Two examples of folks crossing a line in Wyoming and suffering for it popped up lately. I view this as very heartening. Its important to know that lines still mean something in a society where it seems that anything goes.
Here’s what I’m talking about.
A reporter for the Cody Enterprise was recently outed for using artificial intelligence to manufacture quotes used in a series of stories. The folks who were “quoted” didn’t say the things that AI claimed they did.
The integrity of the free press should be a life preserver in a sea of misinformation and lies. Citizens need that integrity to keep our heads above the often murky water. When a journalist or an organ of the press violates that integrity, an important line is crossed and there should be consequences.
The offending reporter was called out by another journalist from a different newspaper, and subsequently resigned. Ergo, there exists a sort of self-regulation in the press that is necessary since the First Amendment places no conditions other than freedom on the free press.
So, the industry must police itself in order to maintain credibility. It must make sure that it doesn’t cross the line.
Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against AI as a writing tool. In and of itself, AI is no different than a crescent wrench or a shovel. Like all tools, it is in how it is used that can create problems. And for AI to put words that were never spoken in people’s mouths is a problem.
For a journalist to report those misquotes as hard news is crossing the line and there should be consequences.
The second case of overstepping a line is the Crook County GOP sending a $25,000 donation to the Wyoming Freedom Caucus’ PAC with the intention of favoring one group of Republicans over another group in the upcoming primary.
That financial favoritism not only violates Wyoming statutes but also but breaks Ronald Reagan’s Eleventh GOP Commandment, to wit, “Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican.”
This skullduggery was called out by Senate President Ogden Driskill, who filed a complaint both with the Secretary of State’s Office and the Wyoming Attorney General. Driskill sent his complaint to both agencies because the chief legal counsel in Chuck Gray’s office is married to Jessie Rubino, Wyoming director for the State Freedom Caucus Network.
Driskill, much to his credit, drew a line in the sand and told the offending Republicans not to cross it. Eyeball to eyeball in the street, the Freedom Caucus PAC backed down and returned the donation, slinking away like an whupped outlaw at High Noon.
Lines that demarcate acceptable behavior from assholery are critical components of civil society. They must be clear and they must be defended.
We, as citizens, must learn those lines, teach them and live by them. Our liberty as Americans is defined by that as much as by anything.
Colonel William Travis, when he drew a line in the dust of the courtyard of the Alamo, taught us that lesson. He drew a line and said, “Anyone who doesn’t want to fight to defend this place, step over that line and you can leave.”
Senator Ogden Driskill knows where that line is and what it means. The reporter who defended freedom of the press by challenging a colleague who lied in print knows, too.
And we as Wyomingites should also know. After all, the ultimate admonition in Wyoming’s official Code of the West states, “Know where to draw the line.”
Here endeth the lesson.
Rod Miller can be reached at: RodsMillerWyo@yahoo.com
Correction: An earlier version of this column incorrectly stated that Jessie Rubino, wife of Chuck Gray's chief legal counsel is the director of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus PAC. The column has been updated to show that she's the Wyoming director of the State Freedom Caucus Network.
