Free Speech, International, Media, Politics

“These Are The Ones Hurting You?”: Putin and Trump Share An Anti-Media Moment In Hamburg

donald_trump_president-elect_portrait_cropped225px-Vladimir_Putin_official_portraitDonald Trump and Vladimir Putin shared an anti-media moment in Hamburg when they faced journalists and Putin asked “These are the ones hurting you?” Trump responded “These are the ones. You’re right about that.”  While I have been very critical of what I see as distortive and biased coverage of the Trump Administration, I have also been critical of Trump’s attacks on the media.  This is an example where journalists have a legitimate right to recoil at the scene.  Trump was commiserating with a man who has decimated the free press in Russia where dozens of journalists have been killed. With Trump calling for reductions in the protections afforded to media and attacking the media, there is a heightened and understandable sensitivity to these type of scenes.

Since 1993, roughly 60 reporters have been killed.  Russia maintains a close level of control over the press where Putin has reinstated authoritarianism in the country after a fleeting period of democratic rule.

To have such an exchange with a man like Putin about the free press is a truly low moment for our country.  The men and women in front of the two leaders represent a profession that has lost dozens of journalists who fought to publish the truth about the Putin regime. Thousands more have died around the world in the struggle for free speech and the free press.  I understand the need to deal with figures like Putin in diplomacy but commiserating with the likes of Vladimir Putin about the free press is a terrible image for any American president.  Putin is not a great man and the media is not the enemy.  We can (and should) criticize the media for their loss of objectivity but even casual moments like this one with Putin carry a chilling message both in Russia and the United States. There remain committed journalists in Russia who look to the United States as their ally in the fight for a free press.   For them, these comments must be chilling and demoralizing.

285 thoughts on ““These Are The Ones Hurting You?”: Putin and Trump Share An Anti-Media Moment In Hamburg”

  1. First off, couldn’t one find a more up to date image of his Vladness?
    Next, honestly where is the outrage when ANY US president kisses, you know, cheek smooches, the royal Bedouin billionaires from Saudi Arabia. I’m not saying Putin is not a remarkable person, but the Kingdom of SA is truly just as bad if not worse in similar ways.
    Finally, Turkey, Erodog is truly up for despot of the year. He worries me more than Putin any day.
    So let’s keep our “Gasp and Swoon” or Clutch the Pearls” moments consistent please.

  2. The word “media” is an odd one. “Journalist” harkens back to days when the so called news folks wrote things on printed paper. “News caster” is a dorky one. “Media is the message”. What they meant to say was that the media was “the massage”. The powers who be can use the media to frame the minds of the people under them. Some leaders rise to the top because they have talent in mind framing. Ronnie Raygun comes to mind. Johnboy Kennedy too.

  3. “Read the CIA’s 1951 listicle comparing U.S and Soviet Propaganda:
    Agency memo found 33 similarities between Voice of America and its USSR counterparts”

    https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2017/jun/30/cia-us-and-soviet-propaganda/?utm_content=buffer5c253&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

    article above was published a week ago on Muckrock. At the bottom of the page linked an article published 2 days ago

    “CIA came up with 126 reasons to deny your FOIA request:
    Agency’s list of ways to censor information because it’s classified has been censored because it’s classified”

    https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2017/jul/06/cia-126-reasons/

    And the WA Post is owned by the owner of amazon.com which did $600 million in business with CIA last year. Could the WA PO have an agenda?

  4. “chilling” “shocking”…….

    Good grief, JT has become all drama all the time.

    1. I know , and it’s disappointing . To consider mainstream media hacks as journalists is not the most insightful thing to do. It makes one appear to be clueless of the reality about the so called journalism these days . It seems like everyone who has a need to be an oracle and need to condescend finds his or her way to become a so called journalist

  5. Well looks like the worm is turning. President Trump and his wife have higher ratings then the Dums Pelosi and tiny tears Schumer. So all the lies and innuendo the main stream puts out is now turning against them.

  6. JT , I don’t have any respect for the mainstream media . I think the current crop of “journalists” is a disgrace to this profession and to write this column suggests that you think we have real journalists in these “press” conferences . Hopefully you and others , who are still confused about these thugs at the WH press, will soon realize that it’s a shame to call them journalists . Just watch any media outlet and tell me that their smugs deserve to be called ethical journalists. I see patronizing behavior with no clue about decency and competence in what they are supposed to be doing , to BE a straightforward journalists . I’m not even sure these journalists know what’s the job of a journalist .

    1. So, who in your opinion, would count as a “real journalist” these days? Or even someone from the past? Can you name names?

        1. Inlegaleagle – I cannot think of an actual journalist working today for the MSM.

            1. Roscoe Coltrane – don’t know Mr. Savage. Who does he work for?

          2. Paul, I agree. When you start searching options, it is a sobering reality. That JT defends them as if they are actually an honest “press”, with protections – is somewhat egregious and clearly naive. Our biggest challenge in this country is to expose and destroy the propaganda machine otherwise known as the MSM. They have enjoyed decades of deceiving the American people to push a poisonous agenda and ideology. I truly hope they are brought down, destroyed.

            1. So is an “honest reporter” one who fawns over Trump, blesses everything he says and does, and is certain that the right-wing of the Republican party is the sole purveyor of truth?

              1. An “honest journalist” is one whose personal opinions, preferences, and politics are completely unknown to the viewer/reader/listener.

  7. Our Presidents also still meet with with the leader of Communist China, who are the biggest organ SELLERS of innocent people on this planet.
    People who are butchered while STILL
    Breathing! But let’s discuss Putin making a bad JOKE.

    https://youtu.be/3yhFdzo3_jo

  8. Professor Turley proclaims, “… Trump ( President Trump ) was commiserating with a man
    ( President Putin ) who has decimated ( reduce by one tenth ) the free press in Russia where dozens of journalists have been killed.

    Since 1993, roughly 60 reporters have been killed.  Russia maintains a close level of control over the press where ( President ) Putin has reinstated authoritarianism in the country after a fleeting period of democratic rule.
     
    To have such an exchange with a man like ( President ) Putin about the free press is a truly low moment for our country…”

    President Kennedy ordered ( no declaration of war ) the invasion of South Vietnam. In 1961-1962 he sent the Air Force to start bombing villages, authorized napalm.
    President Kennedy also laid the basis for the huge wave of repression that spread over Latin America with the installation of Neo-Nazi gangsters that were always supported directly by the United States.

    President Kennedy ordered the assassination of a democratically elected President of South Vietnam, Ngô Đình Diệm along with his brother,
    Ngô Đình Nhu

    President Kennedy ordered ( no declaration of war ) the invasion of Cuba, which was outright aggression.

    After the invasion of Cuba, President Kennedy launched a huge terrorist campaign against Cuba, which was very serious. He ordered the bombardment of industrial installations with the killing of plenty of people, bombing hotels, sinking fishing boats and sabotage.
    President George H. W. Bush ordered ( no declaration of war ) the invasion of Kuwait on the grounds “they ( Iraqi soldiers ) throwing babies from incubators.”
    This was proven to be false by U. N. inspectors and other “neutral and independent investigators.”

    The President also ordered the war of aggression on the grounds that Iraq had massed thousands of troops on the border of Saudi Arabia, which the Tampa Bay News satellite photographs ( later confiscated ) showed no troops on or miles near the border.

    President George W. Bush ordered ( no declaration of war ) the invasion of Iraq for W.M.D., which Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld not only said existed, but also said, “We ( U.S. Government ) know where “they”
    ( W.M.D. ) are … “south of Kirkuk
    ( Iraq ) and north of Baghdad
    ( Iraq )”

    President Obama ordered ( no declaration of war ) the invasion of Syria and Libya on no grounds, except clear and simple wars of aggression.

    How many millions of innocent men, woman and died and continue to die as as result of these U.S. Of A. wars of aggression.

    Do not forget President Clinton’s murdering of more than 500,000 children ( under the age of 10 ) with sanctions which Secretary of State Madeline Albright said, “We know the price. We think the price is right.”

    Truly a “high” point, nay, “high points” for our country.

    The professor concludes with a flourish by claiming, “I understand the need to deal with figures like
    ( President ) Putin in diplomacy but commiserating with the likes of ( President ) Vladimir Putin about the free press is a shocking image for any American president.”

    Shocking image!, indeed.

    1. Also the bombing in Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon (killing of Qaddafi for daring to try to sell oil for gold instead of the US $), Somalia, and other countries of Africa, No declarations of war nor even public discussion. And, of course, targeted killings of specific individuals that also killed many innocent civilians, including wedding and funeral guests.

  9. My only hope is that it sent a cold chill down the backs of the press corps. BTW JT, lighten up. You know in your heart of hearts there are one or two “reporters” you would like taken out and shot. 😉

      1. Ken – oddly enough, it is the leftists who are causing the violence problems at the G20.

        1. Steve Scalise respectfully dissents w/ Ken’s asinine assertion.

  10. Yes, whatever is and has happened in the Ukraine is messy and confusing. That does not absolve Putin for his part in promoting war in the Ukrainian far east.

    An evil person.

      1. He doesn’t have one. He sold it to the Devil years ago.

        1. David Benson,
          .. – I would have thought that you’d have more sympathy for Putin.
          People in your neck of the woods are known to cavort and collude with Moscovites.😄

  12. U.S. House Will Debate War Commitments

    http://www.veteranstoday.com/2017/07/07/us-house-will-debate-war-commitments/

    The Local and National Media are Zionist Liars.
    According to U.S. and International Law all the U.S. / Israeli invasions are Wars of Aggression, War Crimes.
    These are the same crimes the Nazis committed.
    Millions of men, women and children have been murdered / maimed due to these invasions.
    Washington, DC = Nazi Berlin

    http://buenavistamall.com/usiraqwarcrimes.jpg

  13. Screw the MSM – a bunch of fake newz jackals who have been intent on bringing down Trump with 0 journalistic integrity – no facts, just propaganda.

    2. So who, in your opinion, represents actual journalistic integrity? Some examples, please.

  14. JT off target on this one. It was just a typical Trump light-hearted moment to try and reduce tension. So many people still do not get Trump!

    2. Even if Trump is just a naive goof that makes stupid statements, Putin is not and he clearly has the upper hand in their relationship.

      1. The jury is still out as to who has the upper hand. But, put on your big girl pants and tell me who had the upper hand between Putin and Obama/Hillary.

        1. Putin got the better of them, too, but Trump seems to be an even easier mark and clueless.

  16. Decimate. Kill or Execute one out of ten. To encourage the others. Kind of like body slamming CNN, Playboy, PMSNBC or Guardian or di dyou catch which one just got slammed/

    1. The only ones doing any killing besides Muslims is Bernie and Hillary supporters. Let that sink in…

      1. He supports the East Ukraine insurrection, big time, and maybe instigated it. About 10,000 dead so far.

        Not to mention the 30–60 journalists who have been murdered. Not to mention other killings of Russians. Hard to believe that this could happen without Putin’s approval.

        1. Who “intervened” in the Ukraine? Does the name Victoria Nuland ring a bell? Mate of the Robert Kagan, of the species Ziosauroanus Terribilis, member of PNAC, This cult is the very essence of evil.

          1. Didn’t promulgate the insurrection in the east.

            Let’s stick to the topic.

            1. David Benson,..
              Putin’s intervention in Ukraine,and the seizure of Crimea, happened after his elected Ukranian ally, President Yanukovych, was driven from office in a violent uprising.
              That IS part of the topic.

          2. Excactly Shafar, Nuland a total globalist whore working for HRC and Obama. That is evil beyond whatever Putin has or has not done.

            1. Autumn,.- I’m not a fan of Putin, and I don’t trust him.
              But as I watched the uprising against his elected Ukrainian ally unfold a few years ago, I was wondering what the hell the “protesters” were thinking.
              I didn’t know how Putin would respond, but I was pretty sure that he wasn’t going to sit by passively in the wake of the uprising that forced out Yanukovyk.

              1. Tnash, I won’t even pretend to know the ins and outs of the so-called Orange Revolution — I know some local Ukrainian immigrants and even they have no handle on what’s actually going on. I base my perception on the neo cons and neo libs who have moved into that country and look at the money trail as usual. Like you, I don’t trust Putin but neither do I trust Obamas/HRCs minions or the IMF.

          1. Autumn, you really need your own blog. You tap into the best alt-resources and deliver the exact opinions that fit perfectly, imho, to the topic at hand.
            No sarcasm here just a sincere suggestion. Seriously.

            1. Roscoe, you are not the first person to tell me that I need to start a blog — but I am lazy. Much more fun to jump in here and I like the community – the no holds barred POVa =) This is the only blog I participate in although I do send articles to my various commentator peeps that they sometimes incorporate.

              FWIW My media intake has changed so much since last year – formerly I read the NYT, der Spiegel, WSJ, some WaPo, LA Times, Salon, the Atlantic and Common Dreams. But I started paying attention during the primaries when the media trashed/down played Bernie and hated on Trump while promoting HRC. Also, I was introduced what passes for media on CNN, MSNBC, etc. I had never watched these craven “journalists” and it made me sick.

              Now I read Drudge for a conservative POV, Zero Hedge for a Libertarian POV and The Guardian for a neo lib/neo con POV and go to Tim Black, Jimmy Dore and Styxx and sometimes Ron Paul or Alex Jones to see what they are on about. And RT.com, CounterPunch and The Intercept are also informative sites (although I’m a bit worried that the latter is going neo lib).

              The future of good media is IMO online by independents and they are growing in number – and there is a lot of “cross pollination” – Progressives who like Jimmy Dore often watch Styxx and vice versa.

              No one is ever going to agree on every topic, but there are many issues we can – endless war, corporate welfare, repealing Citizen’s United, etc.

    3. Yep,Trump has not killed any of his political enemies and we need to keep it that way.

  18. JT–were you as incensed when Obama openly praised the Koran, a text which proudly demands the death of infidels? Were you as flabbergasted when Obama touted the wonder that is Islam, a religion which encourages the murder of any individuals who reject its poisonous ideology? Mighty selective, aren’t we, JT, as to what constitutes a new low for the President of the United States? Wouldn’t you say that a President of the United States, who praises an ideology which supports, condones and demands your death, in particular, for being a Christian, is a record low?

    1. That is not what the Quran states. One only fights those who attack first.

      1. What is said and what is done are two different things Part of the socialst liberal mantra is ‘saying is the same as doing.’ The results of using a Fictionary instead of a Dictionary.

        1. Confused.

          Nothing to do with the misinterpretation of the Quran.

    2. If the Koran when read in context doesn’t say encourage the things you say it does would your opinion change? Their ideology does not “demand your death, in particular, for being a Christian.” I’m not a Muslim, I just don’t let Sean Hannity et al tell me what another religion says.
      If you read the Bible, there’s a whole lot of smiting going on which could be interpreted by others the same way.

      1. to be honest the first casualties of the First Crusade to liberate the Holy Land were Christians. The best reaction to the Crusades was the famous Saladin or Sa’Ala’Din a Kurd.who didn’t sdtop until he reached the area of Tripoli and ruled Egypt, both sides of the Red Sea, Syria and his home country of Kurdistan. including Judea.

    3. And good thing the Bible would never contenance violence for trivial matters.

  19. JT still does not get it , we don’t have free media in the US , we have criminal news networks . Hopefully before sun engulfs the planet of idiots some would realize that in 2016-2017 media’s true colors were apparent to ordinary people but elites were still confusing media with the fake media !

    2. Do you think Trump wants Putin’s agents to kill these “criminals” you refer to?

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