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posted by martyb on Friday November 23 2018, @07:35PM   Printer-friendly
from the disinvite dept.

Free press isn't free under White House's onerous rules (Editorial)

Muzzling the press is chapter one in the authoritarian ruler's playbook. By the Founders' design, the president of the United States is not a king or dictator. He doesn't control the media, or get to decide which reporters are assigned to cover him.

A free press isn't free if the government imposes rules on what reporters can ask and how they must ask it. That violates the First Amendment. Period.

Banning reporters from asking follow-up questions or challenging the president's statements, under threat of taking away their access to the White House, hobbles the watchdog function of the media. White House reporters will be looking over their shoulders, calibrating the consequences, every time they ask tough questions. Meanwhile, the president will be able to dodge accountability and lie to the American people with even more impunity.


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  • (Score: 4, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 23 2018, @08:12PM (9 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 23 2018, @08:12PM (#765640)

    whataboutism. good for the soul.

    Starting Score:    0  points
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       Troll=2, Insightful=2, Underrated=1, Touché=3, Total=8
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    Total Score:   4  
  • (Score: 3, Troll) by The Shire on Friday November 23 2018, @08:16PM (3 children)

    by The Shire (5824) on Friday November 23 2018, @08:16PM (#765644)

    The term "whataboutism" is just an invented word to cover for hypocrisy. The past means something, you can't just dismiss it out of hand.

    If you want to hold someone to a standard then you damn well better hold yourself to that standard as an example.

    • (Score: 3, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 23 2018, @08:27PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 23 2018, @08:27PM (#765652)

      No, whataboutism is a real thing. In this case you are not being a hypocrite because it is good to remind people that this bullshit isn't a partisan issue although you are totally trying to turn it into one.

      However your title "Nothing compared to what Obama did" is complete bullshit and comparing Obama/Trump and CNN/Fox is pretty disingenuous to anyone paying even the slightest bit of attention to the actual actions of the various parties.

      If you don't want to be dismissed as a partisan hack then next time lay some criticism on Trump while you add on your other points. I doubt you would do that though, your tone is incredibly defensive and obviously biased.

      • (Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Saturday November 24 2018, @06:14PM

        by DeathMonkey (1380) on Saturday November 24 2018, @06:14PM (#765936) Journal

        "Nothing compared to what Obama did"

        Since Obama never actually banned anyone I guess it's true.

    • (Score: 2, Touché) by RS3 on Friday November 23 2018, @09:50PM

      by RS3 (6367) on Friday November 23 2018, @09:50PM (#765695)

      You're correct, but more importantly the term "whataboutism" is yet another tiresome broad-brush used by smug arrogant know-it-alls who are always trying to win a war which only exists in their imagination. It's the new cool.

  • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 23 2018, @08:18PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 23 2018, @08:18PM (#765646)

    whataboutism hypocrisy. good for the soul.

    I still have popcorn left from yesterday

    • (Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Saturday November 24 2018, @06:18PM (1 child)

      by DeathMonkey (1380) on Saturday November 24 2018, @06:18PM (#765938) Journal

      The hypocrisy is freaking the hell out when Obama merely contemplated banning a reporter (but decided against).

      And then defending Trump when he actually bans a reporter.

      • (Score: 1) by ChrisMaple on Monday November 26 2018, @12:17AM

        by ChrisMaple (6964) on Monday November 26 2018, @12:17AM (#766323)
        The Obama administration imprisoned a reporter.
  • (Score: 3, Touché) by Captival on Friday November 23 2018, @09:07PM (1 child)

    by Captival (6866) on Friday November 23 2018, @09:07PM (#765669)

    Oh no. A Liberal invoked the magical words. Now we can't discuss how insanely hypocritical they are. Darn it! He wins again.

    • (Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 23 2018, @09:33PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 23 2018, @09:33PM (#765687)

      Nope, the whataboutism term is basically a challenge to stay on topic. If you want to discuss the actions of Obama then don't frame it as a defensive "but she did it firrrst" and more of a "well, then was it ok when Obama did XYZ?" The two approaches generate much different responses.

      Discuss away, but start by at least addressing the actual article at hand.