If a President of the United States poses a direct and dangerous threat to the freedom of the press - anyone would be hard pressed to even suggest that anyone pointing out the threat is going out of their way to criticize the president.
The 1st Amendment is first because it is the amendment that is most important to the survival of the rights that make America great. The 1st Amendment guarantees freedom of the press - which means the media has a right - and a responsibility - to honestly report the truth about government and politicians - particularly the President of the United States.
For the first time in the modern history of this country - we have a president who continues to threaten freedom of the media to exercise its constitutional rights simply because the president is so thin-skinned that he is incapable of understanding that the media has the right to disagree with the president. The media even has the constitutional right to piss-off the president. Not just this president - but any president.
If it seems like condemning President Trump’s continuing attacks on 1st Amendment rights is bashing Trump or being overly negative about Trump - it is only because President Trump is the only president who has seriously threatened the 1st Amendment.
Question: Should Fox News be threatened with punishment by the FCC because that cable news channel consistently reported on anything negative it could report on during the presidencies of Barack Obama and Joe Biden? Fox News may have told the truth - but Fox News established an image and reputation by exaggerating any negative news about Obama and Biden - while downplaying - or outright ignoring the negative news produced by Donald Trump or Republicans, in general?
What are the answers to those questions? If you are a MAGA supporter who remains blind to reality - you would answer that Fox News should not face punishment from the FCC. Yet, in theory - President Trump is supporting the idea that Fox News should face the threat of severe punishment from the FCC.
In his latest nonsensical attack on the 1st Amendment - President Trump is so angry that NBC’s “Meet The Press” host Kristen Welker reported something that is true - but negative about Trump - that he is calling on his FCC to punish her for reporting something that is true. While making this ridiculous claim - President Trump again exposed a childish side of himself that demonstrates how insecure he is regarding anything negative that is reported about his presidency. Even if what is reported is true.
On Sunday - Welker reported that President Trump has had “mixed results” when it comes to the candidates he endorsed winning their races. Twelve candidates Trump endorsed - 6 in August alone - lost their elections. And with Trump putting on a dire display of promoting late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sister - Darlene - she only won by a small margin.
Calling on the FCC to punish Welker for reporting the truth just because Trump - himself - is incapable of taking any enemy fire from the media - is yet another example of this president’s total disregard for the 1st Amendment.
FACT: the FCC does not have the authority to punish anyone in the media over reporting the truth that happens to piss-off this - or any - president.
So, if President Trump supports punishing NBC journalist Kristen Welker - then he supports the idea that Fox News should be punished by the FCC for its overwhelming negativity toward Obama and Biden - even if what was reported was true.
President Trump does not understand - or support - The Constitution - and he continues to attack individuals who disagree with him with threats that are unconstitutional. If criticism of the president seems negative - it is - but it is also based on the truth.
In a new poll - President Trump’s approval rating is down to 32% and continues to fall among Republicans and even with some MAGA supporters.
As we approach the midterm elections - President Trump is showing signs that he is scared of his mortality in office. The more scared he becomes - the more desperate he might become with more ridiculous attempts to defy the 1st Amendment.
