Attacking the Press is a Attack on the First Amendment

And so many Trump supporters apparently stand by the Bill of Rights, yet want to applaud Trump for his personal issues he can't drop with the media (a WH psychologist needed, maybe?). This move of banishing media outlets with opposing viewpoints, in this case CNN, NYT, and Politico, is the first step toward dictatorship. What Trump is doing here is simply creating a press conference of strawmen. People who already agree with him, who's audience already agree with him, no opposition whatsoever. I mean, think about it. Even Obama allowed the laughable Fox News, which lost its credibility ages ago, into his press conferences.

What good is it supposed to do if only people like Alex Jones and Rush Limbaugh are allowed in these press conferences, just to see Sean Spicer step on another pebble? Obviously, Trump does not love the first amendment. And proves he has very thin skin indeed.

 

No one is willing to defend Trump on this issue.

Figures.

 

He's not attacking the press, he's just not helping those that attack him constantly. They can get the contents of the meeting news from the AP wire.

 

No, you are just being ignored. It's not an attack on the 1st amendment to attack liars and spinsters. CNN has become the new National Inquirer. MSNBC has been there since inception.

 

First of the president has his first amendment right to voice any opinion he wants as long as it's not threatening national security. Second, he isn't attacking the press. He's attacking the mainstream liars like CNN.

 

You have a bit of revisionist history when it comes to Omama and Fox. Obama was constantly barking at Fox and trying to delegitimization the network. They covered him honestly where the MSM was busy sniffing his rear.

But I had no problem with Obama's attitude toward FOX. He was within his rights to 'fight back'. Anyone knowledgeable took Obama's FOX pouting for what it was.

So spare the Chicken Little act about Trump and the MSM. Until he takes actions that truly restrict the press, you're doing little more than making noise.

 

You mean, Obama never tried to limit Fox access??

https://www.rcfp.org/browse-media-l...te-house-attempted-shut-out-fox-news-reporter

To your point about FOX and credibility, maybe if you watched the network, you wouldn't be reduced to parroting left wing talking points about what they are, and what they're not. The insistence of the left to retreat to their safe spaces within their insulated protective bubbles has always perplexed me.

 

Just like the word "fascist", "My Rights" is just something everyone likes to pull out of their...ahem...well...to delegitimize another person's argument.

 

So it's un-American to criticize the media?

This sentiment is so foolish, so detached from reality, that I can't even argue against it.

 

The President should have no authority to bar ANY credible media outlet from press conferences. The fact that the President is allowed to pick and choose who is allowed to cover official press conferences, and who is allowed to be part of the associated press is an attack on the first amendment just by itself. As long as a reporter has proper credentials, has been properly vetted, and is part of a credible news venue, they should have access to all official whitehouse press conferences. The President should not be allowed to prevent open coverage of any official event.

 

Someone's first amendment ends when someone's feelings are hurt?

 

Even "Bimbo" Bush, as mentally challenged as he is, stated that a free press is essential to democracy. Bush admitted he had gotten a beating from the press, but understood that every president does.
The so-called president, with his fragile ego and huge inferiority complex, lashes out at anyone not flattering him - including the independent media. Slanted media (Fox, Breitbart, Washington Times, etc.) is encouraged as long as the slant is in his favor.

Muzzling of the media is danger sign. All autocrats have to muzzle the media. Putin has TASS, Trump wants only Fox & the like.

 

As unfit to be President as Bush was, he was at least a good man, and truly believed in the constitution. He never tried to blatantly undermine the constitution like Trump has done. And the sad part is that Trump makes Bush seem like the most qualified President ever.

 

Strike three your out he didn't bar anyone It was going to be a pool, a pool of limited size, because of what was going on and the size of the meeting area. Trump actually invited a few extra to the random pool drawing. This is what we call fake news.

 

You re dishonestly over looking the FACT that Obama banned Fox news for a while how did that end in dictatorship?

The first amendment says nothing about this. Freedom of the press has nothing to do with the media and press going anywhere it wishes and asking whoever an whatever it wishes.

The media in general ESPECIALLY the left wing mainstream media such as NYT and CNN have long since lost all credibility. It is not just that they are biased toward the left wing and against republicans ( they are ). They are no longer about reporting any news or information at all. They are strictly about who can air or print or post the most provocative story first whether it is accurate or not.

In addition the mainstream media especially the ones you are complaining about have NEVER given trump a neutral or unbiased day of coverage. Since day one of his campaign they have been in attack mode against him. One cannot blame him for kicking them out as they are worthless to the nation and doing nothing except seeking to attack him in any way possible. Freedom of the press says nothing about allowing such blatant hostility into government press conferences.

If Hillary had won and banned fox news as Obama did you would be defending her and justifying it. Very hypocritical.

 

False premise. I watch the White House New conferences a few times weekly and nobody is claiming they have been banished.

You see anyone banished on any of these news conferences?
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+white+house

But besides that...

On the other hand, any news outlet that does not act professionally and shows disrespect or rude behavior should be kept out until they apologize and assure that they will act professionally. The White House is just like any other house in America. You get invited in. You do not have a right to come in.

On the other hand, you can stand out in the street and write or say anything you like as long as it's not considered by law to be libel or slander. That's the First Amendment right to freedom of speech & press.

Any news agency that gets caught in outright deliberate manipulation & deception should be held liable in a court of law where a class action suit on behalf of the American people could sue them out of existence. That's the people's responsibility & power.

As for federal government responsibility & power, it's their job to PROTECT the American people from media monopolies forming that have excessive control over the media. These 6 corporations now control 90% of the media in the USA. Government needs to breakup these monopolies into 600 smaller corporations.

-pete-

 

hey. Move to north korea. The press is COMPLETELY protected there.

 

How dare Donald Trump exercise his First Amendment rights?

 

What issue? No ones alleging censorship, just whining about access. No where does any US legislation guarantee access of the press. No guarantee of freedom from criticism exists either. Access is purely a courtesy. And criticism is every citizens right. Who are MSM to presume they can dictate WH protocol. Absurd.

 

First.....He didn't BANISH them.....they still exist, they are not on some desolate island never to be seen again so can we please tone down the hysterics.

Second.....They were not allowed to participate in a briefing, but all of the rest were so I'm not sure where you're getting the "opposing views" problem from. Last I checked ABC, MSNBC, and all of the other networks that are usually there and were there are not his friends. There are a multitude of "media" outlets now a days and not all can get in, and their not throwing a temper-tantrum. While it's true that Obama never made Fox wait in the hall he rarely called on them for questions so it's really the same difference. A President that doesn't want questions from a specific organization and each handled in his own way.

Third......He has done nothing to hamper, hinder, or trample on the Bill of Rights. When he has government agents storm the CNN building and tell them what to say.....then you have something to freak-out about.

Fourth.....Throughout our history the "media" has been about the freedom of the press, but to the "media" were held to the standard of telling the truth. We do have "media" that do not tell the truth and they are referred to as Tabloids. Would any President let a Tabloid into a White House briefing?

Like I said, when he makes all but the "conservative" news stations wait in the hall, maybe we need to worry. Until then I'm in favor of shaking things up a bit and making some of the old establishment sit out and let new, fresh, media coverage in.

 

Cnn, NYT and Politico are not "the press." They are corporate advertising outlets of the super rich elites and international corporations. He did not "banish" them, that is just a lie.

 

They have nothing they can really defend.

 

The first amendment means for example a newspaper can freely print stuff, and send reporters out to find stuff to print. It does not mean everybody or anybody has to read the paper or not criticize it, or answer or even listen to the reporter's questions.
To the best of my knowledge Alex Jones and Rush have never attended a white house press conference.
I think Trump's conferences are a welcome change from the orchestrated and scripted conferences of Obama.

 

The press has abused the first amendment.

Their time is coming....

 

One wonders if we will ever get a genuine Press back? Or as long as MSM is owned by 6 big corporations, who in turn are owned by elite war mongering globalists, is it even possible to have a Press? Or is what we see in the Press today, the yellow journalism as a steady diet, the Press of an Oligarchy instead of a republic?

You see quite a few scum bag lawyers hired as MSM talking heads. And no one can lie so cleverly and spin like a lawyer. Which is why they hire them. When your politicians are mostly lawyers, and MSM is filled with them, you get FUBAR.