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The Spectacle Blog
It’s a good idea keep government functions open to the press and public. Something changes when public servants know there is a camera in the room, or at least a reporter taking notes. The more ears and eyes, the better.
Somehow, though, I doubt that open-government concerns are what prompted a request from leftist activists that California’s landmark trial examining the constitutionality of Proposition 8 be broadcast for the nation to see.
The Left in California has a long and (in)glorious tradition of targeting and harassing supporters of the state’s marriage amendment, passed by voters in 2008. It’s obvious that broadcasting the trial would be another way to single out witnesses who testify in support of traditional marriage.
The U.S. Supreme Court seems to agree with that premise, as reported by the Los Angeles Times yesterday. The justices on Monday barred video coverage apparently out of concern “that witnesses opposed to same-sex marriage could be harassed if shown on YouTube.” The order expires at 1 p.m. pacific time today, and it’s unclear what further steps the Supreme Court might take.
Courtroom cameras should never be used as a tool for one side to bully, cajole, and intimidate the other. The political atmosphere in California on this issue has been thuggish for years — and it’s getting worse by the week.
View all comments (14) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by David N. Bass
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/01/13/camera-thuggery
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Indiana Alex| 1.13.10 @ 10:44AM
The people of tolerance would never do such a thing.
Thomas| 1.13.10 @ 10:51AM
It's this mentality that creates this imaginary fear. The contents of this case are of immense public interest, and by broadcasting this online would show a couple different things.
1. All Americans would for the first time be able to observe a Federal Court case.
2. The Yes on 8 side has very openly been against humanizing gay people, this is shown by their reluctance to have their own ads being shown and submitted as evidence.
By citing potential harassment as the reason to not have cameras, because the case is being completely transcribed via live blogging and twitter. So witnesses identity could easily be discovered without the cameras.
Thomas| 1.13.10 @ 10:54AM
Citing potential harassment as the reason to not have cameras is completely ridiculous, because the case is being transcribed near verbatim via live blogging and twitter. So a witness's identity could easily be discovered without the use cameras.
Sean| 1.13.10 @ 11:10AM
I have no problem with cameras in the courtroom.
John Navratil| 1.13.10 @ 11:19AM
I, too, have no problem with camera in the court. I, also, have no problem with no cameras in the court.
As people have noted, the proceedings are public. There are no secrets here. It seems a reasonable conclusion that the cameras will create a circus where none is needed. That is what is to be avoided.
SMH| 1.14.10 @ 12:23AM
It is often said WITHOUT ANY PROOF OFFERED WHATSOEVER that "cameras will create a circus where none is needed." Can you actually cite CONVINCING PROOF from credible sources where cameras in the court created a circus?
Liberal Reader| 1.13.10 @ 1:43PM
Clearly it's time for another executive decision by me regarding a commonly deployed linguistic barbarism.
This time the culprit, however, is not a cliched phrase (like the various "derangement syndromes"). Instead, it's the word "thug."
"Thug" is lame, overused, and from this day forward, to be considered the sign of weak imagination, impoverished diction, and inexcusable laziness.
No more!
Flee| 1.13.10 @ 3:58PM
However, in CA where I reside, the gay marriage supporters have resorted to thuggery on more than one occasion over this Proposition. Anyone that supports it is considered a hater (just read their signs as they march) and subject to exposure or physical abuse and threats. This is one occasion when thug is a most appropriate description. Prop 186 suffered the same kind of derision from illegal aliens and their enablers and now our fair state continues to suffer the consequences. In other words, take your liberal agenda and keep in the northeast or wherever it percolates from.
Pingback| 1.13.10 @ 9:55PM
The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Camera Thuggery links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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Pingback| 1.14.10 @ 2:15AM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Camera Thuggery [specta links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 1.17.10 @ 7:57PM
CCTV Cameras is not Crime Prevention, But Crime Detection and Prosecution | Wireless links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Affiliate | 1.26.10 @ 2:09AM
As people have noted, the proceedings are public. There are no secrets here.