Left Wing “Gotcha Journalism” Is Not OK Either

             A documentary filmmaker and self-described “advocacy journalist,” posing as a Catholic conservative, secretly recorded the private thoughts of Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts and Associate Justice Alito, as well as the wife of Judge Alito at a private reception. See https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/10/us/politics/supreme-court-alito.html.

             The off the record comments are quite striking: Judge Alito truly does not believe in the Constitutional, Originalist, and Jeffersonian principle that Church and State must be separate.  He appears to favor jurisprudence based on Christian values replacing the rule of law. His wife seemed ready to take on anyone who rejects her flag waving and beliefs. See https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/10/us/politics/alito-pride-flag.html.

             I do not believe such privacy invasions constitute any sort of public service and ethical journalism.  It does not matter if a right-wing agent provocateur captures unguarded opinions of a prolife advocate, or a left wing fake journalist encourages senior public figures to speak candidly.

             Off the record, whether by explicit instructions, or fundamental fairness, means there can be no record or disclosure. No if, ands, or buts.

             On the other hand, it’s fair game to report what a public figure drops his guard and expresses heart felt, off the wall opinions.  Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s claimed that the allegations of sexual misconduct against him were being carried out as part of vast left-wing conspiracy:

 “This whole two-week effort has been a calculated and orchestrated political hit,” he said, “fueled with apparent pent-up anger about President Trump and the 2016 election, fear that has been unfairly stoked about my judicial record, revenge on behalf of the Clintons and millions of dollars in money from outside left-wing opposition groups.” https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/28/us/politics/kavanaugh-testimony-supreme-court.html 

            Currently, anonymous donors to right wing Political Action Committees, have funded nonstop, snarky advertisements attacking resident Biden as dishonest or demented. That speech narrowly fits within First Amendment protection. When The Wall Street Journal, Fox, and Sinclair add their considerable voice to the dementia claim, I wonder if vast right-wing conspiracy has highjacked the First Amendment.