I’m reading and hearing about those news outlets filing a lawsuit against Trump for banning the press. The grounds being freedom of speech. It’s in the first amendment! Well, I have read the first amendment and don’t see anything in there about access to Whitehouse press conferences.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

That’s the text. Has freedom of speech been “abridged” by his failure to invite certain press corps? I can’t see where he has, in fact, that very press has published, spoken and indeed printed articles all about that, unfettered, unrestricted in any fashion whatsoever. They are free to speak!

Now that amendment does guarantee their right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. That has to be accomplished through legal means, IE: the court system. I see that as a problem for them though, what is their grievance? Their press credentials were canceled. That isn’t abridging their freedom of speech.

What I am asking about is the grounds for this lawsuit. Can the press sue for access to press conferences held at the white house? It’s a question I feel will have to be answered. I’ve already heard varying opinions from the Facebook legal authorities. The experts have entered the conversation.

Now just who gets to decide what press is allowed to be present and who isn’t is certainly a point of contention. Should it be a pool of reporters? In my view that’s like asking the wolf to guard the hen house. You really just can’t allow everyone and anyone in there!

Is there a constitutional right for the press to be invited to a press conference? No, it is a privilege extended. The President, or anyone else for that matter, invites the press to attend. Why would they do that? The answer is obvious enough; I don’t need to explain that. It’s really no different than being invited to birthday party.

Presidents and the press. It’s like mixing water and oil. The oil will rise to the top eventually and it’s never a good thing. Historically even George Washington disliked the press near the end of his term. Yes, Donald trump is quite verbose, quite critical of the press and blatantly undiplomatic in his approach. That’s his MO.

He doesn’t like what they are saying! He can’t stop them from saying whatever they like, but he doesn’t have to give them the words to say it either! He doesn’t have to invite them! That’s the way I see it anyway, just my opinion. He hasn’t abridged anyone’s freedom of speech.