2)(A), strike clause (iii) and insert the following:

[a "journalist" is shielded if he/she] (iii) obtains the information sought while working as a salaried employee of, or independent contractor for, an entity—

(I) that disseminates information by print, broadcast, cable, satellite, mechanical, photographic, electronic, 1or other means; and

(II) that—

(aa) publishes a newspaper, book, magazine, or other periodical;

(bb) operates a radio or television broadcast station, network, cable system, or satellite carrier, or a channel or programming service for any such station, network, system, or carrier;

(cc) operates a programming service; or

(dd) operates a news agency or wire service;

In other words, you need to be an employee of a news business.  All of us hobby hacks in our pajamas in our basements are out in the cold.

...

In section 10(2), add at the end the following:

(D) does not include an individual who gathers or disseminates the protected information sought to be compelled anonymously or under a pseudonym.

This would seem to be aimed at the likes of James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles – provided they're not employed by a Major News Outlet, of course.

Leaving aside the obvious indication that this is the Democrats' way of circling their wagons around ACORN – this is a fascinating look into the authoritarianism of the Democrat party at work.

The conservative blogosphere is dominated by independents who cover their fields of expertise, whatever they are (this blog: music, financial planning, wine, tomatos and Minnesota politics) for the pure, unadulterated love of the game.  From Power Line (which covers all they survey) to Speed Gibson (who patrols the ramparts of northwest-suburban education), we mostly do it because we want to, money be damned.

The left, on the other hand, has built up a network of "business" entities and non-profits, from the pseudo-newspaper-y "MNPost" to the not-very-covert propagandists at the "Center for Independent Media" (parent of the Minnesoros "Indepdendent"), at exquisite cost; one might now presume that this money was spent to get ahead of the legislative curve that the Feinstein/Durbin proposal represents, as a further attempt to shut down independent, non-government-vetted thought in this country.

This is Obama's America.

Remember, Barack Obama is the Silencer-In-Chief, and it would actually be more surprising if he didn't do this than if he did.  But, it's a lower priority than his other initiatives, so look for these things to really pick up speed if he gains control of the health care and energy sectors.

There's my two cents.