The White House is changing its tune on why it yanked Jim Acosta's press pass

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

The White House is changing its tune on why it yanked Jim Acosta’s press pass

By Aaron Blake
November 13 at 12:53 PM

This post has been updated.

CNN announced Tuesday that it will sue the White House over reporter Jim Acosta’s press pass being revoked. And importantly, the White House now seems to be changing its tune about exactly why it sanctioned Acosta.

In a statement Tuesday morning, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders suggested that the decision was about Acosta refusing to yield the microphone while questioning the president:

We have been advised that CNN has filed a complaint challenging the suspension of Jim Acosta’s hard pass. This is just more grandstanding from CNN, and we will vigorously defend against this lawsuit.

CNN, who has nearly 50 additional hard pass holders, and Mr. Acosta is no more or less special than any other media outlet or reporter with respect to the First Amendment. After Mr. Acosta asked the President two questions — each of which the President answered — he physically refused to surrender a White House microphone to an intern, so that other reporters might ask their questions. This was not the first time this reporter has inappropriately refused to yield to other reporters.

The White House cannot run an orderly and fair press conference when a reporter acts this way, which is neither appropriate nor professional. The First Amendment is not served when a single reporter, of more than 150 present, attempts to monopolize the floor. If there is no check on this type of behavior it impedes the ability of the President, the White House staff, and members of the media to conduct business.”

But that’s different from the initial justifications offered by the White House for revoking Acosta’s press pass. Less than a week ago, it was primarily about him supposedly placing his hands on and getting too rough with an intern.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/11/13/white-house-is-changing-its-tune-why-it-yanked-jim-acostas-press-pass/

[lpbk2713]

1. What again?

[Moostache]

7. Your avatar needs to go viral around Trump

His ego would start tearing him apart if people kept chanting "Trump's a Chump" in a kind of rebuttal to "Lock Her Up"...he'd try to play it off, but the longer and more frequently flash mobs hit him with it, the more unhinged he'd become...

[lpbk2713]

10. I've had that since Primary Season.

I knew he would be bad for this country.

[spanone]

2. Every day is opposite day in this insane white house.

[madaboutharry]

3. This new excuse is a crock of shit.

2020 can't get here soon enough.

[Gothmog]

4. This is what happens when a lawsuit is filed

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Seems like they always do this.

Throw some lame excuse against the wall and if it doesn't stick they throw another, lamer one.

[leftyladyfrommo]

19. That's what sociopaths do. One does not fly then just

throw out another one.

Like all the excuses for not going to the cemetary. I think it's changed 3 times, too.

[Autumn]

6. She is an intern like Trump is president.

[treestar]

8. That assumes that they control where the microphone goes

And so they can interrupt anyone in the middle of their question.

[Fullduplexxx]

9. More moving the goal posts

[Fullduplexxx]

11. It's the people's mic not trump's

[malaise]

12. Good

Won't help them in court

[RockRaven]

13. You know what totally helps win a lawsuit? Completely changing your story after getting sued.

That really makes the judge believe your second story is totes true.

[Scurrilous]

18. LOL

[oasis]

14. Not a soul bought "karate chop" story. Who knew?

[lilactime]

15. I really really want to see Huckster and Conjob testify as to why

Huckster promoted a doctored video and Conjob admitted it was doctored.

[bobbieinok]

16. Is there an equation relating number of explanations of T's behavior to its severity/stupidity

This as one example.

Skipping Armistice ceremonies another.

[Mr. Ected]

17. My God, now they're doctoring the very basis of their inane decision

It's like it's bred into them to distort truth.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

20. Flip floppers!

[George II]

21. I guess when something progresses to a court proceeding, cooler heads prevail and they realize....

....they HAVE to tell the truth.

[Mr.Bill]

22. And changing your story like that

in writing does not look good for the defendant when the lawsuit hits a courtroom.

[bullwinkle428]

23. This story has changed more fucking times than the Khashoggi murder!

[mahannah]

24. "The White House cannot run an orderly and fair press conference..."

[BigmanPigman]

25. SHS is a hack as are the other so-called professionals in this

infantile admin. My dog is more professional (sorry Spike, that is an insult to you).

[Me.]

26. SHE'S NOT AN INTERN!

she's a deputy press secretary