Senate issues unanimous resolution "the press is not the enemy of the people"

[The Barbarian]

In a uniform decision Thursday, the U.S. Senate voted to "reaffirm the vital and indispensable role the free press serves."

Why it matters: The resolution comes on the heels of a nationwide push by hundreds of local and national newspapers to publish editorials standing up for the press in response to President Trump's claims the press is an "enemy of the people."

The resolution, which was introduced by Hawaii Democrat Brian Schatz, affirms that the press is "not the enemy of the people."

"...Whereas tyrannical and authoritarian governments and leaders throughout history have sought to undermine, censor, suppress, and control the press to advance their undemocratic goals and actions; and

Whereas the United States, including the long-held commitment to and constitutional protection of the free press in the United States, has stood as a shining example of democracy, self-government, and freedom for the world to
emulate: Now, therefore, be itResolved,

That—

(1) the Senate

(A) affirms that the press is not the enemy of the people;

(B) reaffirms the vital and indispensable role that the free press serves to inform the electorate, uncover the truth, act as a check on the inherent power of the government, further national discourse and debate, and otherwise advance the most basic and cherished democratic norms and freedoms of the United States; and

(C) condemns the attacks on the institution of the free press and views efforts to systematically undermine the credibility of the press as an attack on the democratic institutions of the United States; and

(2) it is the sense of the Senate that it is the sworn responsibility of all who serve the United States by taking the oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States to uphold, cherish, and protect the entire Constitution, including the freedom of the press.

https://www.axios.com/senate-passes...ess-19b6e5d1-240d-4a40-9171-4fa30060592f.html

America is tougher than a lot of would-be dictators hope it is. Nice work, Senators.

 

[Annie Proclivite]

In a uniform decision Thursday, the U.S. Senate voted to "reaffirm the vital and indispensable role the free press serves."

Why it matters: The resolution comes on the heels of a nationwide push by hundreds of local and national newspapers to publish editorials standing up for the press in response to President Trump's claims the press is an "enemy of the people."

The resolution, which was introduced by Hawaii Democrat Brian Schatz, affirms that the press is "not the enemy of the people."

"...Whereas tyrannical and authoritarian governments and leaders throughout history have sought to undermine, censor, suppress, and control the press to advance their undemocratic goals and actions; and

Whereas the United States, including the long-held commitment to and constitutional protection of the free press in the United States, has stood as a shining example of democracy, self-government, and freedom for the world to
emulate: Now, therefore, be itResolved,

That—

(1) the Senate

(A) affirms that the press is not the enemy of the people;

(B) reaffirms the vital and indispensable role that the free press serves to inform the electorate, uncover the truth, act as a check on the inherent power of the government, further national discourse and debate, and otherwise advance the most basic and cherished democratic norms and freedoms of the United States; and

(C) condemns the attacks on the institution of the free press and views efforts to systematically undermine the credibility of the press as an attack on the democratic institutions of the United States; and

(2) it is the sense of the Senate that it is the sworn responsibility of all who serve the United States by taking the oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States to uphold, cherish, and protect the entire Constitution, including the freedom of the press.

https://www.axios.com/senate-passes...ess-19b6e5d1-240d-4a40-9171-4fa30060592f.html

America is tougher than a lot of would-be dictators hope it is. Nice work, Senators.

The liberal media opposes Trump. Trump is an American hero. Therefore, the press is the enemy of the people. Can't argue with that!

 

[The Barbarian]

The liberal media opposes Trump.

As does the moderate and much of the conservative media. For reasons we all understand.

Trump is an American hero.

Most Americans think some one who brags about grabbing women by the genitals isn't much of a hero...

Trump Disapproval Rooted in Character Concerns

https://news.gallup.com/poll/214091/trump-disapproval-rooted-character-concerns.aspx

Not a hero to most Americans. But he's surely a hero to sexual predators and adulterers.

Therefore, the press is the enemy of sexual predators and adulterers. Can't argue with that!

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

In a uniform decision Thursday, the U.S. Senate voted to "reaffirm the vital and indispensable role the free press serves."

Why it matters: The resolution comes on the heels of a nationwide push by hundreds of local and national newspapers to publish editorials standing up for the press in response to President Trump's claims the press is an "enemy of the people."

The resolution, which was introduced by Hawaii Democrat Brian Schatz, affirms that the press is "not the enemy of the people."

"...Whereas tyrannical and authoritarian governments and leaders throughout history have sought to undermine, censor, suppress, and control the press to advance their undemocratic goals and actions; and

Whereas the United States, including the long-held commitment to and constitutional protection of the free press in the United States, has stood as a shining example of democracy, self-government, and freedom for the world to
emulate: Now, therefore, be itResolved,

That—

(1) the Senate

(A) affirms that the press is not the enemy of the people;

(B) reaffirms the vital and indispensable role that the free press serves to inform the electorate, uncover the truth, act as a check on the inherent power of the government, further national discourse and debate, and otherwise advance the most basic and cherished democratic norms and freedoms of the United States; and

(C) condemns the attacks on the institution of the free press and views efforts to systematically undermine the credibility of the press as an attack on the democratic institutions of the United States; and

(2) it is the sense of the Senate that it is the sworn responsibility of all who serve the United States by taking the oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States to uphold, cherish, and protect the entire Constitution, including the freedom of the press.

https://www.axios.com/senate-passes...ess-19b6e5d1-240d-4a40-9171-4fa30060592f.html

America is tougher than a lot of would-be dictators hope it is. Nice work, Senators.

I remember Walter Cronkite and the days of actual news. Now we have op-ed channels instead of news channels. It's a shame. They are not supposed to be the enemy of the administration, but they are, unless it happens to be Democrat for the time being. They should just do their jobs and give the news, not skewed news.

 

[Jamsie]

I remember Walter Cronkite and the days of actual news. Now we have op-ed channels instead of news channels. It's a shame. They are not supposed to be the enemy of the administration, but they are, unless it happens to be Democrat for the time being. They should just do their jobs and give the news, not skewed news.

News is delivered quite a bit different from the time of Walter Cronkite - what was CBS 30 minutes? If one has the mental capacity to discern between "actual" news and opinion there wouldn't be a problem. In most cases right leaning people despise CNN, MSNBC, etc. because they appear incapable of understanding the difference between the two. The actual facts, pointing out trump's particular daily lie(s) for example, is not because they are enemies of the administration but that they hold politicians to account, unless one considers facts of little import. Of course let us add that the evening entertainment line-up for fox consistently disregards facts and truth to support Republicans... it would be good to sight some examples of where CNN, etc. have "skewed" the news.

 

[Yonny Costopoulis]

Of course let us add that the evening entertainment line-up for fox consistently disregards facts and truth to support Republicans... it would be good to sight some examples of where CNN, etc. have "skewed" the news.

STUDY: Watching FOX News Makes You Stupid

 

[The Barbarian]

I remember Walter Cronkite and the days of actual news. Now we have op-ed channels instead of news channels. It's a shame. They are not supposed to be the enemy of the administration,

When a politician declares the press to be the enemy of the people, you can be very sure that politician is an enemy of the people. A free press is so essential to liberty that the founders specifically prohibited government control of it.

 

[Chesterton]

A free press is so essential to liberty that the founders specifically prohibited government control of it.

lol, the founders meant "press" as in the printing press, the ability to print. Regardless of that, how does calling the contemporary "press" the enemy of the people stifle its freedom? It doesn't. He's merely giving his opinion, which he has as much right to do as you or I. This Senate resolution was worthless grandstanding.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

When a politician declares the press to be the enemy of the people, you can be very sure that politician is an enemy of the people. A free press is so essential to liberty that the founders specifically prohibited government control of it.

You mean like George Washington?: At the time of his inauguration, George Washington was described in almost universally glorified terms by the national presses. However, by the end of the President's first term, hostile newspaper writers were attacking the administration's domestic and foreign policy. These attacks escalated in Washington's second term into personal attacks questioning his integrity, republican principles, and even military reputation. https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/press-attacks/

Or Clinton: With the start of his second term in January 1997, The Boston Globe reported that the president and his senior strategists were undertaking a rehabilitation of Clinton’s relationship with the press, which had become so strained that reporters joked they could cover the president “for weeks at a time without ever coming within range of actually catching his eye.”

The Globe reported at the time that some analysts described the president’s relationship with the news media as being at a level of deterioration “not seen in the White House in more than 20 years” and compared Clinton’s distrust as being on par with Nixon’s. https://www.boston.com/news/politic...came-before-trumps-running-war-with-the-media

Or did you mean President Obama:

"Under his administration, the U.S. government has set a new record for withholding Freedom of Information Act requests, according to a recent Associated Press investigation. FOIA gives the public and press an irreplaceable view into the workings of the executive branch. Without timely release of government documents and data, vital questions can’t be answered and stories can’t be written.

Obama’s “Insider Threat Program” has turned employees across the government—from the Peace Corps to the Social Security Administration to the Department of Agriculture—into information-squelching snitches. If this isn’t Trumpian behavior, I don’t know what is.

“Obama hates the press,” New York Times national security reporter James Risen said not long ago, “and he hates leaks.” AP Washington Bureau Chief Sally Buzbee has decried the “day-to-day intimidation of sources” by the Obama administration, judging it worse than the Bush administration on that score."

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/03/obama-hypocritical-journalism-lecture-213775

 

[The Barbarian]

Barbarian observes:
When a politician declares the press to be the enemy of the people, you can be very sure that politician is an enemy of the people. A free press is so essential to liberty that the founders specifically prohibited government control of it.

You mean like George Washington?:

He took a lot of beating from the press, and yet, hardly ever complained about them publicly. Certainly never whined about it, threatened to get them, or called them the enemy of the people, as as Trump has.

Clinton also took a lumping from the press. Never once did he refer to them as the enemy of the people, or even suggest going after them as Trump has.

And as you know, President Obama was abused by much of the press in unprecedented dishonesty, even claiming that he wasn't an American citizen. Yet he never once called the press the enemy of the people, and never once suggested shutting it down or restricting its freedom, as Trump has.

Which is why Washington, Clinton and Obama are rated by most historians as better than average presidents, and Donald Trump is going to end up with Harding and Nixon.

 

[The Barbarian]

ol, the founders meant "press" as in the printing press, the ability to print.

Turns out, they intended freedom for all news. The courts have consistently extended freedom to electronic media as well.

Regardless of that, how does calling the contemporary "press" the enemy of the people stifle its freedom?

It doesn't. It's an impotent bellow of rage against the freedom of Americans to write and read what they wish. It merely shows what sort of person is in the WH at the moment. The Senate merely reminded our wannabee Putin that he's got little chance of succeeding.

 

[Chesterton]

Turns out, they intended freedom for all news. The courts have consistently extended freedom to electronic media as well.

But reporters/journalists weren't referred to as "the press" back then, the actual press was. Besides, CNN and MSNBC aren't legitimate news.

It doesn't. It's an impotent bellow of rage against the freedom of Americans to write and read what they wish. It merely shows what sort of person is in the WH at the moment.

No, it's just an expression of his opinion, which I share, to a degree. As one of the "people", I feel the mainstream media treats me as if I'm an enemy of it, when it comes to traditional values, religion, constitutional rights, etc..

The Senate merely reminded our wannabee Putin that he's ,got little chance of succeeding.

Succeeding at what?

 

[hedrick]

NIf one has the mental capacity to discern between "actual" news and opinion there wouldn't be a problem. In most cases right leaning people despise CNN, MSNBC, etc. because they appear incapable of understanding the difference between the two.

I look at NYT and CNN regularly, largely because of format. There's a clear difference. In my opinion CNN does tend to mix news and editorial. Either that, or it has a much larger fraction of its main page with editorial content.

 

[The Barbarian]

Barbarian observes:
Turns out, they intended freedom for all news. The courts have consistently extended freedom to electronic media as well.

But reporters/journalists weren't referred to as "the press" back then

Sixty years ago, "meet the press" was about electronic media. "Back then" must have been before they had electronic media. Doesn't matter; the courts have ruled that the intent of the First Amendment was to allow freedom of information.

Besides, CNN and MSNBC aren't legitimate news.

See, that's the great thing about the First amendment. No one gets to decide what's "legitimate news." You might find North Korea or Venezuela more to your liking.

Barbarian, on being asked how Trump's attack on the freedom of the press actually harmed anything:
It doesn't. It's an impotent bellow of rage against the freedom of Americans to write and read what they wish. It merely shows what sort of person is in the WH at the moment.

No

It does. Trump has often expressed admiration for dictators; he's frustrated that America keeps him on a short leash.

it's just an expression of his opinion

Yes, he wants to badly to have the power over us that Putin has over Russians.

The Senate merely reminded our wannabee Putin that he's ,got little chance of succeeding.

Succeeding at what?

Being the dictator that Putin is.

 

[The Barbarian]

I look at NYT and CNN regularly, largely because of format. There's a clear difference. In my opinion CNN does tend to mix news and editorial. Either that, or it has a much larger fraction of its main page with editorial content.

Fox News showed that there was money in presenting opinion as news. It's gone downhill from there. The only sure way is to listen to a lot of diverse reporting and sort it out.

That was always a good idea, BTW.

 

[Chesterton]

Barbarian observes:
Turns out, they intended freedom for all news. The courts have consistently extended freedom to electronic media as well.

You're doing that thing you did in your other thread where you post quotes from yourself from your previous post, meaning you've said it twice. It makes it harder to sort things out and respond. I'm old. I'm easily confused.

Sixty years ago, "meet the press" was about electronic media. "Back then" must have been before they had electronic media. Doesn't matter; the courts have ruled that the intent of the First Amendment was to allow freedom of information.

Courts can be wrong. The court system itself allows for court decisions to be reversed. The same courts have said nude dancing is freedom of "speech".

See, that's the great thing about the First amendment. No one gets to decide what's "legitimate news." You might find North Korea or Venezuela more to your liking.

No, the great thing about freedom of speech is that I get to decide.

Barbarian, on being asked how Trump's attack on the freedom of the press actually harmed anything:
It doesn't. It's an impotent bellow of rage against the freedom of Americans to write and read what they wish. It merely shows what sort of person is in the WH at the moment.

I already replied to that.

It does. Trump has often expressed admiration for dictators; he's frustrated that America keeps him on a short leash.
Yes, he wants to badly to have the power over us that Putin has over Russians.
The Senate merely reminded our wannabee Putin that he's ,got little chance of succeeding.
Being the dictator that Putin is.

Dictator, lol. Barack Obama - "I've got a pen and a phone."

 

[The Barbarian]

Barbarian observes:
Turns out, they intended freedom for all news. The courts have consistently extended freedom to electronic media as well.

You're doing that thing you did in your other thread where you post quotes from yourself from your previous post, meaning you've said it twice. It makes it harder to sort things out and respond. I'm old. I'm easily confused.

I'm old, too. Clarity is worth cultivating. This fact remains.

Courts can be wrong.

The whole world might be an illusion. However, evidence does mean something.

The court system itself allows for court decisions to be reversed. The same courts have said nude dancing is freedom of "speech".

Yes. Turns out the mode of expression is not the issue. The freedom to do so is.

(Barbarian notes that no one gets to decide what is legitimate news)

No, the great thing about freedom of speech is that I get to decide.

For yourself, not for anyone else. Hence the first amendment.

Barbarian, on being asked how Trump's attack on the freedom of the press actually harmed anything:
It doesn't. It's an impotent bellow of rage against the freedom of Americans to write and read what they wish. It merely shows what sort of person is in the WH at the moment.

I already replied to that.

Barbarian observes:
It does. Trump has often expressed admiration for dictators; he's frustrated that America keeps him on a short leash.

Yes, he wants to badly to have the power over us that Putin has over Russians.
The Senate merely reminded our wannabee Putin that he's ,got little chance of succeeding.
Being the dictator that Putin is.

Barack Obama - "I've got a pen and a phone."

But he didn't admire dictators or try to emulate them. That's the difference.

 

[Chesterton]

Barbarian, on being asked...

Okay now I think you're doing it on purpose to mess with me. Your responses are hard to sort out.

Chesterton posits that you and tulc might be the same person.
Chesterton(has never seen the two of you in the same place at the same time...)

 

[A_Thinker]

The liberal media opposes Trump. Trump is an American hero. Therefore, the press is the enemy of the people. Can't argue with that!

Yes, we can ...

 

[hedrick]

Yes, we can ...

I think you're responding seriously to a satirical posting.