Reluctant Politician

Wikileaks should not be not protected by the First Amendment. Nor do I think it is legally. My viewpoint on this matter is not likely to be very popular with my fellow journalists. All are free to try and change my opinion, however, I do feel strongly about this.

I fully support the concept of freedom of the press. However, at the same time, there must be a limit to those freedoms as well. Acquiring and releasing classified and/or secret documents without prior approval is a violation of the law. And in some situations, it can even be deemed to be treason

Wikileaks should not be afforded First Amendment rights in this situation. Nor should the media outlets which are filing stories and reprinting portions of the leaked information. At least not in regard to this matter. (continue reading…)

Rendering of Park51

Outrage across America seems to be brewing recently over the planned $100 million Islamic center and mosque. Is the outrage justified and should anything be done to prevent it from being built in the proposed location just two blocks from Ground Zero – the former World Trade Center site – in New York City?

Pure and simple the answers are not really, and no – at least not via legislation.

Let’s start with the easy answers first. Politicians have no business legislating where any religious organization can or cannot build. I am an adamant supporter of the separation of church and state. I believe such separation is applicable in this situation as well. That includes both federal, state, county and city branches of government. There absolutely should be no special legislation forbidding the building of the Islamic center. If there is an existing broad city code covering such a situation, then by all means it may be considered, but even then, I say tread carefully. (continue reading…)