Many liberal reporters and commentators have dismissed or downplayed the emerging Benghazi and Internal Revenue Service scandals as non-scandals or trifling bureaucratic errors.
But reports that the Justice Department has been targeting journalists, first reporters at The Associated Press and now Fox News’ James Rosen, has caused the generally Obama-admiring press to question the purity of their redeemer.
Here are 10 tweets from liberal commentators and reporters expressing outrage on Monday over Rosen-gate:
Unemployed liberal commentator Keith Olbermann:
My experience dealing with @jamesrosenfnc was unpleasant and contentious. And I fully support him against this unwarranted act by DOJ
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) May 20, 2013
The New Yorker’s excellent long-form writer Ryan Lizza:
Case against Fox’s Rosen, in which O admin is criminalizing reporting, makes all of the other “scandals” look like giant nothing burgers.
— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) May 20, 2013
If James Rosen’s “clandestine communications plan” were illegal, every journalist in Washington would be locked up. Unreal.
— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) May 20, 2013
Huffington Post’s Howard Fineman:
#Fox Rosen probe as bad/worse than #AP: in unprecedented move, govt says he “conspired” with leaker to get info; that’s what reporters do! — Howard Fineman (@howardfineman) May 20, 2013
BuzzFeed’s Michael Hastings:
Hey Jay @presssec Carney. If the Bush DOJ had done this to your reporters when you were Time DC bureau chief, how would you have responded? — Michael Hastings (@mmhastings) May 15, 2013
The Guardian’s Glenn Greenwald:
Accusing James Rosen of committing crimes – for basic reporting – may be the most dangerous thing the Obama DOJ has done yet — Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) May 20, 2013
WIRED’s Spencer Ackerman:
LOL a “covert communications plan” between journalist & source. Like basic reportorial opsec? washingtonpost.com/local/a-rare-p… Disgusting. — Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman) May 20, 2013
Soon-to-be MSNBC.com’s Adam Serwer:
If you prosecute reporters for seeking/receiving leaks and you’re basically making non-government sanctioned reporting a crime. — AdamSerwer (@AdamSerwer) May 20, 2013
Talking Point Memo’s Josh Marshall:
Just This: U cross a big line when u go from investigating journos to prosecute leakers to accusing journos of commitng crimes by doing job — Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) May 20, 2013
Al Monitor’s Laura Rozen:
1st thing agree w/ Cruz on RT @juliaioffe: MT @sentedcruz: W FF & DOJ targeting press @johncornyn right—AG Holder must go — Laura Rozen (@lrozen) May 20, 2013
Slate’s Matt Yglesias:
Wow. Obama-era leak crackdowns on journalists look worse and worse:m.washingtonpost.com/local/a-rare-p…
— Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias) May 20, 2013