Posted on 11/14/2018 8:22:12 AM PST by Maceman
Fox News reportedly announced Wednesday that the network will support CNN in its lawsuit against President Trump and will be filing an amicus brief in its favor with the U.S. District Court..
“Fox News supports CNN in its legal effort to regain its White House reporter’s press credential. We intend to file an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court,” network President Jay Wallace said in a statement Wednesday. “Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponized.”
“While we don’t condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people,” Wallace added.
CNN filed their lawsuit against the Trump administration after the White House revoked the hard press pass of the network’s senior White House correspondent, Jim Acosta, after he confronted the president, repeatedly refused to surrender the microphone and got into a brief physical altercation with a White House intern during a press briefing on Nov. 7.
The press in the Constitutional sense is a device that can be used by people to publish their thoughts and opinions.
Every American, including those who run or work for CMOs, has a right to freely use a press to disseminate his or her views on any subject at any time.
But the reporters at NPR, NYT, Washington POS, CNN, MSNBC and all the other networks (including Fox News) do NOT have any constitutional right to have access and be heard at White House "Press" conferences.
They don't have that right, because neither I nor anybody else who posts opinions in print, by broadcast or online has that right, even though we use the press to publish our opinions, as I do regularly on Free Republic. (After all, the Internet is a means of publishing thoughts and opinions and therefore is a "press" in the Constitutional sense.)
And another "right" that these CMOs definitely DO NOT have, is the right not to be insulted by the President, who did not surrender his own First Amendment right to free speech when took the oath of office.
Being invited to participate in a White House "press" conference is therefore a privilege that can be extended or withdrawn purely at the discretion of the White House (or Congress, or the Judiciary in their own venues).
I so wish that at Trump's next "press conference," he will state this reality once and for all. And then I hope he will take a question from Jim Acosta, after prefacing it with the following statement:
"I'm going now to take a question now from Jim Acosta purely as a courtesy, albeit an undeserved one, because this is going to be his last White House 'press conference' during my administration. Additionally, I am revoking the press credentials of CNN,the racist New York Times, and a number of other Corporate Media Organizations who will soon be notified of their change in status. OK Jim, what's your question?"
Then I hope that in the future the White House will issue "Media Passes" to other respectable press users - bloggers, authors, YouTubers, etc. who will be invited to future Media Conferences, provided that they show courtesy, intelligence and respect.
And as for the CMOs, they can watch the President's Media Conferences on C-SPAN and then write whatever the hell they want to about them.
Good post.
I too wish Trump would call a quick presser and explain the first amendment. Just as you just did.
I am now boycotting FoxNews for a while.
Really???? If the POTUS wished he could kick out all the reporters out of the White House.
Really???? If the POTUS wished he could kick out all the reporters out of the White House.
Wow. Just wow.
Acosta assaults a White House employee and HE sues? What a prick.
Though I disagree with you that Trump should have Acosta there or ban cnn or fox or any channel.
He should simply state that the press is free to publish, period. Any press. Online, on paper, etc.
But that no one has the right to enter the White House or AF1. The admin will base their invitations on background checks and COMMON COURTESY.
First amendment violation. Or something. Look at the press sort of like the Hun-Duran caravan. Keep them out if possible.
I haven’t watched FOX since they pulled their voter suppression stunt on election day. Bill Sammons and the Murdochs can rot in hell.
The White House should let Acosta back in and make in sit in special time out chair.
The Ministry of Propaganda hangs together (figuratively)
The Zuck embraces The Accost-her as a Trump provoker to generate fake news to keep CNN profitable.
CNN is actually the Trump Fake News Network.
Per their standards, she approached him and “ aggressively” tried to gain control of the microphone. You know that’s where they’ll go with it.
PDJT should read aloud the 1st Amendment as it likely will be the first time for most of the press room.
Secondly, I say to this: “Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponized.”
...well, what of Acosta and CNN weaponizing it against the people and the president, because that is indeed what they are doing with their press pass.
“I am now boycotting FoxNews for a while.”
What took you so long?
What is the recourse for the WH when a reporter is abusive to staff and disrespectful to the POTUS?
“I am now boycotting FoxNews for a while.”
Not sufficient. You must join us in ridiculing them about this everywhere.
Yep - they should just stop calling on anyone from CNN to set the tone for those who try to force their will on Trump.....
I wish she had knocked him out.
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