HEARING? WHAT HEARING?:

Democrat Tries to Boot TV Cameraman From House Hearing (Jeff Johnson, April 19, 2002, CNSNews.com)

California Democratic Congresssman Henry Waxman tried unsuccessfully Thursday to have an accredited TV news photographer thrown out of a House subcommittee hearing. The hearing focused on whether to limit liability lawsuits against gun makers and Waxman, who favors gun control, insisted the cameraman was videotaping on behalf of the National Rifle Association.

The House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection was hearing testimony on the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (H.R. 2037), a bill designed to stop lawsuits against the gun industry for actions taken by criminals using their products, when Waxman challenged the presence of the television camera.

"Under the rules, the only cameras that are permitted at a hearing are from accredited representatives of the press. I understand that the camera that is now filming this hearing is owned and controlled by the National Rifle Association," Waxman (D-Calif.) charged.

Justice Brandeis once observed that sunshine is the best disinfectant for shady politics. Mr. Waxman's perturbation at the idea that footage of him and his fellow Democrats might end up in NRA ads, seems a fair indicator that they realize they have gotten themselves on the wrong side of the gun issue. Ten years ago, they would have knocked each other over in a rush to get before the cameras at a hearing like this one.

(via Ed Driscoll)

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 20, 2002 6:22 AM