CNN Chris “Fake News Fredo” says calling journalists “fake news” is the same thing as using the N-word. If one Florida democrat has her way, it will be. State Senator Janet Cruz wants to make it a hate crime to threaten or disparage any member of the press. Presumably she means any member of the liberal media, as journalist from Fox, OANN, and Newsmax don’t count.
Behold the dumbest thing today. Here’s a press release from Florida State Senator Janet Cruz:
“It is a dark reality that members of the press in our country are facing a heightened risk of violent attacks as a result of irresponsible leadership throughout our country. State Senator Janet Cruz (D-Tampa) has filed SB 1588: Offenses Against Members of the Press to include members of the press in existing hate crime protections. This legislation will escalate penalties when an offense is committed agains ta a member of the media, including photojournalists and those operating equipment to facilitate the delivery of news and media.
“A free press, provided to us in the First Amendment, is vital for a strong democracy and society,” said Senator Cruz. “What sort of indictment is it on us if we fail to protect those that pursue no other goal but the interest of the public good?”
During the attacks on the U.S. Capitol, multiple members of the press were surrounded, intimidated, their equipment destroyed and their lives threatened.Reporters remarked in their coverage of the insurrection at the Capitol that they had to wear protective gear used in covering conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. perhaps most memorable was the image of “Murder the Media” scratched into a door inside the U.S. capitol.
“This is about staying true to our nation’s most sacred values. Preserving the relationship of mutual trust with an essential institution, like a free press, is instrumental to the success of our democracy,” said Senator Cruz.
She is aware that the U.S. Capitol is not in Florida, where he stupid law would apply, right?
Okay, so this law would make it a hate crime to “intimidate” the delicate snowflakes of the media. These are people who spent 4 years claiming that when President Trump called them “fake news” he was putting their lives in jeopardy. “Fake news” would be a hate crime under this legislation and it won’t matter if they are actually delivering fake news or not.
I can’t help but to feel the sense of irony in her trying to protect fake news by using the fake news that there was an “insurrection” at the Capitol.
Then there’s this lack of self-awareness from the Florida democrat:
We should all be filled with a deep sense of sadness that this legislation is even necessary, but it is imperative that we protect members of the press https://t.co/bck5Gg9ZGQ
— Janet Cruz (@SenJanetCruz) February 23, 2021
That’s the thing, this legislation is not necessary. It is already a crime to attack people, threaten them, and destroy their property. Giving journalists hate crime protection cheapens the term and it’s already a bargain basement idea.
Being a journalist is a choice, not something like race or ethnicity in which people were born into it. If members of the media feel persecuted, they can get another job or, better yet, suck it up, buttercup.
An even better course of action would be for journalists to report the truth instead of shilling for the democratic party and making people distrust them. This bullshit bill is basically the democrats saying, “Since the liberal media is our propaganda ministry, we need a law to protect them while they help spread our lies.”
