It was beyond ironic to hear Trump lecture reporters earlier today on the subject of 'decorum' when commenting further on the removal of Jim Acosta's White House press pass and on a judge's order to reinstate same.
Confrontational journalism involves walking a fine line between showing respect for the subject at hand and one's responsibility to ask the tough questions of those in public positions of power. Indeed, respectful confrontation with those in power is an essential aspect of serious and responsible journalism. We need more; not less of it to uncover the truth behind the omnipresent obfuscation we are all experiencing in these confused and troubled times. I think that Acosta has kept himself on the correct side of an acceptable line and that his unpopularity with the Current Occupant does not therefore render him wrong, inappropriate, or otherwise worthy of sanction or any other form of public rebuke from the one person who has consistently disrespected just about everyone within his poisonous orbit.
The freedom of the fourth estate to provide a check on the powerful and an unfettered delivery of information to the people who employ them is an indispensable aspect
of a full functioning democracy. Long live independent journalism!
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