Presidential intimidation of the press
Comments
-
newsweek.com/2016-election-donald-trump-press-freedom-first-amendment-520389
https://cpj.org/2016/10/cpj-chairman-says-trump-is-threat-to-press-freedom.php
"Guaranteeing the free flow of information to citizens through a robust, independent press is essential to American democracy. For more than 200 years this founding principle has protected journalists in the United States and inspired those around the world, including brave journalists facing violence, censorship, and government repression.
Donald Trump, through his words and actions as a candidate for president of the United States, has consistently betrayed First Amendment values. On October 6, CPJ's board of directors passed a resolution declaring Trump an unprecedented threat to the rights of journalists and to CPJ's ability to advocate for press freedom around the world.
Since the beginning of his candidacy, Trump has insulted and vilified the press and has made his opposition to the media a centerpiece of his campaign. Trump has routinely labeled the press as "dishonest" and "scum" and singled out individual news organizations and journalists.
He has mocked a disabled New York Times journalist and called an ABC News reporter a "sleaze" in a press conference. He expelled Univision anchor Jorge Ramos from a campaign press conference because he asked an "impertinent" question, and has publicly demeaned other journalists.
Trump has refused to condemn attacks on journalists by his supporters. His campaign has also systematically denied press credentials to outlets that have covered him critically, including The Washington Post, BuzzFeed, Politico, The Huffington Post, The Daily Beast, Univision, and The Des Moines Register.
Throughout his campaign, Trump has routinely made vague proposals to limit basic elements of press and internet freedom. At a rally in February, Trump declared that if elected president he would "open up our libel laws so when they write purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money." In September, Trump tweeted, "My lawyers want to sue the failing @nytimes so badly for irresponsible intent. I said no (for now), but they are watching. Really disgusting."
While some have suggested that these statements are rhetorical, we take Trump at his word. His intent and his disregard for the constitutional free press principle are clear.
A Trump presidency would represent a threat to press freedom in the United States, but the consequences for the rights of journalists around the world could be far more serious. Any failure of the United States to uphold its own standards emboldens dictators and despots to restrict the media in their own countries. This appears to be of no concern to Trump, who indicated that he has no inclination to challenge governments on press freedom and the treatment of journalists.
When MSNBC's Joe Scarborough asked him in December if his admiration of Russian President Vladimir Putin was at all tempered by the country's history of critical journalists being murdered, his response was: "He's running his country, and at least he's a leader, unlike what we have in this country... Well, I think that our country does plenty of killing, too."
Through his words and actions, Trump has consistently demonstrated a contempt for the role of the press beyond offering publicity to him and advancing his interests.
For this reason CPJ is taking the unprecedented step of speaking out now. This is not about picking sides in an election. This is recognizing that a Trump presidency represents a threat to press freedom unknown in modern history.
We call on Trump to ensure that journalists are able to cover his campaign and his rallies without interference or impediment; to condemn threats against journalists made by his supporters; and to ensure that his statements and actions in the balance of this campaign are consistent with America's First Amendment tradition.
CPJ is a nonpartisan advocacy organization that does not take a position on this or any election. At the same time, we cannot be silent when we believe the conduct of the campaign does damage to America's standing on free press issues around the world, and to CPJ's ability to protect global press freedom.
We hold all candidates and political leaders to the same standard. In 2013, CPJ published a critical report on President Obama's press freedom record. No matter who is elected president, CPJ will hold the administration accountable for the highest standards at home and for strong advocacy for the rights of journalists around the world."
Looks like your source disagrees with you Race. Unprecedented, they say. Unknown in modern history. -
So if Trump is just as bad as Obama?
You sure you want to keep playing it this way??? -
Courageous stand.AlCzervik said:I didn't side with Justice or the Obama administration on this one either and was very critical of their actions at the time.
Way to wagon jump, Bitchzervik. -
I don't view it as being about just as bad as anyone. The question for me is why is it an issue now and wasn't then? Go look at Obamas approval ratings, all the people crying Hitler approved of him. It's disgusting.ThomasFremont said:So if Trump is just as bad as Obama?
You sure you want to keep playing it this way??? -
This thread is just like reading the comparisons of Sark to Ty.allpurpleallgold said:
I don't view it as being about just as bad as anyone. The question for me is why is it an issue now and wasn't then? Go look at Obamas approval ratings, all the people crying Hitler approved of him. It's disgusting.ThomasFremont said:So if Trump is just as bad as Obama?
You sure you want to keep playing it this way???
But still. -
RaceBannon said:
In 2013, the United States Department of Justice, under Attorney General Eric Holder, came under scrutiny from the media and some members of Congress for subpoenaing phone records from the Associated Press (AP) and naming Fox News reporter, James Rosen, a "criminal co-conspirator" under the Espionage Act of 1917 in order to gain access to his personal emails and phone records.
On May 13, 2013, the Associated Press announced telephone records for 20 of their reporters during a two-month period in 2012 had been subpoenaed by the Justice Department. AP reported the Justice Department would not say why it sought the records, but news sources noted the US Attorney's office for the District of Columbia was conducting a criminal investigation into a May 7, 2012 Associated Press story about a CIA operation which prevented the Yemeni terrorist Fahd al-Quso's plot to detonate an explosive device on a commercial flight.[1] The DOJ did not direct subpoenas to the Associated Press; instead, the subpoenas were issued to their telephone providers, including Verizon Wireless.[2]
The AP claimed these acts were a "massive and unprecedented intrusion" into news-gathering operations.[3][4] Gary Pruitt, CEO of the Associated Press stated: "These records potentially reveal communications with confidential sources across all of the newsgathering activities undertaken by the AP during a two-month period, provide a road map to AP's newsgathering operations and disclose information about AP's activities and operations that the government has no conceivable right to know."[5][6]
The US Attorney's office in Washington responded that federal investigators seek records from news outlets only after making "every reasonable effort to obtain information through alternative means."[5] Verizon neither challenged the subpoena nor did it try to alert the journalists whose records were being requested. Debra Lewis, Verizon Wireless spokeswoman, said the company "complies with legal processes for requests for information by law enforcement."[7]
James Rosen[edit]
On May 17, 2013, the Washington Post reported the Justice Department had monitored reporter Rosen's activities by tracking his visits to the State Department, through phone traces, timing of calls and his personal emails in a probe regarding possible news leaks of classified information in 2009 about North Korea.[8] In obtaining the warrants, they labeled Rosen a "criminal co-conspirator" with Stephen Kim.[9] Rosen was also described as a "flight-risk" to keep him from being informed of the ongoing surveillance.[10]
In a written statement, the Justice Department said it had followed “all applicable laws, regulations, and longstanding Department of Justice policies intended to safeguard the First Amendment interests of the press in reporting the news and the public in receiving it.”[8]
An editorial board of the New York Times wrote: "With the decision to label a Fox News television reporter a possible 'co-conspirator' in a criminal investigation of a news leak, the Obama administration has moved beyond protecting government secrets to threatening fundamental freedoms of the press to gather news."[14]
I blame TRUMP -
I support the First Amendment. Not courageous at all. Not jumping on any wagon either. Always have. Your post makes therefore makes no sense.MisterEm said:
Courageous stand.AlCzervik said:I didn't side with Justice or the Obama administration on this one either and was very critical of their actions at the time.
Way to wagon jump, Bitchzervik.
But Bitchzervik is super hilarious. -
Playing it this way? Still struggling I seeThomasFremont said:So if Trump is just as bad as Obama?
You sure you want to keep playing it this way???
Pretty clear I said his actions are worse than words you're crying about
APAG is rite -
Or that history provides context to current matters of national import.TierbsHsotBoobs said:
This thread is just like reading the comparisons of Sark to Ty.allpurpleallgold said:
I don't view it as being about just as bad as anyone. The question for me is why is it an issue now and wasn't then? Go look at Obamas approval ratings, all the people crying Hitler approved of him. It's disgusting.ThomasFremont said:So if Trump is just as bad as Obama?
You sure you want to keep playing it this way???
But still.
-
I seem to recall a certain someone was VERY upset whenever we (remember the old APAG?) used to blame Bush for anything.RaceBannon said:
Playing it this way? Still struggling I seeThomasFremont said:So if Trump is just as bad as Obama?
You sure you want to keep playing it this way???
Pretty clear I said his actions are worse than words you're crying about
APAG is rite
So yeah, I have a nice sensible chuckle whenever you pull up some article comparing Obama's presidency to current events as defense for the Trump shit show.
Carry on...
