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”

  3. Pingback: Putin/Trump Are The Ones Hurting You – The Militant Negro™

  5. Julian Assange: G20 summit is ‘world’s most expensive disco’ Julian Assange

    12:53Thursday 06 July 2017 0

    Julian Assange has described the G20 summit as the world’s “most expensive disco” as he prepares to give an interview to an event close to where the world leaders are meeting. The WikiLeaks founder will speak on Friday via a video link from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he has been living for the past five years. He said that given current geopolitical developments, the G20 would be more divided than ever. “The G20 is the world’s most expensive disco and just as intellectually vapid. “Holding onto power leaves no time for ideas, but power without ideas is as useless as ideas without power,” he said. During Friday’s interview in Hamburg, Mr Assange said he would talk about cyber war and the “existential threat posed to humanity by digital super states”. Also appearing at the Democracy in Europe event will be former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis and philosopher Srecko Horvat.

    Read more at: http://www.scotsman.com/news/world/julian-assange-g20-summit-is-world-s-most-expensive-disco-1-4496597

  8. There are several Bourbon sectors which should have their social unassailbility reduced: the judiciary, academe, and the media. You do not accomplish that by treating them with unearned deference and delicacy. Hit ’em hard and high.

    1. Haha. Right. The converse is what you’re really seeking, but it will never come to pass in a free society. You can’t force people to respect anti-science know-nothings, rubes, closet klansmen, or intolerant bible-thumpers. Next!

      this is to susan

  10. More of CNN, MSNBC & the rest of the Old Dying Media explained in such a way even Prof Turley may understand most Americans Visceral Hatred of them for their lies they’ve been telling us for decades & all the Death & Destruction they’ve caused us citizens & the rest of the world’s people.

    You know, like the Lies to get the US into Wars in Iraq (No WMDs), Libya, etc…..

    But we can laugh at them while we shame them & their supporters.

    MAGA Trump! LOL

    1. Step out of the echo chamber. If you believe “most” Americans have anything but great regard and respect for the media, your coffee klatch down at the waffle house has seriously misguided you. The ranting few here who may agree with your aren’t allowed sharp objects in real life, so disregard that noise.

      this is to oky

    2. Doubt Trump has held a gun since his military prep school, but enjoys getting you and your guns fired up.

  11. Trump leaves the TPP and a few months later Japan and EU announce a huge free trade deal which may increase the costs of American made products. He leaves Paris Accord and many countries [and some US cities and states] take up the leadership on the issue, including technological energy solutions for the 21st, not the 19th, century. Putin trolled Trump this morning in his presser re: the Russian interference and then Trump cancels his presser. Trump created a phony voter fraud commission, designed entirely to soothe his ego and the lies he tells about the election but cannot even muster up a manly rebuke of Putin for his interference in our election. And he shows no interest in preventing further interference in the future. He and Tilly were eaten alive by Putin – you cannot send boys to do a man’s job when dealing with a master manipulator like Putin. I’m sure there will be sycophants who claim he’s new at the job, or he’s actually a master strategist, or he’s not a typical politicians, blah, blah. They will be wrong.

    He may yet succeed in destroying the country if our institutions fail to hold. 50/50.

    1. All so terribly true. I have more optimism about the future, however. It seems there are just enough Republicans with honor and love of country over party and will keep the brakes on this guy’s more zany wishes. I don’t think he will be able to do quite as much damage to our institutions and country, as he’s too incompetent to get anything seriously harmful accomplished. My biggest worry is that an adversary who sees the makeup of the man will take rash action, which will require competent wisdom in response; both are sorely lacking in this administration.

      this is to ancestors

  13. “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. ”

    In other words JT’s attitude is shut up Trump and don’t defend yourself. Let someone get on the news channels and say that JT slept with a whore and pissed on someone’s bed and I will bet that JT will respond and even go to court. Trump has little support from the media so he has to create the media’s attention something his twitter account often does even if we may not like the tone.

    Can the laws be changed? Yes and no. Basic free speech must be maintained, but should a privileged class be able to run wild? If an accusation is made against another on page one in bold print should the retraction be on page 17 in tiny letters or perhaps on page one?

    “To have such an exchange with a man like Putin about the free press is a truly low moment for our country.”

    That might be so, but how low is it when our media wraps itself in lofty ideas only to forget them when reporting the news as “agents” of a foreign power as was done by the NYTimes, Jimmy Durante’s piece on Stalin that won a Pulitzer or any of the pieces that aren’t done through research rather through the propaganda ministry of various governments.

    1. Uh, it’s called the First Amendment. Read it for the first time, you may be surprised. Fortunately, our constitutional rights aren’t subject to popular vote; you may want to ponder deeper about that.

      this it to allen

      1. Mark M., what a foolish answer demonstrating an awkward understanding of the First amendment that I fervently support. Trump is acting within his first amendment rights. Would you like to explain yourself or simply slink away?

        1. Haha. I’ll speak slower for you. I care nothing about what Trump says. Trump can blather all he wants about the media; he desires to take action against the media, which is what I addressed. The point you missed is that there’s nothing under the law he can do about anything they write, for nothing written has crossed the line established in New York Times v. Sullivan–unless he thinks a constitutional convention is a possibility; as if.

          this is to now-educated allen

          1. Mark, talking to those that can’t read is difficult. Now that you are speaking slower maybe you will sound more intelligent. My underlying statement was “In other words JT’s attitude is shut up Trump and don’t defend yourself.” You say Trump can say what he wishes so that point demonstrates agreement with regard to free speech in this area.

            Nowehere in my statement did I call for free speech to be abridged. That you don’t understand the English language is understood along with the fact you don’t understand the Constitution. Quote the statement that abridges the rights of the press. I didn’t do that. I asked a question and there are civil remdies to the problem I mentioned.

            I await your quote.

            1. I won’t do your research for you; all here should be aware that the Clown Prince has articulated a desire to “open up the libel laws.” I suggest “Google” if you’ve somehow overlooked this reality.

              This is to disappointed allen.

              1. Mark, it doesn’t seem speaking slower makes you sound any more intelligent.

                I asked “Quote the statement that abridges the rights of the press. I didn’t do that. ”

                …And your response was lame. I should Google. You need to get to the library. You also need to learn how to read. I haven’t heard how one would change the libel laws. I’ll await for such statements to be made before passing judgement, but sometime the press is guilty of l libel and should end up paying for their negligence.

  14. No, we’re the ones getting hurt by the oligarchy be that the press or Trump or Putin:

    “In 1951, as the Cold War was intensifying, the CIA decided to see how Voice of America radio broadcasts into Eastern Europe compared with Soviet efforts. In a remarkably candid document, the Agency critically assessed the similarities and differences between U.S. and Soviet propaganda.

    Today, VOA claims that it was founded during the Second World War to provide “Unbiased and accurate information.” The CIA officers assessing VOA in 1951, though, saw the service as essentially similar to Soviet propaganda, going so far as saying that most Americans would be surprised by the similarities between the two.” (see wikileaks twitter

    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=buff

    1. Today, VOA claims that it was founded during the Second World War to provide “Unbiased and accurate information.” The CIA officers assessing VOA in 1951, though, saw the service as essentially similar to Soviet propaganda, going so far as saying that most Americans would be surprised by the similarities between the two.” (see wikileaks twitter

      We get it. You never listened to the BBC, or VoA, or Radio Moscow on a shortwave.

    2. “No, we’re the ones getting hurt by the oligarchy be that the press or Trump ”

      Actually Jill, Trump is more of an outsider and doesn’t fit in with the oligarchy you might be describing. Therefore, one can assume you should be singing songs about Trump and carry his banners on your automobile.

  15. To the republiborg collective, rightwing news is a parallel institution armed with its own set of facts that insists on its own reality.

  16. The only reason this harmless banter scares anyone, is that the majority of US talking heads (not “journalists”) are so easily intimidated. Unlike the brave Russian journalists who publish truth even when it’s critical of their president, our lot only air what they think their “constituency” want to hear. No worries about loss of real journalistic integrity, therefor. If they had any, they would not be so easily intimidated.

  19. To have such an exchange with a man like Putin about the free press is a truly low moment for our country.

    There is no way JT wrote this piece. To make that statement one would have to be fairly young and emotionally disconnected from the realities of other low points in our country’s history. Even more, whoever wrote this has clear anti-Trump bias.

    First of all, Putin asked a question and what should Trump have said, “None of your business?” “GFY?” “Please let them live?” This writer would want the reader to believe this conversation between Trump and Putin was two totalitarians sharing strategies on how to eliminate Trump’s media enemies. Another obvious way to look at the exchange is Putin being curious how Trump is managing to execute his duties without needing to execute his press enemies or weaponize his agencies in the same way Obama did.

  20. To varying degrees, Presidents all have derision for the press. Trump just is up front about it. Refreshing.

    1. Sure, if quoting him and then asking him about what he said and watching him scream,cry and rant like a child is something you find refreshing?

      1. Don’t think tweeting about blood and destruction with regards to journalist is at all refreshing

        2. You’re talking about the CNN wrestling parody video? Pleeeze!

        3. AJ and frankly, I am not a big fan of Trump. But, we “deplorables” are still basking in the glow of Hillary sitting in Chappaqua and drinking herself to death. We find it refreshing we don’t have another President Clinton. I know you don’t understand this mindset. But, there are millions of us. And this is probably the only place folks like you are exposed to us heathens. I know you only socialize w/ like minded people. I, and many of us “deplorables” socialize w/ a divergent group of people.

          1. Haha. Hanging with the old-timers and reminiscing about the “good ole days” when everybody knew their place and weren’t so “uppity” doesn’t count as a divergent group. Neither the old factory jobs, nor the “good ole days” are coming back, no matter how many MAGA gimme caps this clown passes out (or did you have to buy yours?).

            this is to nick

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