The free press should be concerned.......Op/ed

[Brian37]

Trump's latest veiled attack on the press is inexcusable and tone deaf and dangerous. 

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump  2h2 hours ago
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Big win in Montana for Republicans!"...............


If a democratic politician had assaulted a Fox News reporter the GOP would be demanding they step down. If a democratic politician had done that even as democrat I would demand they step down. Assaulting reporters are what despots do, what more closed societies do. 

This is beyond politics folks, this is simply a very dangerous tone to set. Trump has been attacking the press way beyond merely disagreeing with them, he is vilifying them. He does not understand the damage he is causing. When the press gets something wrong, or flat out lies, sure it is ok to challenge them, and each other, but that is not what Trump is doing, he is undermining the check on power that a free press is there for.

This is not a left or right issue, this is not a republican vs democrat issue. This kind of vile comment days after a reporter gets assaulted cannot be ignored. I urge everyone to put their economics aside and understand how dangerous this comment is. 

I take this personally having interned at TV stations and worked in radio. I think anyone who works as a news journalist should be very concerned, REGARDLESS of their political views. NO it is never OK to assault a reporter because you don't like the questions they are asking.

That politician may be legally still allowed to take office because he wasn't charged with a felony, but that is not the point, his still taking the office after doing that sends a very bad message to society and long term can erode a journalists ability to keep checks on power. 

[Minimalist]

The brown shirts always act the same.  Doesn't matter what era.

[Brian37]

The brown shirts always act the same.  Doesn't matter what era.

I cannot stress this enough, I agree. I am getting tired of even some on the left saying "that cant happen here". It cant as long as people stand up to that toxic rhetoric sure, but if you let shit like that go, and then more politicians see it as a valid way of winning elections, you eventually can get to the point where the constitution is ignored. Just like back in the days of lynching blacks, sure the constitution was there, but that didn't stop all white juries from falsely convicting a black person of something.

Imagine what the GOP and Fox News would scream if a democrat assaulted one of their reporters? 

Trump isn't calling out bad players, he is actually hiding behind those bad players to intimidate journalists. I really think media is getting really close to his dirt and he doesn't like that.

Trump is Nixion on bath salts.

[Aroura]

He didn't just get elected, he raised over 100k in something like 24 hours after he assaulted that reporter. People were THRILLED to donate to him. They approve of that level of dick waving. Go 'Murca!

[Brian37]

He didn't just get elected, he raised over 100k in something like 24 hours after he assaulted that reporter.  People were THRILLED to donate to him.  They approve of that level of dick waving.  Go 'Murca!

This is scary that the public would reward such bad behavior. Again if a democrat had done they same they would be calling for blood.

[Minimalist]

I am getting tired of even some on the left saying "that cant happen here".

You would think the election of a fucking maniac like the WLB would stop anyone from saying that.... but of course, you are right.

The right is nothing but a bunch of hypocritical motherfuckers.  To them, "Law and Order" means "keeping the niggers in line."  Period.

[The Industrial Atheist]

I think Montana is just that partisan. Same as the "good Christians" that comprise Trumps %38 approval rating.

[Brian37]

I am getting tired of even some on the left saying "that cant happen here".

You would think the election of a fucking maniac like the WLB would stop anyone from saying that.... but of course, you are right.

The right is nothing but a bunch of hypocritical motherfuckers.  To them, "Law and Order" means "keeping the niggers in line."  Period.

The politicians sure, and Mexicans and Muslims too. But it still remains the voters themselves in  middle America as INDIVIDUALS don't all think like that. Democrats exist in red states too. I am not about to abandon the sane who live in those states. 

I do blame the GOP for the rise of that moron and Trump himself. But my own mom was a mostly lifetime voting republican. I love my mom and I will never apologize for that.

[chimp3]

It seems America is losing its stomach for Democracy and liberty. Then again America has voted for fascists before. The pendulum can not swing the other soon enough for me.

[vorlon13]

mebbee things need to go further in that direction though?

let's have a journalist clobber a member of congress for not answering a simple fucking question