Washington Post reporter encounters Soviet-style Monitors at Inauguration...

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Saturday January 29, 2005 · 10:12 AM PST

2005/01/29 · 10:12

Check out this piece in the Washington Post-http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46409-2005Jan29.html

Apparently Bushco now has monitors follow the press around as they interview folks at events. In the USSR these were used to prevent anyone from speaking out against the party line.

It's not an entirely new phenomenon -- the Clinton administration baby-sat reporters from time to time -- but the president's inaugural committee took it to new levels of silliness during the various presidential balls. Several reporters covering the balls were surprised to find themselves being monitored by young "escorts," who followed them from hors d'oeuvres table to dance floor and even to the bathroom"

Doesn't sound so bad, until...(below the fold)

As I was dictating from my notes, something flashed across my face and neatly snatched my cell phone from of my hand. I looked up to confront a middle-aged woman, her face afire with rage. "You ignored the rules, and I'm throwing you out!" she barked, snapping my phone shut. "You told that girl you didn't need an escort. That's a lie! You're out of here!"

With the First Amendment on the line, my natural wit did not fail me. "Huh?" I answered.

Recovering quickly, I explained that I had been unaware of the escort policy. She was unbending and ordered a couple of security guards to hustle me out. I appealed to them, saying that I was more than happy to follow whatever ground rules had been laid down. They shrugged, and deposited me back in the media pen.

And the whole story is even more in depth...
This principle is that no one is going to say anything harmful to our dear leader as long as there is a "monitor" on a reporter's heels. IMHO opinion, this is outrageous. Remember the first amendmen?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The placement of escorts who exert a chilling effect on what the press can hear is a direct violation of the whole freedom of the press thingy. But hey, maybe the Bill of Rights is now a "quaint" document too.

If freedom is one the march in Iraq, then surely it is on the retreat right here.

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