McCain Panders* To His Base; Supports Shield Law

* Kidding, sort of.

Before an audience of Associated Press editors and writers, Sen. John McCain came out in favor of a federal shield law to allow journalists to protect their sources in most circumstances.

(Much excitement from the crowd).

McCain's now being questioned by the AP hosts about the contours of his support. He'd narrow the latitude a federal judge has in making the decision about whether to force a reporter to reveal his or her source.

Here's McCain's full quote:

"The shield law would give great license to you and your sources, with few restrictions, to do as you please no matter the stakes involved and without fear of personal consequences beyond the rebuke of your individual consciences. It is, frankly, a license to do harm, perhaps serious harm. But it also a license to do good; to disclose injustice and unlawfulness and inequities; and to encourage their swift correction. The First Amendment is based in that recognition, and I am, despite the criticism of campaign finance reform opponents, committed to that essential right of a free society. I know that the press that disclosed security secrets that should have remained so also revealed the disgrace of Abu Ghraib, a disgrace that made it much harder to protect the American people from harm. Thus, despite concerns I have about the legislation, I have narrowly decided to support it. I respect those of my colleagues who have decided not to; appreciate very much the concerns that have informed their position, and encourage further negotiations to address those concerns. But if the vote were held today, I would vote yes. By so doing, I and others, on behalf of the people we represent, are willing to invest in the press a very solemn trust that in the use of confidential sources you will not do more harm than good whether it comes to the security of the nation or the reputation of good people."