Before going any further today, I want to address the horrific shooting that took place yesterday at the Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland. This attack shocked the conscience of our Nation, and filled our hearts with grief... pic.twitter.com/LALXGhk04b
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2018
Boy, it took a LONG time for Trump to make a public statement about this. A full day. (Tweets don't count, but even that was delayed.
Of course, his words here raise some related questions. If as Trump says, the press "should be free from the fear of being violently attacked", will he stop calling them "enemy of the people"? Will he stop attacking them at his rallies where his vitriol is so vicious that reporters in attendance require protection? Will he stop calling every criticism from the press "fake news." Because otherwise, if not, his words today are meaningless and empty.
Actually, even with that, his words here are meaningless and empty. It would certainly help, but to show that his words have actual substance requires dealing with his past attacks directly and acknowledging that they were wrong and harmful, and that his supporters should not hold on to them. The damage is done, and to repair it requires triage and open heart surgery, not a bandage.
Of course, his words here raise some related questions. If as Trump says, the press "should be free from the fear of being violently attacked", will he stop calling them "enemy of the people"? Will he stop attacking them at his rallies where his vitriol is so vicious that reporters in attendance require protection? Will he stop calling every criticism from the press "fake news." Because otherwise, if not, his words today are meaningless and empty.
Actually, even with that, his words here are meaningless and empty. It would certainly help, but to show that his words have actual substance requires dealing with his past attacks directly and acknowledging that they were wrong and harmful, and that his supporters should not hold on to them. The damage is done, and to repair it requires triage and open heart surgery, not a bandage.
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