Trump Endorsed a Literal Attack on the Press

“Donald Trump has praised Greg Gianforte, the Congress member from Montana, for violently attacking a Guardian reporter, saying that someone who performs a body slam is ‘my guy.’

Trump described in glowing terms the physical assault that occurred on 24 May 2017 when Ben Jacobs, the Guardian’s political correspondent, was asking Gianforte a question about health care policy in the course of a special congressional election in Bozeman, Montana. The US president incited cheers and chants from a crowd of about 8,000 supporters on Thursday night when he said: ‘Greg is smart. And by the way, never wrestle him. You understand. Never.’

As the cheers rang out across an aircraft hangar in Missoula, Trump went on to say: ‘Any guy that can do a body slam … he’s my guy.’

Trump’s comments mark the first time the president has openly and directly praised a violent act against a journalist on American soil.”

— “Trump praises Gianforte for assault on Guardian reporter: ‘He’s my guy,'” Ed Pilkington, The Guardian

In related news, PEN America is suing Mr.Trump in New York district court, claiming he “violated the First Amendment and his oath to uphold the Constitution,” a document which doesn’t consider the press to be the Enemy of the People.

More:

“Trump’s Attacks on the Press Are Illegal. We’re Suing.” Suzanne Nossel, Politico

“Suing Trump for endangering the First Amendment,” Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post

“Yale Law clinic helps writers group file First Amendment suit against Trump,” Debra Cassens Weiss, ABA Journal

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Falwell Censored Anti-Trump Column in Student Newspaper

Pistol packin’ Jerry Falwell Jr., President of Liberty University by grace of God being fathered by LU founder Jerry Falwell Sr., censored a column critical of his buddy Donald Trump in the school’s student newspaper, claims an editor. Joel Schmieg is the Sports Editor of the Liberty Champion, so he knows about locker room talk. “I have never in my life heard guys casually talk about preying on women in a sexual manner,” he wrote in his weekly column, in reference to the GOP candidate’s open mic remarks.

Mr. Falwell had the column omitted from the paper, claiming it was “redundant.” Oh, so there was another “grab her by the pussy” column in the Christian school’s newspaper? Turns out there was a short letter about Trump from an unhappy alum.

Lord have mercy. College president Jerry Falwell Jr. has certainly taught his students a few lessons about Christian morality, conservative politics,  and the First Amendment.

More:

“The Column Liberty Pulled,” Scott Jascik, Inside Higher Ed

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Reporters Kicked Out of Romney Event at the Newseum

In Washington today, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney hid from the press behind a 74-foot-high marble engraving of the First Amendment at the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue. The mission of the Newseum is “educating the public about the value of a free press in a free society ….” Mission accomplished.

More:

“Reporters Kicked Out Of Mitt Romney Event At Newseum,” Huffington Post

“Weirdly, Newseum Isn’t The Friendliest Location for Campaign Reporters,” Adam Martin, Atlantic Wire

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Falwell Teaches Freedom of the Press

In a bold move to teach the importance of the First Amendment, Virginia’s Liberty University blocked the website of the Lynchburg News & Advance newspaper last week. University Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. provided a simple explanation for taking a page from the playbook of Middle Eastern tyrants: “We’re a private organization and we don’t have to give a reason and we’re not.”

Dan Snyder, Free Speech Crusader

Daniel Snyder, billionaire owner of Washington’s losing NFL team, is a staunch champion of free speech, when he’s the one talking. Sure, he’s suing an alternative paper for a scathing article about him and tried to ban football fans from bringing signs to games. but ten years ago he defended his right to verbally skewer a pair of groundskeepers.