CNN, MSNBC, all broadcast networks, NY Times, Washington Post, BuzzFeed, Huffington Post, and all others that routinely incorporate bias and misinformation in to their coverage. We will also track the reporters and editors of these organizations.
That’s from the “Primary Targets” section of a three-page fundraising pitch seen by Axios.
The document comes from a group of Trump’s political allies who are seeking to raise some $2 million for a pre-election push to investigate reporters and editors at the nation’s top media outlets.
If that sounds like an autocratic war on the free press, that’s because it is, although the spirit of the effort (i.e., digging up dirt on editors and reporters for media outlets deemed unscrupulous) certainty isn’t new.
According to Axios, the cabal plans to “slip” potentially embarrassing information about reporters and editors for the above-mentioned outlets (and others) to “friendly media” including, of course, Breitbart.
Axios names GOP consultant Arthur Schwartz as being involved in the fund raising effort. Last week, he tweeted that “if the NY Times thinks this settles the matter we can expose a few of their other bigots”. The reference was to the Times journalist whose anti-Semitic social media posts were unearthed by the same operation. “Lots more where this came from”, Schwartz sneered.
The draft reviewed by Axios expands on the Times’s own reporting on the push to target editors and reporters. The paper last week described those involved as “a loose network of conservative operatives allied with the White House”, but noted that Trump and his campaign deny any knowledge or involvement.
“The White House press office said that neither the president nor anyone in the White House was involved in or aware of the operation, and that neither the White House nor the Republican National Committee was involved in funding it”, the Times said, adding that “the Trump campaign said it was unaware of, and not involved in, the effort, but suggested that it served a worthy purpose”.
The irony, Axios writes, is that “this new group is now using the exposure [from the Times article] to try to formalize and fund the operation”. Apparently, those involved now quip that the tagline for the effort should be “Brought to you by The New York Times”.
Of course, the other “irony” is that this motley crew is alleging “bias and misinformation” on the part of every news outlet in the country with the exception of Breitbart and Fox when, in reality, it is the administration which routinely peddles not just “bias and misinformation”, but outright lies, to the public, lies which in many cases originate with – you guessed it – Fox.
But more broadly, it’s naive in the extreme to believe the White House and/or the Trump campaign is unaware of this effort. To the extent they are cognizant of it, this is a rather chilling development that sounds like it walked right out of an autocracy – probably because it did.
An attack on a majority of the free press and the White House saying it’s a ‘worthy effort’ sounds like a clear attack on American democracy. If it comes out of the President’s mouth, is that not impeachable? The oath of office requires the holder of same to uphold the constitution and all amendments.
we’re just adding to the laundry list of impeachable offenses but since Congress needs to vote to do it… I’m not sure he couldn’t shoot someone in the street in broad daylight at this point. I’m not sure he couldn’t eat a baby live on national TV.
Remember, impeachment is not about offenses. It all comes down to cool papa Mitch in the Senate. Even if the House votes to indict (impeach) the President, the Senate still has to hold the trial and convict. No impeached President has been convicted. Mitch will decide if that trial even takes place. Don’t bet the house on it. If the Dems win both houses in 2020, they will have to wait until 2021 to be seated and then go at it. Here’s a question. What happens if they do successfully convict Trump in the Senate trial and Trump denounces the process as a sham and refuses to leave the Oval Office? Who’s going to take him out the door? DC Cops? What if 2 million of his supporters start a caravan to Washington to surround the WH and keep everyone out. He’s got the button in there.
if that scenario were ever to pan out, one can only hope that each and every service member present and necessary will remember whom they swore loyalty to (hint: it’s not the president)
edit: should read: necessary to start any missiles
A narcissistic psychopathic demagogue who wants to be a dictator. He may pull that stunt if he loses in 2020, without impeachment.
That scenario will never come to pass. If Trump loses and refuses to go, millions of patriotic Americans will converge on 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. and escort him from the grounds.
The free press is under attack. It is one of the primary tenets America was founded upon. And the Senate is not up in arms?? Mitch should be thrown out literally today.