General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPress Corps Backs CNN's Jim Acosta, Calling Out Sarah Huckabee Sanders For 'Complete Lie
Fellow journalists and members of the White House press corps came to the immediate defense of CNNs Jim Acosta on Wednesday after the Trump administration revoked his press credentials.
Snip:
After repeatedly asking the president questions, provoking a heated outburst, an intern stepped forward to try to take a microphone from the CNN reporter as he moved to evade her. Within hours, Acosta said the Secret Service had denied him entry to White House grounds and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders claimed the reporter had placed his hands on the young woman.
Snip:
Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, said the move was a very bad sign and something he had never seen since I started covering the White House in 1996.
That account prompted a full-throated outcry from many political journalists.
The White House Correspondents Association, a coalition of the reporters who cover the executive branch, released its strong objections to the move, calling the decision out of line and unacceptable.
Journalists may use a range of approaches to carry out their jobs and the WHCA does not police the tone or frequency of the questions its members ask of powerful senior government officials, including the president, the group wrote. Such interactions, however uncomfortable they may appear to be, help define the strength of our national institutions.
The group urged the White House to immediately reverse this weak and misguided action and encouraged the public to watch the video of Acostas interaction with the intern.
Other presidents did not fear tough questioning, Baker wrote on Twitter, noting that Trump may have intentionally called on Acosta to lash out. If he really thought [Jim] was unfair, then why did he call on him? Because he wants the confrontation.
Reuters White House correspondent Jeff Mason, who said he was seated next to Acosta, said he did not see his colleague placing his hands on the young intern.
MORE:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/reporters-defend-cnn-jim-acosta_us_5be3ae6be4b0e84388935da9
dhill926
(16,337 posts)Grasswire2
(13,569 posts)Every member of that press corps persists for one reason: To cement the people's Constitutional right to question their government.
Why in hell would you want members of the press to abdicate that fearsome responsibility and give the WH a victory??
Think about what you are saying.
Think how Trump would celebrate such an action.
Brother Buzz
(36,423 posts)Sanders will not hold another press briefing
forgotmylogin
(7,528 posts)"Would you say *this much*?" (holding hands apart) "How about this much?"
"Would you please demonstrate with Mr. Trump how Acosta "assaulted" anyone? Can you recreate that for us? No, show us exactly how hard you believe he hit her..."
"Do you think lying about an non-assault that is clearly captured on video is something the President does frequently?"
"How many other lies has the President told this week? Round estimate is fine."
"Do you lie to your children about hitting people?"
"Does the President plan to pay court costs for Mr. Acosta's victim should she plan to press charges?"
"How do you look at yourself in the mirror? Are you always thinking Gosh, I'm paid to lie professionally..."
spooky3
(34,444 posts)And the video of this incident clearly showed that the White House lied. If anything, the intern assaulted Acosta in trying to take the mic .
FakeNoose
(32,634 posts)Someone posted a video demonstrating how the video was altered, where you can see the ghosted image of what really happened.
This was posted on DU at 10:43 this morning: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211393545
It shows how it was doctored to look like Jim Acosta grabbed the woman first, when actually she reached for the microphone and they didn't make contact except for that. Somebody says the doctored version was done by Infowars (which may be true) but Sarah Huckabee Sanders is guilty of publishing an edited video and calling it the only version.
She needs to resign immediately.
spooky3
(34,444 posts)are scathing.
Midnightwalk
(3,131 posts)I see the calls to no longer attend. Maybe one time but as others say it leaves Fox and other state propaganda as the sole voices.
I'd rather see them band together against the outright lies being told and aired by keep going back to the question that wasn't answered legitimately. Let the whitehouse end the briefing if they grow tired of it.
The current practice of moving on to the next question that also gets no real answer obscures that no question ever is answered with facts.
The Dutch reporters did a good job earlier this year keeping on top of the US ambassador's lie. They didn't move on to the next question and next lie. I'd like to see more of that here. It does happen at times.
FirstLight
(13,360 posts)Agreed
They need to keep asking the tough questions and even pursue a defamation suit against the WH for doctoring the video and saying that he "laid hands" on someone...
flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)gratuitous
(82,849 posts)But they aren't constrained to keep their tone of obsequious credulity. You can raise an eyebrow from time to time because of the steady stream of lies without compromising your fabled journalist integrity: "Today President Trump said the sky is the most attractive pattern of plaid he's ever seen. The sky is not plaid."
Cha
(297,196 posts)there!
alwaysinasnit
(5,066 posts)to actually do analysis of words and actions, followed by reasoning and then state a conclusion. Everything else is bullshit.
mainer
(12,022 posts)Why is the WH lying about Jim Acosta?
Keep asking it. Again and again, no matter who is called.