President Trump, or former President Obama -- which is worse with regard to free press and free speech?
I gave it tentative study and thought tonight. From what study I did have, I would say Trump has been worse. Obama did oppose Fox News. He did skip them, when giving interviews. But, Trump has gone beyond just not granting interviews. Did Obama ever revoke anyone's press credentials once they had them? Did he ever ban them from Rose Garden interviews as Trump has done?
Now, while Obama did fight with Fox News, that is one channel. Trump has taken on the media, as a whole, suggesting the media in general are enemies of the people. I believe he has called on America to abandon the media -- to not even listen to them. And, if he hasn't, his backers have.
I read how Trump is shattering Obama's record of prosecuting journalists under the Espionage Act. Shattering.
I think of his efforts to silence dissent. James Comey should be prosecuted. it is said. It is common for our 45th president to silence those who speak against him by calling for investigations of them. Oh, I believe in investigating things that are wrong, but what a list? If you question Trump -- the government -- you run the danger of being investigated and charged with a crime.
I think of the whistle-blower, and how Trump suggested his lawyer might be guilty of treason. How chilling to the thought of speaking out against government is it if you know you might be charged with treason?
And, I think of Colin Kaepernick and the NFL protesters. I think of the intimidation and restrictions placed on them to where few are left protesting. In America, the right not to bow down to government was once sacrosanct. You bowed down to kings and you saluted dictators, but that was in other countries. In America? Not so much.
In America, there was freedom. Can we not see, though, that Trump has brought an erosion of the right to speak against government, of the right of a free press, and of the right to free speech?
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