Accusing the New York Times of 'Treason,' Trump Crosses a Line

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/accusing-the-new-york-times-of-treason-trump-crosses-a-line-11560985187?reflink=share_mobilewebshare

The Founders considered it the gravest of crimes. Tossing the charge around is irresponsible and wrong.

By A.G. Sulzberger
June 19, 2019 6:59 pm ET

First it was “the failing New York Times.” Then “fake news.” Then “enemy of the people.” President Trump’s escalating attacks on the New York Times have paralleled his broader barrage on American media. He’s gone from misrepresenting our business, to assaulting our integrity, to demonizing our journalists with a phrase that’s been used by generations of demagogues.

Now the president has escalated his attacks even further, accusing the Times of a crime so grave it is punishable by death.

On Saturday, Mr. Trump said the Times had committed “a virtual act of treason.” The charge, levied on Twitter , was in response to an article about American cyber incursions into the Russian electrical grid that his own aides had assured our reporters raised no national-security concerns.

<snip>

There is no more serious charge a commander in chief can make against an independent news organization. Which presents a troubling question: What would it look like for Mr. Trump to escalate his attacks on the press further? Having already reached for the most incendiary language available, what is left but putting his threats into action?

There’s evidence that’s already happening. The administration has waged an aggressive legal campaign against journalists. Leak investigations, which were already on the rise under President Obama, have surged. Government regulatory powers have been misused to retaliate against news organizations, such as the attempt to block AT&T from acquiring CNN’s parent company, Time Warner. Most recently, the precedent-shattering use of the Espionage Act against Julian Assange for publishing classified information has raised fears that the Justice Department seeks not merely to punish illegal hacking but effectively to criminalize standard reporting practices.

Meanwhile, the president’s rhetorical attacks continue to foster a climate in which trust in journalists is eroding and violence against them is growing. More than a quarter of Americans—and a plurality of Republicans—now agree that “the news media is the enemy of the American people” and “the president should have the authority to close news outlets engaged in bad behavior.” A world-wide surge of attacks has made this the most dangerous year for journalists on record. This is particularly true in parts of the world where pursuing the truth already carries great risks, as news reporters and editors experience rising levels of censorship, harassment, imprisonment and murder.

</snip>

[get the red out]

1. He's crossed so many

That he's playing hop-scotch at this point, and nobody cares a few days later.

[empedocles]

2. These many things do add up, and may be accounted for at some points

[customerserviceguy]

4. I know that many here

are looking for "the straw that breaks the camel's back" as the old saying goes, but it's a poor analogy. While the proverbial camel is actually getting weight put on him with each and every straw, it's not the same thing with the Trump humpers. They simply shed off new revelations about Trump like water off of a duck's back.

There, two animal analogies in one post!

[empedocles]

3. Remarkable as trump treason charges appear - trumps projects, LOUDLY, "TREASON!''