White House won't rule out banning press for 'negative' coverage

[Equinox Moon]

Source: The Guardian

The White House has refused to back down from Donald Trump's threat to ban media organizations regarded as unfairly critical.

The US president first tweeted the threat on Wednesday, claiming that "despite the tremendous success we are having with the economy & all things else," most news about him is "negative (Fake)".
Trump added: "Why do we work so hard in working with the media when it is corrupt? Take away credentials?"

It was the latest broadside in Trump's long-running feud with the media, which he has previously condemned as "the enemy of the people".

There was swift backlash from the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA). Its president, Margaret Talev, said: "Some may excuse the president's inflammatory rhetoric about the media, but just because the president does not like news coverage does not make it fake.

"A free press must be able to report on the good, the bad, the momentous and the mundane, without fear or favour. And a president preventing a free and independent press from covering the workings of our republic would be an unconscionable assault on the first amendment."

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/may/09/donald-trump-take-away-press-credentials-tweet-fake-news

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What an absolute disaster the fake president is. Get him out of the WH!!!

Sarah Sanders talks about it starting @2:50min into this clip.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. fascism.

[iluvtennis]

15. Indeed. He only wants his propaganda network aka Fox News.

[DBoon]

2. See Hungary, Turkey, and other countries for an idea where this is going

The world is now full of nationalist autocrats who slowly squeeze their people's freedoms

[Iliyah]

3. Leaks will still come out.

[fountainofyouth]

4. Indeed

The frequency and ferocity of the leaks from this White House the entire time he's been in office has been amazing.

[mackdaddy]

5. The White House has become little more than a Lie Factory..

And Sarah Sanders the spray nozzle for disseminating them.

I pay little attention to the White house Press Corp any more. They seem to have been obsoleted by the Trumpies twitter feeds.

Maybe the press would be more truthful and relevant if they were outside of the White house.

Wow, are we in weird times!

[Freethinker65]

6. Unconstitutional

[Equinox Moon]

7. Indeed, but I wonder if that matters?

[Freethinker65]

10. WHCA would take it to the SCOTUS.

The current SCOTUS will not tear up the constitution because Trump does not like getting deservedly bad press.

He will just have to be satisfied with destroying the country in other ways such as cutting social programs, health care subsidies, education, housing, environmental protection, worker protection, consumer protection, civil rights, women's rights, etc.

[maxrandb]

32. Really?? Well who the "eff" is going to enforce it?

We're in this fucking shit-show because enough fucking dumbasses bought into that "both parties are the fucking same" bullshit.

THERE IS NOT ONE GOD-DAMNED BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT THAT IS WILLING TO ENFORCE THE TENETS OF THE CONSTITUTION

NOT ONE!!!!!!!

All because some fuckers didn't get a fucking pony from President Obama.

If that same shit happens this November, THIS COUNTRY IS DEAD!!!!

[Corgigal]

8. Besides the press

No one watches this crap, or believes it.

[BigmanPigman]

9. I seem to recall something called the First Amend.

If they toss that out, than do we get to toss out the Second Amend? Fair is fair.

[FBaggins]

20. 1A really doesn't apply here

They can't keep a news organization from reporting whatever they like... but they can refuse to give them a seat in the press room (and the ongoing access to staff that comes with it).

It would be a stupid decision... but not an illegal or unconstitutional one.

[Cold War Spook]

23. Toss out the 1st Amendment,

the 2nd won't be far behind, followed by the rest of the Constitution.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

11. The press should have a Trump-free day.

No publishing his tweets, nobody at any of the press briefings, not a single word about Trump -- favorable, unfavorable (i.e., factual), or neutral. A complete blackout on cable news (except Fox, of course). No Trump jokes by late night comedians. Make it appear as if he doesn't exist for that one day.

It would literally kill him.

[Shipwack]

12. What? The White House isn't repaying the WHCA groveling apology for the correspondent's dinner?

I'm shocked, shocked and dismayed!

[Solly Mack]

13. Why is that man being tolerated?

You can't outwait stupid. It's pernicious.

[Zoonart]

27. Never forget what they did to Howard Dean.

The MSM drummed him out fo the race for getting excited at a victory rally. They called him crazy... insane.
If the MSM wanted 45 out of the White House he would be out of the WH.

[truthisfreedom]

14. This administration is anti-American and anti-freedom.

They are putin cock holsters.

[joshdawg]

16. She is as much of a despicable "person"

as her "boss" is.
One lies and the other one swears to it!

[forgotmylogin]

17. I believe I saw a bit of this.

I can paraphrase how it went:

REPORTER: So, can you comment on how in the future the President said he might consider revoking credentials of news organizations he considers unfair to him?

SARAH: Hey, you're here, the President answered questions this afternoon. Business as usual, moot point.

REPORTER: But he said he might consider revoking the credentials of news organizations he felt were unfair--

SARAH: As I just said, and we have always said before, and the President always has said: hey, you're still here, and I told you the President answered questions this afternoon, business as usual, moot point. Why would you even bother asking this when we've answered it hundreds and thousands and billions and kertrillion times before? Next question--

REPORTER: But he said in the future...

SARAH: Someone else have a question?

[pazzyanne]

18. Sarah doesn't look well today.

Perhaps less make-up? Perhaps job stress? Lying catches up with you eventually.

[Utah Grizzlee]

19. "Negative Coverage," i.e., Anything Upsetting to the Baby

[pansypoo53219]

21. president snowflake.

[Mc Mike]

22. Every legit media source should walk out of the White House briefing room,

the first time he purges one of his media group 'enemies'.

He'll be left talking to breitbart, fox, and Jeff Guckert.

[Maxheader]

24. No big whoop putty face...

We'll just let your staff keep us informed.

[Scruffy1]

25. If we had a real press they would boycott this shit show entirely. n/t.

[tazkcmo]

26. I will be looking forward

To the empty press briefing today as our 4th branch flexes its muscle.


Lol! Like that's gonna happen.

[Bengus81]

28. GO FOR IT TRUMP....the comparisons to Hitler and his regime will be 100% true

[BlueIdaho]

30. Am I the only one who thinks

The White House Press Briefings are more helpful to Trump than to the press? Since these briefings have become an exercise in lie counting, I’m not so sure they have much public value.

To hell with Donny, to hell with Sarah, skip these useless propaganda sessions and go chase some hard news like real journalists.

[librechik]

31. sue that bastard, WHC!

take him to court for a lesson on the Constitution,