Following the revocation of CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta’s “hard pass” into the White House after contentious and unacceptable behavior at a news conference, CNN filed suit against the Trump administration claiming violations of the First and Fifth Amendments. A federal judge heard arguments in the case Friday and, though he didn’t address the First Amendment claim, he did rule that the White House needed a sort of “due process” in place to revoke press credentials, and ordered Acosta’s “hard pass” restored.
Press Secretary Sarah Sanders discussed the ruling and in an appearance on Fox News on Friday night, where she said that if reporters like Acosta “can’t be adults,” networks like CNN should send other representatives.
Speaking with her father — former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who was guest hosting for Sean Hannity — Sanders seemed to suggest that Acosta had been behaving like a spoiled child as she explained that the basic minimum standard for reporters going forward should be to act like an adult.
A matter of due process
Asked about what sort of new protocol would be implemented for reporters following the judge’s ruling, Sanders first laid out the basic framework of what the White House expected of members of the media.
“We support a free press, but freedom of the press doesn’t mean freedom to be disruptive, freedom to be rude, freedom to interrupt and impede the ability of the colleagues of the disruptive reporter from actually being able to do their jobs, as well as White House staff being able to do theirs,” Sanders said.
The press secretary revealed that a letter had been sent to CNN that laid out the “missteps” made by Acosta at the post-midterms news conference. She also said that the judge’s ruling actually confirmed that the White House has the right to get rid of disruptive journalists, provided they are afforded due process.
“The judge, I think, was actually very clear that the White House has the ability to say, ‘You can’t come in,'” Sanders said. “Freedom of the press doesn’t mean freedom into the White House… He said there has to be due process, so that’s what we are doing and we’ll see what happens from there.”
If reporters “can’t be adults,” send someone who can
After some discussion about the total number of “hard passes” held by CNN reporters — at least 50, among the most of any other news network — and how it was “laughable” for CNN to try and claim its freedom of the press had been violated, particularly in light of the president’s incredible amount of accessibility to the media, the conversation then turned to opening up future White House briefings to other journalists and outlets not typically seen in the White House press pool.
The interview circled back to when the new protocol for reporters might be implemented — most likely following the Thanksgiving holiday break.
“But I think there are some standard practices,” Sanders said. “The very basic minimum is that if certain reporters — like Jim Acosta — can’t be adults, then CNN needs to send somebody in there who can be.”
Asked about if Acosta’s microphone-hogging behavior had irritated other White House reporters, Sanders replied with a chuckle: “I’m not [going to] speak for any of the other reporters, I’ll leave that to them. But certainly, privately, a number of them have expressed their displeasure with the fact of his grandstanding and the position that he often puts a lot of them in, and it certainly is not something they want to celebrate nor defend.”
[show_poll poll_id=1051]
Jim Acosta has shown on numerous occasions that he struggles with behaving like an adult while at the White House, making opinionated statements instead of asking questions, hogging the microphone at the expense of other reporters, and throwing temper tantrums when he doesn’t get his way.
The White House absolutely should put some ground rules in place that will either compel reporters to behave themselves or be processed out of the press pool so someone else who will behave themselves can be given a chance to cover the White House from the inside.
851 Responses
Thanks again for the post. Cool.
wow, awesome blog. Cool.
Very good blog.Really looking forward to read more. Fantastic.
Awesome blog post.Thanks Again. Really Great.
I do accept as true with all of the ideas you’ve presented on your post. They’re really convincing and will definitely work. Nonetheless, the posts are too brief for starters. May you please prolong them a little from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
I really enjoy the post.Much thanks again. Want more.
A big thank you for your blog article.Much thanks again. Great.
Muchos Gracias for your article post.Really thank you! Great.
I loved your blog post.Really thank you! Fantastic.
I think this is a real great blog post.Really thank you! Will read on…
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is magnificent blog. A fantastic read. I’ll certainly be back.
Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. Many people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic blog.Really thank you! Fantastic.
I think this is a real great blog post.Thanks Again. Really Great.
you’re in reality a excellent webmaster. The site loading pace is amazing. It sort of feels that you’re doing any distinctive trick. Moreover, The contents are masterwork. you have performed a wonderful task on this subject!
I discovered your weblog website on google and verify just a few of your early posts. Proceed to maintain up the excellent operate. I just extra up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading extra from you afterward!…
Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do some research about this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I am very glad to see such wonderful information being shared freely out there.
Appreciating the dedication you put into your site and in depth information you offer. It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed material. Great read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.
I value the article post.Really thank you! Want more.
I really enjoy studying on this internet site , it contains great articles . “When a man’s willing and eager, the gods join in.” by Aeschylus.
F*ckin’ awesome things here. I am very glad to peer your post. Thanks a lot and i am taking a look ahead to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?
Thank you for your article.Thanks Again. Awesome.
I want to convey my gratitude for your kindness giving support to men and women that have the need for guidance on this one topic. Your real commitment to getting the message all through had been exceedingly insightful and has without exception empowered regular people like me to attain their objectives. Your personal useful hints and tips implies a lot a person like me and even more to my peers. Thanks a lot; from everyone of us.
Major thanks for the blog post. Really Great.
A big thank you for your article.Thanks Again. Will read on…
I value the article.Really thank you! Fantastic.
magnificent issues altogether, you just gained a new reader. What may you suggest about your publish that you just made some days in the past? Any sure?
WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..more wait .. …
682789 731526Hello! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the fantastic info youve here on this post. I may be coming back to your weblog for more soon. 646374
Its such as you read my thoughts! You seem to grasp a lot about this, like you wrote the ebook in it or something. I feel that you can do with some to force the message house a little bit, however other than that, this is wonderful blog. A fantastic read. I will definitely be back.
Major thankies for the article post.Thanks Again. Cool.
A round of applause for your article post. Will read on…
I value the blog post. Fantastic.
I simply couldn’t leave your site before suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard information an individual supply to your guests? Is gonna be back regularly to inspect new posts.
711687 530662Hello there! Excellent post! Please inform us when I will see a follow up! 441543
Enjoyed every bit of your post.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
I really enjoy the post.Really looking forward to read more. Really Great.
Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your article seem to be running off the screen in Internet explorer. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with web browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know. The style and design look great though! Hope you get the problem fixed soon. Thanks
Thanks for the article post. Really Great.
You completed various good points there. I did a search on the issue and found nearly all folks will agree with your blog.