Politics

White House Suspends Access For CNN’s Jim Acosta

In a major escalation of President Donald Trump’s war with the media, the White House today suspended the access of CNN’s Jim Acosta from the White House “until further notice.” I have been highly critical of the President’s attacks on the media and, as many might expect, I am equally critical of this move. I felt Acosta was out of line in refusing to give up the mike at the press conference this week.  However, he did not manhandle a female aide as suggested by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and the appropriate response would be to make it clear to CNN that its reporters are not allowed to defiantly retain a mike or yell over the President in such conferences.

The on-air confrontation between the President of the United States and Jim Acosta, the CNN reporter showed both men at their worst.  The President launched into one of his tirades against CNN while Acosta refused to yield and gently pushed aside the hand of an aide trying to grab the mike.  Sanders stated “President Trump believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his Administration. We will, however, never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern. This conduct is absolutely unacceptable.”

While I felt Acosta crossed the line with his defiance and shouting, the video does not show a serious physical contact with the aide:

 

I felt sorry from the young woman trying to do her job, but she was not treated roughly.

CNN should address the conduct of its own reporter in his refusal to yield the mike and the floor. It seemed to me that Acosta, who I knew and like, was trying to argue with the President.  I have no problem with reporters shouting outside to get responses from a president but this is a formal White House press conference.  Reporters are given opportunities to ask questions but they are expected to yield the floor to waiting reporters.

None of this changes the fact that the President’s tirade was highly improper and chilling in calling Acosta the “enemy of the people.”  That hyperbolic language is damaging to the Office of the President and potentially dangerous for Acosta and other journalists.

The suspension should be lifted immediately.

390 thoughts on “White House Suspends Access For CNN’s Jim Acosta”

  1. Trump Moves to Limit Asylum Protections for Migrants Who Cross the Border Illegally

    -Washington Examiner

    President Donald J. Trump signed a presidential Proclamation yesterday to bar asylum protections for migrants who enter the United States illegally, Robert Donachie reports. “We want people to come into our country, but they have to come into the country legally,” the President said. America’s asylum system has become overwhelmed with meritless asylum claims in an attempt to game the process.

  2. Allan spouts: “I know it’s not true world wide since there are all sorts of licensing agreements that Anonymous knows nothing about.”

    And Allan knows what “Anonymous” knows and doesn’t know. Only if Allan is “Anonymous.”

    1. Anonymous while it is true that I cannot see into your head the blog has ample evidence of how you think and how you express yourself. We have the ability to read the blog and what you said about Netflix and Paul.

      Therefore I conclude: ” I know it’s not true world wide since there are all sorts of licensing agreements that Anonymous knows nothing about.”

      You haven’t shown an alternative way to think about you.

  4. The BBC has called out CNN and Acosta while the MSM swallow Acosta’s bitter load.

    …

    The Acosta affair: An unpopular opinion
    Emily Maitlis
    https://www.bbc.com/news/46147166
    “Jim Acosta was called on by the president to ask a question.

    I’ll say that again. He was called on by Donald Trump to ask whatever question he liked. And when he’d finished asking one, he then asked another – with interruption follow-ups in between.

    It was only when he attempted his third question – or possibly fourth depending on how you define the follow-ups – that the president got angry and asked him to sit down.

    …

    What happened in that room was not the ultimate fight for press freedom. This wasn’t someone risking life and limb against a regime where freedom of speech is forbidden. This was a bloke sitting in a room full of colleagues who were all trying to ask questions too.

    This was a man who’d had his turn and had been told he couldn’t hog the whole time.”

    1. WE need to hear the complete audio and video tape. Journalists have a history of asking 1 question and 1 followup. Not 3 or 4 or 5 questions. Acosta is all about acosta. He is rude and is hardly a journalist. Perhaps a pig?

  6. Gov. Scott’s Statement on Election Results

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Yesterday, Governor Rick Scott made a statement regarding election results. The Governor’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below. See the lawsuits that were filed in Palm Beach and Broward Counties today HERE and HERE.

    “Late Tuesday night, our win was projected to be around 57,000 votes.
    By Wednesday morning, that lead dropped to 38,000.
    By Wednesday evening, it was around 30,000.
    This morning, it was around 21,000.
    Now, it is 15,000.
    On election night, Broward County said there were 634,000 votes cast.
    At 1 am today, there were 695,700 ballots cast on election day.
    At 2:30 pm today, the number was up to 707,223 ballots cast on election day.
    And we just learned, that the number has increased to 712,840 ballots cast on election day.

    In Palm Beach County, there are 15,000 new votes found since election night.

    So – It has been over 48 hours since the polls closed and Broward and Palm Beach Counties are still finding and counting ballots – and the Supervisors – Brenda Snipes and Susan Bucher – cannot seem to say how many ballots still exist or where these ballots came from, or where they have been.

    The people of Florida deserve fairness and transparency and the supervisors are failing to give it to us.

    Every Floridian should be concerned there may be rampant fraud happening in Palm Beach and Broward Counties. And the Broward Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes has a history of acting in bad faith.

    As you will recall, a judge ruled just this year that the office violated both state and federal laws by illegally destroying ballots in 2016.
    In 2016, Brenda Snipes’ office posted election results half an hour before polls closed – a violation of election law. That same year, her office was sued for leaving amendments off of ballots.
    In 2014, Brenda Snipes’ fellow democrats accused her of individual and systemic breakdowns that made it difficult for voters to cast regular ballots.

    All Floridians should be concerned about that.

    Palm Beach County is also refusing to provide information to the public. And they are illegally refusing to allow official party representatives into the ballot counting area and forcing people to stand behind a glass wall with limited visibility and no ability to hear what is going on.

    This is a clear violation of Florida law – and we have just filed a lawsuit.

    Both Broward and Palm Beach Counties have failed in their duty to follow Florida law which requires that vote by mail and absentee ballots are accounted within 30 minutes of polls closing. Further, Palm Beach County has failed to update the Department of State since 10:19 am yesterday. This is in complete violation of Florida law which requires updated reports every 45 minutes until results are completely reported.

    We’ve all seen the incompetence and irregularities in vote tabulations in Broward and Palm Beach for years. Well…here we are again. I will not sit idly by while unethical liberals try to steal this election from the people of Florida.
    Senator Nelson hired one of Hillary Clinton’s lawyers from D.C., and the first thing he did was tell reporters that he is here to win the election. He did not say that he wants a full and fair election or even an accurate vote count. Here are some other things he has said.

    In 2010: When his democratic client in Minnesota was leading by 8,000 votes, he said the lead was ‘insurmountable.
    In 2014: When his democratic client in Virginia was leading by 12,000 votes, he said there was ‘no precedent’ for a successful recount. He also said that recounts ‘really only happen where you are talking about dozens or a few hundred votes separating the candidates.
    In 2013: When another one of his democratic clients in Virginia was leading by only 165 votes, he said that recounts ‘do not tend to change the results.
    In 2016: When his democratic client in North Carolina was leading by 10,000 votes, he called it a ‘close but significant margin’ that would be ‘insurmountable.’ He also called on the opponent to ‘graciously concede’ rather than waste taxpayer money on a deficit that could not be overcome.
    Again in 2016: When his client Hillary Clinton had lost the presidential race, he wrote an article highlighting that the margin of 10,704 votes in Michigan quote ‘well exceeds the largest margin ever overcome in a recount.’

    Now, he is here to try to steal the election, and to try to thwart the will of the voters of Florida.

    Every day since the election, the leftwing activists in Broward county have been coming up with more and more ballots out of nowhere. We all know what is going on. Every person in Florida knows exactly what is happening. Their goal is to keep mysteriously finding more votes until the elections turn out the way they want.

    And when that fails, they will file a bunch of lawsuits in order to try to overturn the will of the voters.
    There are 67 counties in Florida, only these two counties are involved in these shenanigans. There are NO OTHER COUNTIES – REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT- that are trying to steal this election, or who are still finding ballots.
    Some believe that this is simply rank incompetence. THAT IS CLEARLY TRUE.

    BUT it would also be naïve to not realize that they could be trying to overrule the will of the voters of Florida.
    Tonight, I am asking the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate this immediately and I am considering every single legal option available.

    No rag tag group of liberal activists or lawyers from D.C. will be allowed to steal this election from the voters in the state of Florida.

    I am proud to be the next Senator from the State of Florida and look forward to going up there and making Washington work for all Americans.”

    Rick Scott

  7. TRUMP CONTINUES UNHINGED BEHAVIOR SEEN AT PRESS CONFERENCE

    Friday Morning News:

    Two days after midterm voting, as ballots are still being counted, Republican lawmakers holding onto tight leads in midterm states are alleging foul play and voter fraud. The claims were amplified by President Trump, without evidence, on Friday morning.

    “You mean they are just now finding votes in Florida and Georgia — but the Election was on Tuesday?” he wrote in a tweet. “Let’s blame the Russians and demand an immediate apology from President Putin!”

    Current Florida Gov. Rick Scott, locked in a tight Senate race, said in a press conference Thursday night that “the people of Florida deserve fairness and transparency and the supervisors are failing to give it to us.”

    Scott’s race against Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson seems to be headed toward triggering a mandatory recount. Florida law says any race within a 0.5 percent margin must go to a recount, and as of 9 a.m. Friday, Nelson trailed Scott by 0.18 percent.

    Edited from: “As Florida Races Narrow, Trump And Scott Spread Claims Of Fraud Without Evidence”

    Today’s NPR

    1. See this? Trump appears to assume that all votes are counted on Election Night. As though a state Florida’s size, with 20 million people, can tally every vote by the morning after. So Trump, with no evidence, tweets this over-the-top cynical nonsense suggesting some nefarious plot by Democrats to deny a Republican ‘victory’.

      In reality, a Florida election law applies because the race is within 0.5% margin.

      1. There seems to be a problem in Broward County where problems have popped up before along, I believe, with convictions for violating election law.

        1. Ft Lauderdale? There’s a lot of problems in Fort Lauderdale. the best thing it has going for it is that it’s not Miami, but it’s close. That’s also the worst thing it has going for it, if ya know what i mean.

          And Hollywood FL is a little poo hole stuck in between the two butt cheek counties of Dade and Broward

          1. I cannot disagree with you. I have travelled a lot. Miami is the one place I don’t make a stop if the light suddenly turns red. The likelihood of being rear ended is too great. Shortly I have to go to Miami and will be driving there with a car. I will make sure my insurance premiums are all paid.

            1. Allan, don’t miss all the fun Haitian neighborhoods while you are there! Miami Beach is quite fun but a long ride through endless sprawling Haitian scheiss hole neigbhorhoods will convince anyone that TRUMP WAS RIGHT

              Try uber instead, it’s cheap and easy. a third of the price from FLL to Miami compared to a cab. and you may get a haitian driver who can take you off the beaten track for a decent tip

              “laissez le bon temps roulez”

              1. Kurtz, I know Miami well and over the years have seen it grow and change each time I was there. It is thriving and condominum prices are outrageous. The community varies tremendously. The Colonel used to live in Keystone and docked his boat, Finger Licking, behind his house.

        2. Allan – wasn’t Broward the county of the “hanging chad”? It appears the election supervisor destroyed some ballots and there are some other irregularities.

          1. If I remember correctly it was Palm Beach County but there could have been problems elsewhere. One has to remember that Debbie Wasserman Shultz’s district is partly in Broward and partly in Miami-Dade.

            You might recall that Allen West lost an election some years back when extra ballots suddenly appeared.

      2. “Trump appears to assume that all votes are counted on Election Night. As though a state Florida’s size, with 20 million people, can tally every vote by the morning after.”

        No, that’s not what happened. The state knows how many ballots were cast, and how many are still left to recount. These counties released the number of total ballots cast, counted them all, and then suddenly, and repeatedly, “found” thousands upon thousands of new votes, amazingly, 100% of which were for a Democratic candidate. Out of those two counties, every single one of the discovered votes were for one party. There are numerous red flag warnings for fraud.

        A county knows how many registered voters there are, and knows how many ballots were cast. They give progress on counting those ballots towards the election until they are all counted. Suddenly discovering multiple caches of ballots, with no explanation for where they were, how they were discovered, and why their number was previously unknown, and for every single one of them to be for a Democratic candidate, strains credulity.

        1. One of the main people involved already was found guilty of election violations in the past as I think Broward County was. The area in Florida ravaged by the hurricane seemed to get their ballots in on time. Why is the problem almost always in the same place. This is fraud plain and simple. Unfortunately those in total control of Broward County are Democrats and they are not to be trusted.

          1. Conservatives need to stop rolling over on election fraud, dig our heels in, and effectively fight it.

            2. Karen, Governor Scott of Florida has already filed suit.

              Gov. Scott’s Statement on Election Results

              TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Yesterday, Governor Rick Scott made a statement regarding election results. The Governor’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below. See the lawsuits that were filed in Palm Beach and Broward Counties today HERE and HERE.

              “Late Tuesday night, our win was projected to be around 57,000 votes.
              By Wednesday morning, that lead dropped to 38,000.
              By Wednesday evening, it was around 30,000.
              This morning, it was around 21,000.
              Now, it is 15,000.
              On election night, Broward County said there were 634,000 votes cast.
              At 1 am today, there were 695,700 ballots cast on election day.
              At 2:30 pm today, the number was up to 707,223 ballots cast on election day.
              And we just learned, that the number has increased to 712,840 ballots cast on election day.

              In Palm Beach County, there are 15,000 new votes found since election night.

              So – It has been over 48 hours since the polls closed and Broward and Palm Beach Counties are still finding and counting ballots – and the Supervisors – Brenda Snipes and Susan Bucher – cannot seem to say how many ballots still exist or where these ballots came from, or where they have been.

              The people of Florida deserve fairness and transparency and the supervisors are failing to give it to us.

              Every Floridian should be concerned there may be rampant fraud happening in Palm Beach and Broward Counties. And the Broward Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes has a history of acting in bad faith.

              As you will recall, a judge ruled just this year that the office violated both state and federal laws by illegally destroying ballots in 2016.
              In 2016, Brenda Snipes’ office posted election results half an hour before polls closed – a violation of election law. That same year, her office was sued for leaving amendments off of ballots.
              In 2014, Brenda Snipes’ fellow democrats accused her of individual and systemic breakdowns that made it difficult for voters to cast regular ballots.

              All Floridians should be concerned about that.

              Palm Beach County is also refusing to provide information to the public. And they are illegally refusing to allow official party representatives into the ballot counting area and forcing people to stand behind a glass wall with limited visibility and no ability to hear what is going on.

              This is a clear violation of Florida law – and we have just filed a lawsuit.

              Both Broward and Palm Beach Counties have failed in their duty to follow Florida law which requires that vote by mail and absentee ballots are accounted within 30 minutes of polls closing. Further, Palm Beach County has failed to update the Department of State since 10:19 am yesterday. This is in complete violation of Florida law which requires updated reports every 45 minutes until results are completely reported.

              We’ve all seen the incompetence and irregularities in vote tabulations in Broward and Palm Beach for years. Well…here we are again. I will not sit idly by while unethical liberals try to steal this election from the people of Florida.
              Senator Nelson hired one of Hillary Clinton’s lawyers from D.C., and the first thing he did was tell reporters that he is here to win the election. He did not say that he wants a full and fair election or even an accurate vote count. Here are some other things he has said.

              In 2010: When his democratic client in Minnesota was leading by 8,000 votes, he said the lead was ‘insurmountable.
              In 2014: When his democratic client in Virginia was leading by 12,000 votes, he said there was ‘no precedent’ for a successful recount. He also said that recounts ‘really only happen where you are talking about dozens or a few hundred votes separating the candidates.
              In 2013: When another one of his democratic clients in Virginia was leading by only 165 votes, he said that recounts ‘do not tend to change the results.
              In 2016: When his democratic client in North Carolina was leading by 10,000 votes, he called it a ‘close but significant margin’ that would be ‘insurmountable.’ He also called on the opponent to ‘graciously concede’ rather than waste taxpayer money on a deficit that could not be overcome.
              Again in 2016: When his client Hillary Clinton had lost the presidential race, he wrote an article highlighting that the margin of 10,704 votes in Michigan quote ‘well exceeds the largest margin ever overcome in a recount.’

              Now, he is here to try to steal the election, and to try to thwart the will of the voters of Florida.

              Every day since the election, the leftwing activists in Broward county have been coming up with more and more ballots out of nowhere. We all know what is going on. Every person in Florida knows exactly what is happening. Their goal is to keep mysteriously finding more votes until the elections turn out the way they want.

              And when that fails, they will file a bunch of lawsuits in order to try to overturn the will of the voters.
              There are 67 counties in Florida, only these two counties are involved in these shenanigans. There are NO OTHER COUNTIES – REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT- that are trying to steal this election, or who are still finding ballots.
              Some believe that this is simply rank incompetence. THAT IS CLEARLY TRUE.

              BUT it would also be naïve to not realize that they could be trying to overrule the will of the voters of Florida.
              Tonight, I am asking the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate this immediately and I am considering every single legal option available.

              No rag tag group of liberal activists or lawyers from D.C. will be allowed to steal this election from the voters in the state of Florida.

              I am proud to be the next Senator from the State of Florida and look forward to going up there and making Washington work for all Americans.”

              Rick Scott

                1. From the case against Snipes #2 of above.

                  COUNT I – UNLAWFUL WITHHOLDING OF PUBLIC RECORDS
                  15. Plaintiffs re-allege and incorporate by reference the allegations and exhibits in paragraphs 1 through 14.
                  16. The Supervisor of Elections’s refusal to allow Plaintiffs to inspect the requested public records violated the Public Records Act.
                  17. The records that Plaintiffs seek are public records pursuant to the Public Records 1
                  Act.
                  18. There is no statutory exemption that applies to the requested public records, and the Supervisor of Elections has cited none.
                  19. Violations of the Public Records Act constitute an irreparable public injury.
                  20. Plaintiffs have a clear legal right to insist upon the performance of the Supervisor
                  of Elections’s duty to permit inspection, copying and photographing of public records as required by Florida law.
                  21. Plaintiffs have no adequate remedy at law.
                  22. The Public Records Act requires this matter be set for an immediate hearing.
                  23. All conditions precedent to this action have occurred, have been excused, or have
                  been waived.

  8. The Money Grabbing Scum Bag in the Whitehouse presently, has initiated all this .

    In its entirety. More is coming.

    2. “The Money Grabbing Scum Bag“…
      The Clinton Global FUNDation is alive and well

      Regards to filthy rich Nancy Pelosi from the poor and homeless of San Francisco

  10. You have got to admit the guy has been an ass for a long time. Asking questions out of topic. Yelling over others, all sorts of things. I would not think I would allow a person that is habitually that rude into my house.

    1. As a matter of fact, if someone came into my house and acted in a belligerent way to me, I would ask him or her to leave my house. That is a pretty natural reaction. And that is what happened to that cnn reporter. Please don’t throw the journalism defense at me. It doesn’t fit any more. He is an opinionator, and a grand standing one at that. He doesn’t care about news, only his mug on TV. If he is a journalist, I am the Pope.

  11. “However, he did not manhandle a female aide as suggested by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders”
    Subjective, that’s for jury or judge to decide, not you Master Turley.

    “Acosta refused to yield and gently pushed aside the hand of an aide trying to grab the mike.”
    Gently? again, subjective, that’s for jury or judge to decide, not you Master Turley.

    “I felt Acosta was out of line in refusing to give up the mike at the press conference this week.”
    “It seemed to me that Acosta, who I knew and like, was trying to argue with the President. I have no problem with reporters shouting outside to get responses from a president but this is a formal White House press conference. Reporters are given opportunities to ask questions but they are expected to yield the floor to waiting reporters.”
    “The suspension should be lifted immediately.”
    You agree he acted improperly, you spouse opinions instead of facts, but you think he should be forgiven, for what reason exactly? None stated.
    What are the House rules, and did you take them into consideration?

    Acosta should be permanently banned, he acted with malice, in my opinion. (see how that works? no stating facts when there are none)
    Some articles allow you have great respect for Turley, others just seem like he’s lost his mind completely. Sticking up for a well known liar, and bully, that is sad Mr. Turley. Maybe you have fallen into the political divisiveness trap too.

    But, “As many on this blog know, I hold to a robust view of free speech protections.”, I’m with you on this, glad you give people the opportunity to retort.

  12. Yeah i felt sorry for that young lady named Sarah Sanders.
    she was just doing her job. But in this jobs people have to go through lot of this things. They have to listen there higher authorities. journalilism is good career. can visit here

    https://www.job24by7.com

    1. I’ m sick of my job as a Russian bot and want to find work as a male escort. But i’m fat. Do i have a chance martha?

      1. Mr Kurtz – I know that in the male gay community there is a fetish for overweight men. Bob and Jim would probably know exactly what they were called. 😉

        1. er, I was just thinking about serving a female clientele Paul. i guess i should stick with being a small-town lawyer.

          1. Mr Kurtz – you might fit a niche market. 😉 It could be pocket money.

          2. Mr. Kurtz,…
            Have you checked to see if Avennati might take on a partner?
            There’s no way of knowing how many more Stormy Daniels or Julie Swetnicks are out there; if his caseload gets too big to handle, especially with a busy schedule of TV appearances, you might have an opportunity there.

  13. HAS INTERN FILED POLICE REPORT?

    DID TRUMP ENCOURAGE HER TO FILE?

    From a legal standpoint these are essential points. Did the intern assault Acosta by trying to grab the microphone? ‘I’ don’t think she did. But thousands of lawyers might argue she was overstepping her not-so-clear authority.

    It was cowardly of Trump to encourage her involvement. No intern should be used as a Security Officer. That girl was probably terrified! Was it in her job description to confiscate microphones? Again, she was functioning in a Security capacity. What training did she have?

    So if we want to make a big deal about physical assaults, let’s ask why that young woman got involved in the first place. Had this happened in the private sector; a stockholders’ meeting, for example, Trump would be liable as the girl’s employer. You can’t order interns into situations where physical scuffles might result. That’s just chicken-s**t.

    1. Peter Hill – let’s start with the basics. 1) whose mike is it? 2) who is responsible for moving the mike from reporter to reporter? 3) whose house are they in? 4) who decides who gets the mike?

      Answer these questions, then you will have the answer to your question.

      1. Paul, I thought the White House belonged to the people. You’re saying it’s a Trump property? Well people get confused.

        You see Trump operates a business empire while occupying the White House. And he owns a major hotel in a historic building two blocks away. Emissaries trying to curry favor with Trump often stay at that hotel. So folks like you get confused and think the White House has been acquired by Trump.

        1. The White House is owned by the people and Donald Trump represents the people and decides who should or should not have control over a mic when he is being asked questions. Trump is a very fair man for if he wasn’t Acosta would have been thrown out of the room almost 2 years ago. Acosta has been abusive since the beginning.

          Trump no longer operates his business empire. That is done by others. You might find it more pleasant when people get rich working the White House, but there certainly is nothing wrong with a man earning his wealth before enterring it. Those emissaries that may or may not use the hotel do so paying the same price as the common man. The criteria you use indicts the Clintons for they were able to get much higher rates for their speeches when access or uranium was involved.

          You are a hack whose opinion Depends on your political whims. We would be a much better nation if people like you would stay away from the ballot box.

          1. Allan: ‘Trump no longer operate his business empire’..?????

            What makes you ASSume that..?????

            1. You see Trump operates a business empire while occupying the White House.

              What makes you ASSume that..?????

              Ready…go!

                1. You can’t respond. Tell us how Trump **operates** his businesses.

                  All you do is post articles that do not pertain to the question. Emoluments do not equate with how one operates a business. Apparently, you aren’t even aquainted with the English language.

                  1. Allan, the article totally pertains to the question. And Professor Turley himself is often published by that source.

                    The emoluments case is going to expose the conflicts I alluded to. It could ultimately be more damaging than the Mueller Probe.

                    1. The words in question were “…operates a business…”. Start your next sentence with ‘Trump operates a business by…’.

                      Your use of the English language despite your protestations is very poor.

                2. Is English your second language? Here, pretend I’m talking slower for your comprehension pleasure:

                  You said: You see Trump operates a business empire while occupying the White House.

                  I asked: What makes you ASSume that..?????

                  H o w i s P r e s i d e n t T r u m p o p e r a t i n g a b u s i n e s s e m p i r e w h i l e o c c u p y i n g t h e W h i t e H o u s e?

            2. Petey,
              You are channeling Josef Stalin, Fidel Castro and Mao, all in one. How will you transport all of us deplorables to concentration camps to starve us and firing squads to shoot us? We would like to prepare

              1. Mrs Johnson you are senile!

                It’s weird how so many Trumpers feel the need to go over the top every single time. A comment about Trump’s many conflicts somehow becomes an endorsement of Stalin!

                It’s just so, so stupid that Professor Turley should be embarrassed his blog attracts such anti-intellectual minds.

                1. “you are senile…..anti-intellectuals”….

                  Peter Shill…..you must be related to Acosta considering he batters women just like you

                  Thankfully you dont have our home addresses or else we know you and your unhinged anarchists would torch our kids and properties while Vox and lefty rags cook s’mores on the flames

                  Bob and Jim

                  1. The same way Ole Massa Tom Jeff operated his plantations when he was away on Presidential business. WIth a manager. Simple as that. No emolouements.

                    That doesn’t mean continuing income from previously owned property and business operations, rather, it means bribes, like, what the Saudis gave Hillary’s Clinton Foundation, for face time back when she was Sec of State

                    the emolouements clause is about preventing bribery. bribery can take a lot of forms. now, if you’re going to disqualify people for having legit business worldwide, then count out a lot more people than just billiionaires like trump from office. it’s overly broad interpretation to suggest that Trump’s hotel ownership is going to DQ him from anything or get him in trouble. Esepcially not after the very poor example Hillary set.

                    1. “The same way Ole Massa Tom Jeff operated his plantations when he was away on Presidential business. WIth a manager. Simple as that. No emolouements.”

                      In other words someone else is operating the business. With Peter one has to take one small step at a time because he draws his conclusion before knowing the facts and then works to one end that Depends on his personal likes and dislikes despite the fact that he is wrong most of the time.

        2. the White House is no more owned by the “People” than the NPR HQ is owned by the “Members.” It’s the duly qualified and acting CEO that has legitimate authority and control over the premises. Th White House premises are 100% under the lawful authority of TRUMP at this time, just as it was OBAMA before him.

          Sorry if you don’t like it but it’s as simple as that.

        3. Peter Hill – your answer is just silly. Try walking into your local federal building, which the American people own, after midnight? Actually, try getting in without ID.

          Now, answer my four questions.

          1. “the people” cant even take their phones into a federal court. not the last one I went into. being a lawyer must mean you’re not the people cuz I was able to keep mine. LOL

    2. “It was cowardly of Trump to encourage her involvement.”
      That’s her job.

      “That girl was probably terrified!”
      Who isn’t terrified by Left wing extremist?

      “Was it in her job description to confiscate microphones? ”
      Yes.

      “Again, she was functioning in a Security capacity.”
      No, she wasn’t

      “What training did she have?”
      LOL, you’re really stretching here.

      “So if we want to make a big deal about physical assaults, let’s ask why that young woman got involved in the first place.”
      It’s her job, moron.

      “Had this happened in the private sector; a stockholders’ meeting, for example, Trump would be liable as the girl’s employer.”
      Moot point, has no bearing on current situation. Not very good with the law I see.

      ” You can’t order interns into situations where physical scuffles might result.”
      That could possibly be any situation at all. Another moot point.

      “That’s just chicken-s**t.”
      I’m sure that’s what a lot people think about you, 🙂 Including me!

      1. Ron, let’s go with what you said at the top: ‘The girl was terrified of a left wing extremist’. Let’s say Acosta was exactly that: ‘A left wing extremist verging on combativeness’.

        If that ‘was’ the situation, then a Secret Service Agent should have dealt with the matter. They have the proper training. Again, I seriously question if physical confrontations are part of that girl’s job. Any court would consider that question; ‘Was this girl properly trained for that situation?’

        And I notice, Ron, you didn’t address the matter of this girl’s training. You just dismissed it with: “LOL, you’re really stretching it”. Believe me, Ron, lawyers can spend entire afternoon’s arguing points of law like that.

        1. “If that ‘was’ the situation, then a Secret Service Agent should have dealt with the matter. They have the proper training. Again, I seriously question if physical confrontations are part of that girl’s job. ”

          Apparently, Peter, you are not familiar with polite discourse.

        2. if he would have sent SS then he would be called a tyrant.

          you see there was a sort of provocation of Trump going on there. he was smart to send a girl. very smart.

          1. in a lot of reporters you have pushy, rude, and narcisssitic personalities. they know how to provoke, annoy, and harass to get their way

            Trump is prolly high on that scale himself, so, in Trump the serpents of the media are dealing with a dragon

            by sending that girl to take the mike and acosta pushing her arm away, he might as well have kicked acosta right in the teeth. Trumps a genius. Thank God the Republican party finally has a leader who is clever.

    3. No intern should be used as a security officer?
      What?!?
      Why should there even be a need for a security officer on the floor at a White House Press Conference?
      What kind of vicious unhinged maniacs do you think are present at a White House Press Conference…..oh wait, never mind. Acosta already answered that question.

      BTW I’m pretty sure you’re wrong about the girl.
      She could probably take Acosta out in 5 seconds.

    4. “It was cowardly of Trump to encourage her involvement. No intern should be used as a Security Officer. ”

      What an idiotic statement and sexist as well. Everyone in the press room is cleared for being in close proximity with the President. No one expects such an attitude that comes with a person like Accosta. The intern is not security. She owns the mic for the President and distributes its use among a lot of people. No one is supposed to interrupt that flow. They are supposed to willingly return the mic when asked. There are security folk in the area and they can be of either sex.

      ” thousands of lawyers might argue she was overstepping her not-so-clear authority.”

      The mic is a privilege, not a right. Peter, you seem to have failed in every other point as well and made yourself look foolish and sexist.

      1. Correct the Record isn’t paying him to expound common sense and a fixed set of principles.

    5. DID DR. FORD FILE A POLICE REPORT? DID SHE EVER SUBSEQUENTLY WARN HER FRIEND SHE SAYS WAS THERE ABOUT THESE GUYS, MAYBE SUGGEST TO HER “LIFELONG FRIEND” TO STEER CLEAR OF THEM?

      1. The lifelong friend was Ms. Keyser; Ford claimed she was at the house when the alleged attack happened.
        Her fleeing the house and leaving her friend to fend for herself, without checking on Keyser’s welfare after she made her “escape”, can be explained away by the claim that a panicked 15 year old girl didn’t think about it at the time.
        What’s far more difficult to explain is the lack of any subsequent warning to Ms. Keyser.
        Most people would alert their close friends to a potential danger; in Dr. Ford’s version, Ms. Keyser was hanging out in a house with two guys who sexually assaulted her.
        But since Ford allegedly told “no one” for decades, Ms. Keyser could unknowingly attend more parties/ gatherings with two older, out of control drunken guys who might try to rape her.

  15. Acosta. What a fitting name.

    “What do you do when a White House female intern asks for your microphone?”
    “Acosta!”

  16. Professor Turley, I saw this press conference live on big screen TV. What I saw was Acosta pushing down on her arm as she made her third attempt to get the mic. That is unacceptable……way beyond even his rudeness and constant ongoing grandstanding. CNN sent him to create a ruckus. He succeeded, they succeeded. Now they can talk about it forever. Mr Acosta’s behavior was out of line and SHOULD have some consequences. I’m glad there were some. .

    1. Cynthia……..your name is my proper name….so at this sleepy time of the evening, when I saw my name and started reading the comment, I couldn’t remember writing it…After a sentence or two I realized I DIDN’T write it…LOL.But I certainly. do agree with you!

      1. Lol…that’s funny, Cindy. I’ve done that before too…thanks for your comment..😀🕊

  17. “Expert: Acosta video distributed by White House was doctored”

    https://www.10tv.com/article/expert-acosta-video-distributed-white-house-was-doctored

    “The White House News Photographers Association decried the sharing of the footage.

    “”As visual journalists, we know that manipulating images is manipulating truth,” said Whitney Shefte, the association’s president. “It’s deceptive, dangerous and unethical. Knowingly sharing manipulated images is equally problematic, particularly when the person sharing them is a representative of our country’s highest office with vast influence over public opinion.””

    1. I thought you said an expert? An Assoc. President is not a qualifier as an expert. Come back when you got something worth the time and trouble and not the usual hot air. Hint you forgot to tie the name, the position, and the claim together with the word expert. Did you not take Speech 101?

    2. navel gazing mass media solopsism. it’s a big hall of mirrors at the media circus

      and all the games there are fixed

      dont spend a single dollar on a mass media product especially not worthless newspapers. or you’re a sucker like the rubes tossing baseballs for cheap stuffed animal prizes

  18. “the appropriate response would be to make it clear to CNN that its reporters are not allowed to defiantly retain a mike or yell over the President in such conferences.“ What do you propose that would be effective? Tell them, don’t do that?

    A parent is supposed to choose a consequence that fits the behavior so there is a just cause and effect. If someone acts like a monkey in a restaurant, they don’t get to go out to a restaurant.

    Jim Acosta’s behavior was inexcusable and unprofessional. The just response is that if he won’t behave in a professional manner and observe basic decency in the press corps, then he loses access. If he wants it back, he has to behave like an adult. While I agree that he did not assault the intern, he most certainly did brush her hand off of him and turn the mic away. She was trying to give it to the next reporter called upon. He physically brushed off a woman who was just trying to do her job. That’s not assault, but it’s still wrong. Acosta acted entitled to turn this into the Acosta show. He felt more entitled to harang the President than anyone else had a right to ask any questions. He wasn’t really asking questions, but rather harassing Trump. How can considering the caravan an invasion be a lie? It’s an opinion, one that I share. In addition, Hillary Clinton is the one who paid the Russians to get fraudulent information against her political opponent, Donald Trump, right before the election, in an effort to defraud voters. This was just after she personally took on the debt of the DNC to defraud Bernie Sanders out fo the primary, again in an effort to defraud voters. Yet, she managed to get her victim investigated and maligned with the crime she actually committed. Every time the Left brings up Russia, that is what is called to mind – Republicans are being punished for what Hillary Clinton did.

    CNN behaves as if Trump avoided their questions, but he’s been asked similar questions over and over and over again. Plus he’s Tweeted about it, so it’s not like his opinion on the matter is a secret.

    Acosta got booted for his bad behavior. He was free to ask a question, and then it was the next person’s turn, and on about the room. All 35 reporters there were not going to get 10 minutes each, so why should he?

    I wish he said, “You, sir, are out of order!” In a British accent and then left the room until Acosta was escorted out. But Trump did not wake up that morning with a personality transplant. That means that he told Acosta he was horrible, treated people horribly, and his news channel gets horrible ratings.

    https://youtu.be/7kKRKHJ5k8o

    1. Remember when the Left went nuts after Joe Wilson called out, “You lie!” When Obama was addressing Congress regarding the ACA? Obama was lying his pants off, as he knew at the time that it would not save the average American family $2500 a year, or that they could keep their doctor or their insurance.

      That was one phrase called out from the side. Acosta went well beyond such an impropriety, but the very same people who lost their minds about Wilson are steadfastly supporting Acosta. They blame Trump for Acosta’s behavior, or indeed anyone’s behavior across the country. Conservatives have been called every name in the book for decades by Liberals bent on branding them evil, but call one of them “horrible” and their networks explode with animosity.

    2. The word assault seems to mean different things to different people. One can assault another without being arrested. Who becomes ultimately responsible for a fight engaged in by two people? Do we at times trace the fight back to its origins? The way I look at it an incidental brush would not be an assault but using physical strength to push the interns arm down is an assault even though no one would likely prosecute the action. It is, however, grounds to throw the person out. Should that exchange have escallated would that “assault” be considered in some part the reason for the fight. If so does that not make it an “assault” (no matter how minor)? I take note that after that incident the intern sat down recognizing a threat of harm.

      I am not arguing a position just trying to find out when an interaction becomes an “assault”. My assumption is that it is defineitely not a battery. If you cannot answer the question maybe one of the lawyers can.

  19. Jonathan Turley: “I felt sorry from the young woman trying to do her job, but she was not treated roughly.”

    He put hands on her when she was trying to do her job. “Rough” has nothing to do with it.

    Acosta got physical.

    A legitimate organization of any kind would fire Acosta for that alone.

    1. WHPC or Whoopsie and Legitimate. An Oxymoron? Oh Legitimate Whoopsie? That doesn’t work either. Your right that strikes them out .

  20. Jonathan Turley: “CNN should address the conduct of its own reporter in his refusal to yield the mike and the floor.”

    CNN most certainly DID “address” Acosta’s behavior. CNN defended Acosta and blamed the President.

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