President
Trump set up an executive order signing ceremony on Friday. He was to sign two documents that would make
a shift in the trade policies of the United States. After a brief statement, he walked out of the
Oval Office. He asked (ordered?) Vice
President Mike Pence to pick up the folders with the executive orders as the
President left the room.
The
Vice-President did just that, walking out of the room along with the two guests
that were to witness the signing. Doors
closed and the room is empty of officials.
Only the security guards and reporters left. The reporters asking each other, he didn’t
sign, did he?
What just
happen?
An article in
the New York Times the next day, discussing the orders, implied that the orders
were eventually signed, I assume in the room where everyone withdrew to.
The reporters
in the room were asking Mr. Trump about former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn’s
possible appearance before a congressional committee investigating Mr. Flynn’s
and the Trump’s election campaign involvement with the Russians. (We use that word “Russians” now not as a
collective noun as meaning the people of the country and government but
more as a personal noun meaning some dark and evil blob like the Smoke Monster in Lost.) It is for that reason, in my opinion, that
Trump left the room. Trump thought he
would teach them a lesson about what he expects when reporters are at events
coordinated by him.
Trump is
attempting to not only coral the press, but to pull them in line not just with
his governmental policies but with his personality. It can be seen in the way the press secretary
treats the press at the daily briefings.
It can be seen the way Trump uses the media that support him. It can be seen in the way Trump talks about
“failing” newspapers, calls much of the press publishing fake news, or the
personal attacks on specific reporters that he doesn’t like.
In a recent
Tweet, Trump asked the question, “Change libel laws?” This was in context with a rant about the New
York Times being a disgrace and that they have “Gotten me wrong for two solid
years.” This tweet was not about the
President, a title of the office that anyone can hold if elected. Not about governmental policy and not just
about an opinion. It was about him, Mr.
Trump. He used the word “me”. Since the Times got “me” wrong for two solid
years, he wants to change libel laws to allow him to sue (and jail?) the
members of the press for having a different view point.
Let’s make a
comparison here. The NRA does not
support anyone that uses a gun to kill innocent people. (They should take a stronger position on that,
but, that is another blog.) But, every
time a mass shooting happens, they stand in support of the Second
Amendment. Additionally, politicians
that support gun rights also stand and support a right enshrined in the
Constitution and it should not be violated.
During the Presidential election, Trump also support the Second
Amendment.
But, as soon
as President Trump is attacked in the press (no one gets killed by the way and
is still alive to present their point of view) instead of standing in support
of an amendment to the Constitution that came before the gun rights, he wants
to change the laws to allow him to sue, punish (and jail?).
None of this
has anything to do with the real issues that are facing our community right
now. Trump may have different opinions
from this blogger, but that is part of the benefit of living in a diverse
community. But, when a person in
authority is attempting to shut down the vehicle of communicating those diverse
opinions and openly discussing the various viewpoints, it short cuts the
benefits.
