White House Press Corps

For John, BLUF:  It seems to me that Mr James Acosta has gotten too big for his britches.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Doesn't anybody here respect us journalists?

From The Washington Times, by Emeritus Editor in Chief Wesley Pruden, 8 November 2018.

Here is the lede plus five:

Yamiche Alcindor of National Public Radio asked the president why he calls himself a “nationalist” when he should know that the word has been twisted into a meaning it once never had.

“Mr. President,” she said, “on the campaign trail you called yourself a ‘nationalist,’ and some heard that as emboldening white nationalists.  There are some people that say the Republican Party is seen as supporting white nationalists because of your rhetoric.  What do you make of that?”

This is the classic ‘when-did-you-stop-beating your wife’ question.  To answer it is to accept the premise, that a nationalist is a racist and bigot simply because “some people” say so, and that “the Republican Party is seen as supporting white nationalists because of [the president’s] rhetoric.”  She apparently never learned that “some” is not a legitimate source.

The president might have delicately said something like “I have never said anything to support racial bigotry,” or merely defined “nationalism,” a devotion to national rather than international goals, and let it go.  But It’s difficult for anyone, even a president, to let such an accusation go.  Attributing bigotry to someone with whom you disagree has become a liberal’s first line of argument, and even a president finds it hard to ignore, and this president doesn’t do letting it go.

“I don’t know why you’d say that,” Mr. Trump replied.  “Such a racist question.  Honestly?  Let me tell you, that’s a racist question.  Why do I have the highest poll numbers ever with African Americans?  That’s such a racist question.  I love our country, I do.  You have nationalists, and you have globalists.  But to say what you said to me is so insulting to me. It’s a very terrible thing you said.”

“The Washington Press Corps,” reported one Web publication, “was floored.” The White House reporters, who can sometimes seem like a “corps,” but the reporters who cover the presidents are never so organized as a “corps.”  (Aside to Barack Obama, the scholar from Harvard, Columbia, and Occidental College, it’s still pronounced as if it were spelled “core” not “corpse,” which is a dead person.)

It isn't just about CNN's James Acosta, who has had his White House Press Pass lifted.♠  The Press Corps seems to be trying to prove, during Press Conferences, how evil the White House is, under President Trump.

The only thing that is surprising is that the Press Corps, and their Masters back at the newspapers and stations, are surprised that the President pushes back.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  It did seem like Mr Acosta was acting like he was the star of the show and should be afforded more than his fair share of the time.