Posted on 01/27/2019 6:16:36 AM PST by Kaslin
Never in the history of the country has there been a more dangerous and damning statement.
Yet, based on a report from one publication that has had a problematic past, the Press of America was ready to bring down a duly-elected president based on: “If It Is True.”
It is questionable whether the American public would tolerate this thinly-veiled maneuver so the Trump-haters had to have real ammunition. They got it Thursday night January 17th at 10:11 P.M. when BuzzFeed released a story that caused even people like myself to be knocked back on their heels. Trump purportedly had told Michael Cohen, his attorney, to perjure himself in front of Congress. The report caused a firestorm because “IF IT IS TRUE,” then Democrats would have what they need -- an actual crime with which to impeach Trump.
The next day virtually every MSM publication carried the story. They did not wait to validate the facts. The story was covered as if the facts were real, but they included those now magic words or some version, “If It Is True.” Every major publication sent battalions of reporter out to verify the story, but none could. Yet Democrats had a field day because they now had Trump by the throat. When asked by the Press they used the Press’s own language – “IF IT IS TRUE.”
I was baffled. I questioned that Trump had put something like that in an email. Others picked apart BuzzFeed’s story and the credibility of the authors. John Santucci of ABC News stated contradicting BuzzFeed “In all our reporting, I haven’t found any in the Trump Org that have met with or been interviewed by Mueller.” The authors had not even seen the underlying evidence or had they. They could not agree. Andrew McCarthy, a former U.S. attorney and the go-to guy for me and so many others on these legal matters, said he could not believe it because Mueller would have charged Cohen with that when he had charged him.
Then as you know, the Special Counsel's office came out and said the story is false. And the MSM melted along with the Trump-haters. The furor subsided, or did it? Ben Smith, editor-in-chief, did not falter in the face of the pressure of an unprecedented press release by the Special Counsel denying the story Mr. Smith had published. Did he release documents validating the article? Did he bring forward the two government officials who supposedly were sources? In the ultimate act of hubris, he told the Special Cousel to prove BuzzFeed was wrong. Then the legion of Trump-haters started parsing the Special Counsel's statement as if it was not a complete disabusing of the BuzzFeed story.
The new criteria for our press to run with a story has become “IF IT IS TRUE.” It does not matter where the report comes from or the seriousness of the claim. The MSM has become an echo chamber for anything anti-Trump. This one though was a behemoth story, published with no validation and once again our press is sadly embarrassed. They did not have to run the story, however, as the Wall Street Journal did not touch the report in its print addition.
Don’t think that this is over. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the new chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, says this needs to be investigated. Lawrence Tribet former Harvard professor and a regular Tweeter of Trump Hysteria, is still advocating immediate impeachment along with others like Billionaire Gone Wild, Tom Steyer.
“Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party” lived for over 60 years as the most damning statement/inquiry ever made in our history. Though it was made by powerful people in our government, it was barely echoed in the Press. The Press ended up fighting the implications of the question. Today the press has started the use of “IF IT IS TRUE” and then amplified it. The elected officials just copied the phrase and went along.
A justification used for Trump Impeachment is his abuse of our Constitution even though it is unclear how he has done such. This is actual abuse of our Constitution. Our Press has abused the First Amendment and degraded itself in a manner that will permanently harm the value of a free press and thus our First Amendment rights. And yet there is not one person being fired or quitting in shame – are you listening Chuck Todd?
We live in dangerous times if this is not disavowed and never used again.
To the extent that, in this layman's opinion, it has forfeited its right to protection under the First Amendment.
First Amendment is for legal protection of “journalists”, i.e., those that report the Truth ... because the Founding Fathers recognized that it was important for the Citizens to know the Truth
Most of today’s media members DON’T report the Truth, and so are not real “journalists” - if they want to be propagandists for the Democrat Party, they shouldn’t have any Constitutional protection
The Left also promotes the false notion that to criticize the Press, as this article does, is the actual threat to freedom of the Press and to our “Democracy.” Lefties seek the protection of the Constitution as they rip it to shreds.
People don’t get what is going on here. Everyone in media and Democrat leaders knows these stories aren’t true. They also know that people will be influenced to believe Trump is a criminal if he is simply accused enough times, even if each individual instance is a lie.
And it’s working.
Your take on the media is exactly what liberals are saying about all of us regarding racism, global warming, Trump and all their other fantasies.
This is not a path you want to take.
Yes, criticizing the REAL, unbiased Press is inappropriate.
But criticizing propagandists-for-one-party-who-pretend-to-be-objective is entirely appropriate, even required.
The “protection” they have is judge-proclaimed protection from legal liability for false “reports”.
IMHO, it is past time to restore the incentive for truthful “reporting” that used to be provided by large financial payments to victims of smears and “hit-jobs”.
Out of all the Press in America Les than 1% is REAL, unbiased Press.
“If it is true...” that Nancy Pelosi is an “unregistered Russian Agent”, while working “on retainer” for El Chapo and the other drug-lords, she should be arrested immediately.
“If it is true...” that Nancy Pelosi’s immense wealth was illegally obtained, it should be forfeited. An immediate FBI review of ALL her books and records is needed.
If she objects, THAT will PROVE she has something to hide...
Trump should sue BuzzFeed and demand the sources be identified. Either they lied or BuzzFeed made them up. Either way they’re not protected under the construction. Freedom of press does not include purposely lying.
Well, some of us get it & understand. Once the press starts reporting unfounded & untrue stories they should lose their First Amendment rights until such time that they can prove they have gone back to reporting just the truth. Without this, what is the point of even having a news media if they are just going to make up stuff in order to effect a political agenda? All this subterfuge raises another question....what if all this is being done to get people’s minds off track from something that is under-reported but should be in the headlines? For years it seems that papers like the Enquirer were looked at as mostly made up fairly tales,but now it certainly seems they may have had more credibility than the MSM.
Does anyone know if a citizen can file suit against BuzzFeed for printing what they knew was a lie? Every American is being harmed by the lying press.
“People don’t get what is going on here. Everyone in media and Democrat leaders knows these stories aren’t true. They also know that people will be influenced to believe Trump is a criminal if he is simply accused enough times, even if each individual instance is a lie.
And it’s working.”
Excellent post, sad but true. If we can’t wake more people up we will lose. I have found myself disassociating myself from many acquaintances because they are too dumb to see the truth. To stay on speaking terms with them I practically have to suspend my beliefs. Doing that is no longer possible, I have to face facts.
My faith in Jesus is one of the sticking points. I have found those who believe the lie about President Trump also believe Satan’s lie. I choose God.
But then again, I'm only 65...
this question should be asked of every politician and deep state member under penalty of perjury. Anyone answering yes should be excluded from public service.
One word: Presstitutes
And if I were 125, I’d remember that in 1897, reporter Frederic Remington became very bored by the lack of anything newsworthy in Cuba and cabled to Hearst, “Everything quiet. There is no trouble here. There will be no war. Wish to return.” In response to Remington’s message, William Randolph Hearst reportedly replied, “Please remain. You furnish the pictures and I’ll furnish the war.”
When I was a kid, they used to say, “If you send in 2 SKIPPY Peanut butter labels you would get....” (whatever it was).
Perhaps that is how the “News” media got their press credentials.
Just Alinksy in action.
The enemedia practices it every day.
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