NamSouth

[btownsend]

(Kindness of Bazz. BT)

Lincoln and Obama Have a Lot in Common
Editor, Richmond Times-Dispatch:

Many comparisons have been made between Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama.
Now we can add one more: In May 1864, Lincoln ordered Union
Gen. John Dix to "take possession by military force of the printing
establishments of the New York World and Journal of Commerce and prohibit any
further publication thereof. You are therefore commanded forthwith to arrest and
imprison the editors, proprietors, and publishers of the aforementioned
newspapers."

Why did he do this? He did it because these newspapers dared to tell the ugly
truth about Lincoln and his administration. Was this a violation of the
Constitution and a flagrant disregard of due process? Almost all constitutional
scholars agreed that it was an egregious violation of the First Amendment right
to freedom of the press.

In October of 2009, we saw President Obama attacking Fox News. Why did he do
this? He did it because this news channel dared to tell the ugly truth about
Obama and his administration. Would he shut down Fox News if he had the chance?
I think both conservatives and liberals can agree that he would. Thankfully, we
live in a world today in which the president of the United States cannot throw
members of the press in jail just because he doesn't like what they say.

Thomas N.C. Spivey. Richmond.