Say It Ain't So Already

House Republicans Protect Gas Industry, Arrest Director of Gasland at DC Hearing

February 1, 2012 at 12:17 PM Leave a comment

This is horrifying.  Welcome to police state USA folks:

In a stunning break with First Amendment policy on Capitol Hill, House Republicans directed Capitol Hill police to detain a highly regarded documentary crew that was attempting to film a Wednesday hearing on a controversial natural gas procurement practice. Republicans also denied the entrance of a credentialed ABC News news team that was attempting to film the event.

Josh Fox, director of the Academy Award-nominated documentary “Gasland” was taken into custody by Capitol Hill police this morning, along with his crew, after Republicans objected to their presence, according to Democratic sources present at the hearing.

[...]

“Gasland” received strong critical acclaim and takes a critical eye toward the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” a process in which several tons of highly pressurized water and chemicals are injected into the ground, allowing valuable natural gas to escape.

[...]

Fox had hoped to film Wednesday’s hearing for a follow-up to “Gasland.”

Fox did not have formal Capitol Hill credentials, but such formalities are rarely enforced against high-profile journalists. …  The right to a free press is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Documentary crews are almost never denied access to public meetings of elected government officials.

A separate ABC News crew, which did have official Capitol Hill credentials, was also denied access to the publichearing.

More…

Republicans to all journalists and to America:  Fuck the First Amendment.  I mean seriously.  This was a public hearing being held in the United States Capitol, a building owned by We the People, and the hearing was being conducted by people who We the People elected and who work for us!  What the hell is going on around here?

If this isn’t a form of terrorism I don’t know what is.

Entry filed under: Corporatocracy, Democrats, Including Blue Dogs & "Liberals", Energy, Fascist America, Fear, Media - General, Repression, Republicans, Including Wingers & "Moderates", Terror, The Environment, Weather, Etc., We the People. Tags: abc news, gas procurement, gasland, josh fox, u s constitution.