Keller @ Large: Media Won't Be Bullied

BOSTON (CBS) - With power comes responsibility, no question about it.

And to the extent that we in the media have a degree of power conferred by the reach of whatever forum we have, it requires the exercise of care, sensitivity and taste.

Most of us try hard to live up to those requirements, however imperfectly.

But there is – or at least, should be – a limit to how far the word police can go.

Consider the story of Amy Chozick, a New York Times political reporter who, according to her Twitter feed, received an e-mail from the "HRC Super Volunteers," a group supporting Hillary Clinton, warning her that, "we will be watching, reading, listening and protesting coded sexism [and] sexist words" used to describe Sec. Clinton, which they say include "polarizing, calculating, disingenuous, insincere, ambitious, inevitable, entitled, over confident [and] secretive."

Also unacceptable to this group: phrases like "will do anything to win, represents the past, out of touch...You are on notice."

No, actually HRC Super Volunteers, YOU are on notice: that garbage won't fly.

We will use any appropriate terms like those we choose to describe your hero, and won't be bullied by little partisan fascists into pulling our punches, thanks to the First Amendment.

You might want to look it up.

Listen to Jon's commentary:

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.