Assault On Liberty
Start writing a post
Politics

Assault On Liberty

Donald Trump's war with the press.

21
Assault On Liberty
Bloomberg

In the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, there are enshrined what are known as the Five Freedoms: that of religion, speech, press, peaceful assembly and petitioning of the government. We hold these rights to be sacred, and attempts by the Federal Government to infringe upon them are resisted as fundamentally anti-American. Indeed, even infringements by private individuals -- a murkier field, legally speaking -- are generally seen as unethical, at best.

When a President is sworn into office, they take an oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.” As holders of the highest office in the land, they are expected to enforce and support the letter and spirit of our nation’s laws. As voters, we look for indicators that a candidate will fulfill those obligations when considering who to cast our ballots for.

It has been said that a free press is essential to the democratic process. Without a media free from government influence, there is no check on politicians and their ambitions that may conflict with the public good. While there are perfectly valid accusations of bias leveled towards many modern news outlets, at the end of the day we want these reporters to be able to cover the story.

A free press is a thorn in the side of those who seek power -- eager to seize upon slips and misdeeds to trumpet to the world. I imagine there are many politicians who have wished, if only for a fleeting moment, for the ability to muzzle a particularly irksome reporter. Thankfully, however, such impulses are generally squashed beneath the twin forces of public pressure and a basic respect for the law and customs of the land.

Unfortunately, Donald Trump seems to have missed a few lessons on introductory constitutional law. His former campaign manager infamously physically strong-armed a reporter and, perhaps more troubling, his campaign as a whole has made a habit of denying press credentials and banning reporters from certain news outlets from his rallies and press conferences. And we’re not talking about refusing to grant credentials to some conspiracy blogger or wannabe newsmaker; his campaign has gone so far as to deny credentials to the Washington Post and Politico, among others, because of perceived negative coverage.

This is unsettling, particularly as it follows a Trump pattern of leveling libel suits against any individuals who pop up on his radar. This is the man who has promised to “open up” libel laws to make it easier to bring litigation against news agencies. This is the man who belittled the NY Times, saying they -- and I quote -- “never write good” in response to negative coverage. To imagine a man with such views of a free press holding the responsibility of executing our nation’s laws is extremely disturbing.

A campaign is an audition, a time for candidates to prove to voters that they are the best choice for office. With Donald Trump so routinely putting his thin-skinned ego ahead of our very Constitution, it’s difficult to argue that he is fit to be a city councilman, let alone President of the United States.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71013
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132583
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments