cradleandshoot wrote:dislaxxic wrote:Acosta is just a dyed-in-the-wool Old School Democrat gumshoe, dontcha think cradle?
Woulda made Edward R. and Walter proud...
..
Walter Cronkite never made himself a part of the story. It seems that you and MD are having troubles yet again with reading comprehension. I only posted what Major Garrett opined on this issue. You should take this up with Major Garrett. Acosta was not asking trump a question... he was expressing a personal opinion on the caravan. Maybe Acosta should refer to the rules of Jeopardy and phrase his statement in the form of a question. He was not asking Trump a question... he was trying to lecture him. Maybe Acosta should try to emulate Walter Cronkite more? Maybe then he might turn into a news reporter and not a political hack in disguise pretending to be a journalist.
Even an a-hole like Trump should be granted the same modicum of respect that every POTUS is given. IMO when you are invited as a member of the press into the White House press room you have the right and responsibility to ask all the tough questions you want. When you start to lecture the president which is what Acosta did... well how would that have been received if BHO was treated the same way? Of course that was then and this is now. Maybe the rules have changed. Maybe instead of asking tough questions of the POTUS in the WH press room the new decorum is to lecture the POTUS instead of asking questions. To answer the inquiry from my friend Dis, I don't think Walter Cronkite would have shown that type of disrespect to any sitting POTUS, I don't think he did so of Richard Nixon... but then again... that was then... this is now.
good lord cradle, did you actually watch the exchange?
Trump interrupted him before he even got half way into his question. Acosta responded to the interruption and attempted to ask him the question again. And continued to press the question because Trump was so angry that he was being asked the question at all. Trump was bullying from the outset, and then downright abusive.
Someone posted the actual verbiage earlier.
Trump took those questions clearly spoiling for a fight with the press. Did it with at least 4 different reporters in that one conference . And then again later in the day with another.
IMO, Trump was making the press "part of the story" not the reporters, including Acosta. It was a "story" Trump alone wanted.
I quite agree that decorum should be expected.
Reporters should calmly ask tough, challenging questions that enable the respondent to clarify their or the Administration's views and policies to the American public. They should allow the respondent, whether press secretary, President or other spokesperson or official, to complete their answers without interruption.
Reporters should be given the courtesy to ask their questions uninterrupted. And to be able to ask a follow-up question if the first response is not a straight or complete answer.
The government official, including the President, should never speak dismissively or abusively to the press. They should answer questions honestly and, if not a security matter, openly.
The government officials should regularly call on reporters from all major journalistic outlets, across all major media. They should never avoid the reporters most likely to ask the most challenging questions.
And that's what we should expect from the journalists and the government officials, indeed demand of them.
