Leave Freddoso Alone

Obama tries to silence his critics. This is a disgraceful attempt to intimidate journalists trying to get at facts and air them. There is nothing to fear from journalists asking questions or raising issues that campaigns should be eager to engage and refute if necessary - especially in the last six weeks of a campaign where the onus should not be on reporters' not asking questions but on candidates' refusing to answer them. The demonization of the press, the intimidation of bloggers and the smears of writers is the McCain-Palin-Rove campaign's modus operandi. It should not be Obama's. It's McCain and Palin who won't hold press conferences and Palin who won't allow herself to be questioned by real journalists in uncontrolled settings.

Obama's campaign is about transparency. McCain's and Palin's is about secrecy, and contempt for a free and unfettered press. It would be foolish for Obama to abandon his principles now.