Press Freedom?

Press Freedom, Sure. But No Questions.

Obama press conference July 24, 2009.

(Credit: CBS)

There was some rich irony at the White House today -- President Obama signed the Press Freedom Act, and then promptly refused to take any questions.

The new law expands the State Department's annual human rights reports to include a description of press freedoms in each country. It seemed a good opportunity to showcase press freedom in this country. 

Recall that last Friday the president refused to take any questions after delivering his angry statement on the oil spill in the Rose Garden. And he has not held a prime-time White House news conference in many months, despite much pleading from pundits and members of the media.

So after he signed the bill, and as the press "wranglers" began aggressively herding us out of the room, I asked if he still has confidence in BP. He ignored the question so I tried this: "In the interest of press freedom, would you take a couple questions on BP?"

That did elicit a smile, and he told me I was free to ask questions. Someone else shouted, "Will you answer them?"

He said he's not holding a press conference today as we were escorted out the door.

US Cites AZ Immigration Law During Human Rights Talks with China, Conservatives Call It An Apology

 ABC News' Kirit Radia reports:

During two days of talks about human rights with China last week, the US raised examples of problems on its own soil and cited Arizona's controversial new immigration law as an example of "racial discrimination."

“We brought it up early and often.  It was mentioned in the first session and as a troubling trend in our society, and an indication that we have to deal with issues of discrimination or potential discrimination.  And these are issues very much being debated in our own society,” Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy Human Rights and Labor Michael Posner, who led the US delegation to the talks, told reporters on Friday.

That the US mentioned the Arizona law during talks about human rights with China, consistently ranked among the worst human rights violators in the world, has raised the ire of some conservatives who see the US as apologizing for the law to a country that persecutes its own dissidents and minorities.

“China murdered millions of its citizens who opposed the government's Communist policies and allows most of its people little or no freedom. We, on the other hand, enforce our immigration laws. No, wait--actually we don't. That's why Arizona had to take a shot at it,” the conservative blog Powerline wrote on Sunday.

Kliphnote: It looks the lap dog media is getting the hint.

Finally. And this is from CBS.
And the China human rights was from ABC.
I find it unbelievable that the Obama people would
tell China that we, the USA, has human rights problems.
How about China? Ask the Dalai Lama and Tibet.
I wonder what happens to illegal aliens are in China?

The Arizona law says to ask suspected illegal aliens for ID.
Do you believe in States Rights?
Big deal! I get asked all the time. 
I buy beer I get asked for ID.
I go to the bank I get asked for ID.
I got to the hospital I get asked for ID.
I get stopped by the cops I get asked for ID.
I go to Canada I get asked for ID.
I get on an airplane I get asked for ID.
Even one gas station wants ID if
you pay with a 50 dollar bill.
And many more times.