COSTA MESA — Donald Trump and his crew do not seem to think much of the Southwestern College Sun. When we applied for press credentials to attend some of Trump’s Southern California rallies during his 2016 campaign, his staff denied the request and said they “needed to give priority to (national and local) professional journalists.”
Ouch.
We had already been given credentials to cover Senator Bernie Sanders, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President Bill Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden at separate events, along with our colleagues at NBC, BBC, ABC, CBS, the New York Times and many other professional news organizations.
At least we were in good company. Trump’s gang also denied the Washington Post, Univision, PBS and other highly-regarded news organizations from covering his events. Trump’s actions went against the U.S. Constitution which protects free speech. Journalism is the only profession specifically afforded Constitutional protection.
So how can Trump tell journalists to “fuck off”? (his words).
Robust journalism is essential to our freedom, one of the four cornerstones of democracy.
Transparency is a vision of the Founding Fathers. Journalism provides a connection between governments and citizens. Thomas Jefferson had it right.
Cherry picking journalists skews coverage. Trump picks his press so he can manipulate the views of citizens.
Trump’s disdain for student journalists who learn on the first day of class at SWC that there should be no divide between college and professional journalists since we all abide by the same code of ethics, strict rules for accurate reporting and a professional behavioral set. We have the same rights and the same responsibilities as the New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune or CBS.
It is essential for any presidential candidate to be clear in his/her intentions, to be able to explain positions and demonstrate the ability to handle difficult situations with courage, wisdom and aplomb.
Trump failed miserably on all fronts.
If Trump bends the Constitution now, what about later?
He is currently suing comedian Bill Maher, host of Real Time on HBO, because Maher wants Trump to prove that he is not the son of an orangutan. Maher was riffing on Trump’s racist claim that President Obama could not prove he was an American citizen. Trump’s notorious thin skin was never thinner. Maher was being silly on a satirical comedy show, which is his right under the First Amendment. Trump’s lawsuit makes him look sillier than an orangutan.
Maher will win the case, but once again it shows that Trump is clueless about the U.S. Constitution and laws that protect journalists and satirists. He should not be suing comedy shows because he does not like the comments from the host. That is not anywhere close to presidential behavior.
Trump previewed authoritarian tendencies by denying journalists entry to his public events or having them forcefully removed. His role models appear to be Russia, China, North Korea, Mexico, Venezuela, Uganda and other repressive autocracies that have pounded down their news media.
Donald Trump says he wants to be a president for all Americans. He should. It is his job.
Part of that job is to communicate to all Americans. That includes those of us here at Southwestern College that he blew off and flipped off this summer. It appears to us that it is Mr. Trump who needs some schooling in professional behavior.
