As for the press marching out en masse and refusing to cover Trump's pressers, etc., I think the fear is that Fox and Friends will hang in. Then Trump will be perfectly delighted to provide exclusives and self-dealing answers to soft-ball questions from his personal news network, while simultaneously bashing the mainstream press with unprofessional and un-journalistic behavior. "They are so committed to lying and false news!" said Trump, "They can't even pretend to cover me fairly - they won't even show up at press briefings anymore. People, anything you read about me in the lamestream media is fake, fake, fake!" The MAGA crowd will love it.
However it's just one reporter who has repeatedly misbehaved during press conferences. Acosta wasn't interested in asking tough questions he was interested in engaging in a debate. He was disrespectful and disruptive.
It's one of the most ridiculous lawsuits ever. Acosta was banned. Not CNN. If the WH tried to ban all of CNN then it's different and I would say the WH would for sure lose and I would be hammering Trump for that. However it's just one reporter who has repeatedly misbehaved during press conferences. Acosta wasn't interested in asking tough questions he was interested in engaging in a debate. He was disrespectful and disruptive. Trump answered the questions and Acosta continued to argue his point. Will a judge rule in favor of Acosta? Maybe. However the WH will appeal and win in the end.
It's one of the most ridiculous lawsuits ever. Acosta was banned. Not CNN. If the WH tried to ban all of CNN then it's different and I would say the WH would for sure lose and I would be hammering Trump for that. However it's just one reporter who has repeatedly misbehaved during press conferences. Acosta wasn't interested in asking tough questions he was interested in engaging in a debate. He was disrespectful and disruptive. Trump answered the questions and Acosta continued to argue his point. Will a judge rule in favor of Acosta? Maybe. However the WH will appeal and win in the end.
It's one of the most ridiculous lawsuits ever. Acosta was banned. Not CNN.
It's one of the most ridiculous lawsuits ever. Acosta was banned. Not CNN. If the WH tried to ban all of CNN then it's different and I would say the WH would for sure lose and I would be hammering Trump for that. However it's just one reporter who has repeatedly misbehaved during press conferences. Acosta wasn't interested in asking tough questions he was interested in engaging in a debate. He was disrespectful and disruptive. Trump answered the questions and Acosta continued to argue his point. Will a judge rule in favor of Acosta? Maybe. However the WH will appeal and win in the end.
Attacks by government officials on the institution of the press are also damaging. Calling the media “dishonest” or the “enemy of the American people” works to further destroy public trust. Trying to bully the press with threats or insults only works to weaken our democracy.
As U. S. Senator John McCain recently said February 20, 2017 on CNN: “If you want to preserve democracy as we know it, you have to have a free and many times adversarial press. And without it, I am afraid that we would lose so much of our individual liberties over time. That’s how dictators get started.”
It's one of the most ridiculous lawsuits ever. Acosta was banned. Not CNN. If the WH tried to ban all of CNN then it's different and I would say the WH would for sure lose and I would be hammering Trump for that. However it's just one reporter who has repeatedly misbehaved during press conferences. Acosta wasn't interested in asking tough questions he was interested in engaging in a debate. He was disrespectful and disruptive. Trump answered the questions and Acosta continued to argue his point. Will a judge rule in favor of Acosta? Maybe. However the WH will appeal and win in the end.
Judge says CNN has shown irreparable harm will occur. Says even if CNN sent another reporter, that “does not make the harm to Mr Acosta any less real."
It's one of the most ridiculous lawsuits ever. Acosta was banned. Not CNN. If the WH tried to ban all of CNN then it's different and I would say the WH would for sure lose and I would be hammering Trump for that. However it's just one reporter who has repeatedly misbehaved during press conferences. Acosta wasn't interested in asking tough questions he was interested in engaging in a debate. He was disrespectful and disruptive. Trump answered the questions and Acosta continued to argue his point. Will a judge rule in favor of Acosta? Maybe. However the WH will appeal and win in the end.
I do think Acosta should have just given the microphone back
Trump's goal was to change the subject from his pre-election fear-mongering about Hispanic immigrants to his post-election silence about the dangerous hordes on our border.It’s pretty obvious the WH banned Acosta because Trump didn’t like Acosta’s questions. ...
Re the bolded: Why?I don't know the rules for how news organization are given access to the White House, and I don't know if there are any rules or precedent to ban someone if they genuinely behave in a hostile manner. I do think Acosta should have just given the microphone back, but that doesn't warrant a ban. And the White House fucked up bad. Sarah gave a bullshit "big strong burly man attacks poor innocent young woman" reason for the ban, along with a doctored video.
Again, maybe if Acosta had gone over a certain threshold, the ban could've been viewed as valid. Or perhaps WH could request a replacement, however this is done. But these "masterminds" made it worse all on their own.
Re the bolded: Why?
Acosta was merely refusing to let Trump give a non-answer. Acosta wanted the point of his question heard.
Unfortunately, Acosta lost, not because of the press pass kerfuffle. Acosta lost because he set up Trump to be even more effective silencing the question.
If someone gives me the microphone (i.e. permission to speak) and then asks for the microphone back, I will give it to them. But I could never be a journalist, as I don't enjoy fighting for attention or a word. Trump's a douche, the press are right to be frustrated. Nonetheless ... I don't know, not my mic.
If someone gives me the microphone (i.e. permission to speak) and then asks for the microphone back, I will give it to them. But I could never be a journalist, as I don't enjoy fighting for attention or a word. Trump's a douche, the press are right to be frustrated. Nonetheless ... I don't know, not my mic.
So funny to see little Adam Schitt (D-CA) talking about the fact that Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker was not approved by the Senate, but not mentioning the fact that Bob Mueller (who is highly conflicted) was not approved by the Senate!
Wow, Mr. President, that’s a good one.
Was that like your answers to Mr. Mueller’s questions, or did you write this one yourself?
Why did Trump call on him, then? There are 50+ reporters there.
It’s pretty obvious the WH banned Acosta because Trump didn’t like Acosta’s questions. I don’t think a reasonable observer would say that Acosta posed a threat to Trump’s person. An annoyance, perhaps.
RookieWriter, how do you think it serves our democracy for the WH to be able to ban reporters who ask tough questions? Yes, CNN could send another reporter. Do you think that replacement would be more or less inclined to ask softball questions than their predecessor, when called upon? Irrespective of whether it’s legal of the WH to manage the press pool this way, do you think it serves the country well, to be able to squash press questions in this manner? Is the press’ purpose anything more than printing what the WH wants them to say?
My view is that reporters can and should be able to ask the toughest questions they can think of to the POTUS, or anyone else serving in government. That being said there has to be a point of order and behavior protocol. Acosta wasn't banned for tough questions. If that was the case he would have been banned a long time ago. If you are honestly implying that a POTUS banning one reporter from press conferences is going to lead all the media in the country to being a mouthpiece for the WH I'd say that is a really long stretch.