Tag: 1st Amendment

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Madison Cawthorn Doesn’t Understand The 1st Amendment

Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) had the audacity to call someone else a liar after fabricating or "rewriting" much of his own resume/bio.

Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC)
Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC)
Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) told Newsmax viewers that he plans to sponsor a bill in Congress that would reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act which protects publishers from being sued over what users post on their sites. Congressman Howdy Doody has somehow conflated users being kicked off Twitter or Facebook for violating the terms of service as violating folks’ First Amendment rights. “Greg Steube and I are leading a charge to reform that terrible Section 230 that gives them basically this full-on immunity where the American people are unable to go after Big Tech when they assault out First Amendment rights,” said Cawthorn. “If our bill passes, and we know the Democrats are not going to allow us to do that because this is one of their greatest weapons, but when our bill passes in the next Congress, you’re going to start seeing Facebook, Twitter, Google, Amazon, all these big tech companies start answering for their crimes,” he added. Ahem, the 1st Amendment says, “CONGRESS shall make no law…” It doesn’t say anything about Facebook, Twitter, or big tech companies. There is NO constitutional right to be on Twitter or Facebook. Conservatives (and others) get kicked off Twitter when they blatantly LIE and spread disinformation.

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Trump Calls NY Times “True Enemy Of The People”

Donald Trump

Donald Trump began his day attacking The New York Times, no doubt because of their extensive report yesterday regarding Trump reportedly asking then-acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker last year to shift Trump ally U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman to be in charge of the Michael Cohen investigation in New York’s Southern District.

According to the Times, Trump soured on Whitaker when he didn’t do as asked.

The publisher of the Times, A. G. Sulzberger, clapped back at Trump via an op-ed today which read, in part:

In demonizing the free press as the enemy, simply for performing its role of asking difficult questions and bringing uncomfortable information to light, President Trump is retreating from a distinctly American principle. It’s a principle that previous occupants of the Oval Office fiercely defended regardless of their politics, party affiliation, or complaints about how they were covered.

The phrase “enemy of the people” is not just false, it’s dangerous. It has an ugly history of being wielded by dictators and tyrants who sought to control public information. And it is particularly reckless coming from someone whose office gives him broad powers to fight or imprison the nation’s enemies. As I have repeatedly told President Trump face to face, there are mounting signs that this incendiary rhetoric is encouraging threats and violence against journalists at home and abroad.

Through 33 presidential administrations, across 167 years, The New York Times has worked to serve the public by fulfilling the fundamental role of the free press. To help people, regardless of their backgrounds or politics, understand their country and the world. To report independently, fairly and accurately. To ask hard questions. To pursue the truth wherever it leads. That will not change.

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SNL Spoofs Trump’s “Emergency” Announcement, Trump Calls For ‘Retribution’

SNL was not about to pass up the chance to address Donald Trump’s “national emergency” announcement this week.

Alec Baldwin’s “Trump” begins with a little boasting by sharing his recent physical results: “I’m still standing six foot seven 185 pounds shredded.”

Then, he moves on to announce the “national emergency” speaking in an oddly broken pattern: “We need wall because wall works. Wall make safe. You don’t have to be smart to understand that. In fact, it’s even easier if you’re not.”

Trump takes a question from a reporter from Playboy (“Sweet, sweet, sweet many nights in the grotto right?”), but threatens the journalist before he can even ask a question:

“Sit down or I’m switching back to Hustler.”

Changing the subject, Trump introduces his newly-sworn Attorney General William Barr saying, “Congratulations, this guy is going to do such a great job! But still, he’s working for me, so I give him three months tops, ok? Dead man walking!”

The Trumpster didn’t care for the skit so much, tweeting his outrage saying SNL is “the real Collusion” and called for “retribution” against the show.

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CNN Sues Trump White House For Restoration Of Jim Acosta’s Press Credentials

In the aftermath of the White House revoking CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta’s press credentials, CNN has filed a lawsuit against President Trump and several of his aides, seeking the immediate restoration of Acosta’s access to the White House.

The lawsuit is a response to the White House’s suspension of Acosta’s press pass, known as a Secret Service “hard pass,” last week. The suit alleges that Acosta and CNN’s First and Fifth Amendment rights are being violated by the ban.

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday morning. It was docketed and assigned to Judge Timothy J. Kelly, a Trump appointee. CNN is seeking a preliminary hearing as soon as possible.

Both CNN and Acosta are plaintiffs in the lawsuit. There are six defendants: Trump, chief of staff John Kelly, press secretary Sarah Sanders, deputy chief of staff for communications Bill Shine, Secret Service director Randolph Alles, and the Secret Service officer who took Acosta’s hard pass away last Wednesday.

“CNN filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration this morning in DC District Court,” the statement read. “It demands the return of the White House credentials of CNN’s Chief White House correspondent, Jim Acosta. The wrongful revocation of these credentials violates CNN and Acosta’s First Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their Fifth Amendment rights to due process. We have asked this court for an immediate restraining order requiring the pass be returned to Jim, and will seek permanent relief as part of this process.”

The White House Correspondents’ Association said it “strongly supports CNN’s goal of seeing their correspondent regain a US Secret Service security credential that the White House should not have taken away in the first place.”

The White House has shifted its explanation for barring Acosta.

Initially, the reason for suspension was “placing his hands” on an intern (he didn’t), but now the issue supposedly is that he kept asking questions.

So, if they think he monopolizes a press conference, why call on him?

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Trump: People Should Lose Their Citizenship If They Burn American Flag

Who knows why Donald Trump decided to stir this pot – clearly he’s trying to divert from something he doesn’t want the public to pay attention to.

No one should burn the American flag, BUT – the U.S. Constitution secures our right to do so.

There’s that little thing called the 1st Amendment which protects freedom of expression. Plus, it is  literally unconstitutional to strip someone of their citizenship as punishment.

Seriously, this guy is going to be our president?

#smh

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Donald Trump Stares Down Protester Wearing “KKK Endorses Trump” T-Shirt

Donald Trump’s failure to respond to questions about his support coming from David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan landed front and center again today as the Trumpster had a tense face to face moment with a protester wearing a t-shirt saying “KKK endorses Trump.”

From CNN:

A protester in the seats behind Trump on Friday lifted a sign that read “Islamophobia is not the answer.”

But even after a Trump supporter ripped the sign away, the man lingered not far from Trump’s stage.

Waiting for security, police or staff to spring into action, Trump paced the stage and came close to the man, who had removed a jacket to reveal a shirt with the words “KKK endorses Trump” and a yellow star reminiscent of those worn by Jews during the Holocaust on his chest.

The two appeared to exchange words as Trump walked closer to the man, but Trump quickly walked back toward his podium and continued pacing the stage.

The man was eventually escorted out of the room, blowing kisses along the way in Trump’s direction and toward supporters in the audience who loudly booed the man.

“In the good old days, they’d rip him out of that seat so fast, but today everybody is politically correct — our country’s going to hell for being politically correct,” Trump said, as the man was whisked away after a few minutes.

“The police: they’re afraid to move. They’re afraid to move,” Trump added. “We are really becoming a frightened country.”

The Donald has given conflicting answers in regards to disavowing David Duke and white supremacy groups.

Trump continues to decry the First Amendment which gives Americans freedom of expression. Trump likes “free speech” as long as it applies to him.

How do you become the president when you openly talk about squelching free speech?

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Donald Trump Trashes 1st Amendment Over Freedom Of Speech

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Trump Actually Seriously Suggests Suing Newspapers Who Are Neg…Donald J. Trump wants to change the laws so the media can’t say negative things about himPosted by NowThis Election on Friday, February 26, 2016

Donald Trump speaking at a campaign stop today:

“One of the things I’m going to do if I win, and I hope we do and we’re certainly leading. I’m going to open up our libel laws so when they write purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money. We’re going to open up those libel laws. So when The New York Times writes a hit piece which is a total disgrace or when The Washington Post, which is there for other reasons, writes a hit piece, we can sue them and win money instead of having no chance of winning because they’re totally protected.”