Lindsey Graham Asks: Does the First Amendment Apply to Bloggers?

Katie Pavlich | June 05, 2013 2:20 PM

Last week over at Hot Air, Ed Morrissey wrote about Democrat Dick Durbin asking the question, "Does the First Amendment apply to bloggers?"

Now, Republican Lindsey Graham is asking the same

exact question.

As Congress weighs a media shield law in response to the Associated Press/Justice Department subpoena scandal, the question is gaining an urgency that lawmakers are finding hard to ignore as they turn to writing the bill.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., took on the issue—and stumbled.

"Who is a journalist is a question we need to ask ourselves," he said. "Is any blogger out there saying anything—do they deserve First Amendment protection? These are the issues of our times."

Considering the First Amendment covers speech, the answer is a resounding yes.

Fifteen years ago this week, "just a blogger" Matt Drudge spoke at the National Press Club and changed journalism forever.

It's no surprise that big government politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, are terrified of a citizen press capable of breaking big stories that hold them accountable. Yes politicians, the First Amendment does apply to bloggers, or in other words, it applies to citizens and there are millions of us.

As a reminder:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.