Published: August 18, 2008 11:39 am            

Freedom of speech under fire

District 18 District Attorney Jim Bob Miller told McAlester News-Capital Senior Editor James Beaty to call him Friday afternoon to see if he was in to answer questions this award-winning journalist had regarding, as Beaty told Miller, a few things. Beaty, whom the DA has told to rot in Hell, approached Miller outside the Gene and Agnes Stipe Office Complex — the one owned by a convicted felon and named after a convicted felon which houses the Pittsburg County judicial system — and ask him for an interview.

The DA was not available. His office said he was out. A call to his cell phone was answered by his voice mail and Beaty left a message.

Does this mean the DA thinks he does not need to speak to the local paper? He found time for the metro papers to discuss what has become perhaps his biggest blunder yet — a bogus criminal libel complaint against a local Web site operator — but it appears readers of this newspaper are not due the same explanations or respect the metro papers are.

To paraphrase a true public servant from our nation’s past: Mr. Miller we are prepared to wait until hell freezes over for your explanation of what freedom of speech advocates have called your “chilling” attempt to stifle dissent.

To ensure the record is clear, this newspaper would have asked, if Mr. Miller had bothered to honor his word, among other things:

• Do you believe public officials should be shielded from dissent?

• Do you understand the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America as it relates to freedom of speech? If so, could you explain when you think it proper for a public official to use the color of public office to attempt to scare people into silence?

• Will you pursue your criminal complaint against Harold King? If so, why?

Had he been available for an interview, it is certain the DA’s answers would have led to more questions. But he was not available.

Jim Bob Miller is a public official who holds office because he was able to use technicalities to eliminate his opposition. He was, in the strict sense of the term, never elected — voters did not choose him over other candidates. He has roughly two more years to serve. It is anyone’s guess how he will spend those two years. If past actions are prelude, the day a new district attorney is seated can’t come soon enough.

Every word written by reporters, editors, bloggers and other citizens of the 18th Judicial District are set to paper or computer memory under a shadow — Will the DA use his awesome power to discredit me? Will the DA use his awesome power to push forward his own view of liberty and freedom? Will the police or an investigator snoop into private lives, not to ferret out crimes, but to give the DA ammunition to shut down dissent? Will the DA continue to abuse his powers because many in the community find his form of justice abhorrent and an abomination of this great nation’s history of political dissent?

I cannot answer these questions, only Mr. Miller can. When it comes to this newspaper, he has declined comment. I have mentioned to my colleagues and friends that I’ve been looking over my shoulder lately, wondering if some hired goon (with or without a badge) is following me. I do so only half in jest because it is obvious Mr. Miller is not shy about releasing the hounds against those who disagree with him or his actions.

The rule of law is precious. It is what keeps this great experiment in democracy alive. I implore Mr. Miller to remember this basic fact. I plead with him to remember his oath to defend — not disgrace — the Constitution and the unalienable rights to freedom of expression it guarantees.

Matt Lane is the editor of the McAlester News-Capital. Send him hate mail or encouragement to: Editor, P.O. Box 987, McAlester, OK, 74501. Call him at 421-2022 or to editor@mcalesternews.com.

        

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