Trump's Football

by Delta R Vines

Donald Trump has a habit of throwing his weight around in the business world.  He has been catered to in the political world of late, with apparent success of late.  All of this despite a lack of restraint on various commentaries making fun of reporters with disabilities, deprecating commentary regarding Meghan Kelly, the looks of Carly Fiorina, a lack of respect toward women, in general, and calling voters in a specific state "stupid".  Where the citizens of the U.S. would have at one time turned their back on such a candidate, they've stuck to this presidential candidate like glue.

Apparently he has been holding a BIG grudge against Meghan Kelly to the point of insisting to Fox News Network that she not be a moderator for the debate this Thursday (tomorrow) night.  He did not like the questions she asked him in the Fox News Network Debate on August 6, 2015.  They were not any harder than questions she asked the other candidates.

Reporters do ask hard question, regardless of the network for which they work.

Mr. Trump also did not like the tongue-in-cheek comments from Fox News which actually makes a pretty good point:

“We learned from a secret back channel that the Ayatollah and Putin both intend to treat Donald Trump unfairly when they meet with him if he becomes president — a nefarious source tells us that Trump has his own secret plan to replace the Cabinet with his Twitter followers to see if he should even go to those meetings.”

Donald has been pushing Fox News to drop Kelly as a moderator for the debate tomorrow night.  Fox has consistently refused to capitulate to his demands, as they should.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as written in the Bill of Rights states:

"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"   (emphasis mine)

If Fox News Network were to acquiesce to Mr. Trump's condition, they would be setting a negative precedence for reporters of news and their networks the world over.  Candidates, (and officeholders) would constantly be making demands of which reporters can report what.  No other network would in good conscience give in to similar demands; not ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, BBC, or any other.  

The U.S. has a free press system which at times can be frustrating even to the casual viewer.   

But, it's free of oppression.  It's free from dictates.  And it's free from oppressive dictates by a narcissistic presidential candidate - or possible subsequent presidential candidate.

Mr. Donald Trump has shown the type of leader of the United States he would be.  When a world leader doesn't do what Mr. Trump wants, he would threaten and cajoul, and pout when his demands aren't met.  

The press the world over is going to ask hard questions.  Our own congress will not just say "yes sir!" to whatever the president (whomever that may be) may say. As the Fox News comment pointed out, leaders of other countries will not agree with our president in all things. What would be his way of dealing with such conflicts?  Would he freeze all aid our country may contribute to that country (i.e. blackmail)?  That is one reason he is choosing to boycott the FNN debate - to see how much money Fox looses as a result.  

The way Mr. Trump deals with news networks and reporters is an indicator of how he would be if elected to the U.S. presidency.  "Taking your football and going home" is not a way to make America great again.  Instead it portrays Donald as a spoiled brat having a temper tantrum.  

The world would laugh at such.  The world would not have respect for that behavior.  I know I definately don't.  People want someone strong enough to face adversity with dignity.

Welcome to the real world, Mr. Trump!