America's founders believed that a free press was essential to democracy because it is the foundation of an informed, engaged citizenry. That conviction, enshrined in the First Amendment, has been embraced by nearly every American president. Thomas Jefferson declared, "The only security of all is in a free press." John F. Kennedy warned about the risks to "free society without a very, very active press." Ronald Reagan said, "There is no more essential ingredient than a free, strong and independent press to our continued success."
All these presidents had complaints about their coverage and at times took advantage of the freedom every American has to criticize journalists. But in demonizing the free press as the enemy, simply for performing its role of asking difficult questions and bringing uncomfortable information to light, President Trump is retreating from a distinctly American principle. It's a principle that previous occupants of the Oval Office fiercely defended regardless of their politics, party affiliation, or complaints about how they were covered.
The phrase "enemy of the people" is not just false, it's dangerous. It has an ugly history of being wielded by dictators and tyrants who sought to control public information. And it is particularly reckless coming from someone whose office gives him broad powers to fight or imprison the nation's enemies. As I have repeatedly told President Trump face to face, there are mounting signs that this incendiary rhetoric is encouraging threats and violence against journalists at home and abroad.
Through 33 presidential administrations, across 167 years, The New York Times has worked to serve the public by fulfilling the fundamental role of the free press. To help people, regardless of their backgrounds or politics, understand their country and the world. To report independently, fairly and accurately. To ask hard questions. To pursue the truth wherever it leads. That will not change.

The very real danger of thin skin and hyper exposure.

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"One of the reasons why propaganda tries to get you to hate government is because it's the one existing institution in which people can participate to some extent and constrain tyrannical unaccountable power." Noam Chomsky.

That is all well and good, but we also have a right to free speech that comes from that same 1st Amendment that guarantees freedom of the press. That allows us to trash the press to our heart's content. I and many other people agree that much of the press is an enemy of the people. Just as that press can call folks like me deplorables without consequence, we can call them enemies of the people without consequence. From my reading, it sure seems that more MAGA hat-wearing deplorables are being accosted than members of the press. Sounds like those Nancy boys can dish it out but can't take it. They need to stop their whining.

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I :heart; Q

Tpap reads Breitbart

if lil' f'er doesn't like it, it's fake news.

Truth...



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GOP:

Gaslight
Obstruct
Project

Edited: 02/20/2019 at 12:43 PM by Pagerow

In what way is the press an enemy of the people?

Pagerow, according to your prog comrades, you cannot post that. The office of the presidency is specifically spelled out in the Constitution. Trump, in other words, has a Constitutional right to serve in that office. America's founders believed that a president was essential to democracy. That conviction, enshrined in Article 2 of the Constitution, has been embraced by nearly every American president. Saying something like that about him is dangerous. It has an ugly history of being wielded by dictators and tyrants who sought to control public information. Moreover, there are mounting signs that this incendiary rhetoric is encouraging threats and violence against presidents at home and abroad. Thank you, Pagerown, for helping me show how stupid prog arguments are.

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I :heart; Q

A silly, lying oinkin little boy weighs in on enema, er, enemy, of the people.
As an avowed follower of the nations biggest liar in history. aka money launderer in chief, for russian oligarchs and gangsters.
And has as a signature line i blow putin.......
duhhhh......

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It's a democratic hoax

Edited: 02/20/2019 at 04:09 PM by nukeh2o

How do we treat our enemies? Well, this is where trump leads by example as the Christian man he is. We treat our enemies like friends. Take Putin, for example. He is our enemy and look how Trump treats him. That's how Trump wants us to treat the press, like he treats Putin. See? All better.

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"One of the reasons why propaganda tries to get you to hate government is because it's the one existing institution in which people can participate to some extent and constrain tyrannical unaccountable power." Noam Chomsky.