CNN and Acosta filed a suit on Tuesday against President Trump and several White House aides alleging violation of Acosta’s 1st and 5th Amendment rights.
Here is the 1st Amendment:
“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.”
Point one, Congress did not make any law here.
Regardless of that, revoking Acosta’s press pass does not violate freedom of the press.
CNN - Getting The Facts Right
Cable News Network (CNN) is the press. Jim Acosta is one reporter for CNN.
CNN still has about 55 hard presses to cover White House activities.
CNN has not had their 1st Amendment violated in terms of free press as they still have more than ample access. Regardless of what they may claim.
Acosta is not allowed freedom of the press, as he is not the press, he is a reporter working for the press.
In terms of Acosta’s 1st Amendment freedom of speech rights, where was the media when Barack had reporters on two different occasions removed because he did not like what they were saying or he felt they were rude. (Perhaps more on that at another time.)
One threshold to violation of free speech rights is “viewpoint discrimination.” Was a viewpoint clash what caused this alleged discrimination?
As White House counsel stated: "A single journalist's attempt to monopolize a press conference is not a viewpoint and revoking a hard pass in response to that is not viewpoint discrimination.”
As to calling in the 5th Amendment and “due process” …
Here is 5A in full:
“No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”
As can be read, the small portion of 5A dealing with due process states: “…nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.”
Acosta has not been deprived of life, liberty or property. Period.
Acosta, just one thing -- learn how to report facts, as your opinion is not news. And, you work at the Cable NEWS Network.
That is, of course, unless CNN changed their name to CON, the Cable Opinion Network, and simply failed to inform us.
by Scott D. Welch, Patriot
Direct descendant of 8 Americans who fought in the Revolutionary War
Cousin of Patrick Henry
The entertaining and informative In Search of Liberty movie is a great refresher (if it's been a while) or educational tool (for those who know very little) about our U.S. Constitution, and is a movie that All Americans should watch.
