Foolish attempt to criminalize journalism

[Commentary] It's an idea that needs to have a stake driven through its heart -- right away. Rep Mike Rogers (R-MI) is floating the notion that journalists who publish articles based on classified information might be criminals who are "fencing stolen material."

Rep Rogers is chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. But this is a proposition that has no intelligence at all. With all due respect, writing a story based on classified material is a long way from knocking over a bank. What we have here is a blatant attempt to intimidate journalists by criminalizing their actions. The goal is clearly to choke off publication of articles that are embarrassing or uncomfortable to the government. And, like it or not, many revelations clearly in the public interest have come to light because of leaked classified material. Putting journalists in the slammer for producing them may be gratifying to people who don't like the stories. But it's bad for democracy.