Less than half of Republicans say the media's freedom to criticize politicians is very important to democracy, a new poll says.
A Pew Research Center poll released Thursday found that only 49 percent of Republicans view press criticism as very important for maintaining a strong democracy, while 76 percent of Democrats said so.
Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.
Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.
The liberty of the press is essential to the security of the state.
Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government: When this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and tyranny is erected on its ruins. Republics and limited monarchies derive their strength and vigor from a popular examination into the action of the magistrates.
Oh no, too many dumb folk in the red states don't understand freedom of the press?? But but "it's the edumacated 'coastal elite' liberals' fault for not having any sympathy for the poor white homeschooled folk!" If those fuckers still believe the lies that the corporate class is spewing with everything going on, shame on them. They don't have my sympathy anymore. I don't give a damn if they lose healthcare coverage under Trumpcare because they're in a Red state. I don't give a damn if opioid addiction services are no longer covered...Doesn't affect me in the least. It's not like they've shown any sympathy for recent immigrants, refugees, or anyone living in the inner city either.
What worse is what the favorability was of Putin BEFORE Trump. Believe it was down around 15% consistently. Suddenly it shoots way up after Trump comes along.Yes, shame on democrats for 25% not seeing the importance of a free press.
Yet the American right is totally off the rails. Why do 37% have a favorable opinion of Vladimir Putin?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry...arity-republicans_us_58518a3ce4b092f08686bd6e
How many times have we seen conservatives cite opinion polls to show how supposedly nutty Muslims are? Like 10% of American Muslims have a favorable view of Bin Laden, so sinister. But half of conservatives don't see a free press as important, and nearly 40% have a favorable view of a murderous autocrat. And think about the overlap - doesn't believe in a free press AND has a favorable opinion of Putin. Scary as hell.
It's interesting in that the right always seem to see themselves as the defenders of the Constitution in the strictest, most literal of senses. And yet the founders were very clear in the importance of the an independent press to serve as one of the main checks and balances to the government.
What worse is what the favorability was of Putin BEFORE Trump. Believe it was down around 15% consistently. Suddenly it shoots way up after Trump comes along.
Its called brainwashingYes, and the connection between these two poll results is obvious. Trump repeatedly bashes the press, and suddenly a free press isn't important. Trump repeatedly praises Putin, and suddenly Putin is a great guy. This is why the right has become so scary. Is there anything Trump could ever say that they won't instantly except as Divine Truth? What's next? Suppose Trump decides to say that Hitler was a great guy, or that we should use nuclear weapon in the middle east.
Its called brainwashing
Yes, shame on democrats for 25% not seeing the importance of a free press.
Yet the American right is totally off the rails. Why do 37% have a favorable opinion of Vladimir Putin?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry...arity-republicans_us_58518a3ce4b092f08686bd6e
How many times have we seen conservatives cite opinion polls to show how supposedly nutty Muslims are? Like 10% of American Muslims have a favorable view of Bin Laden, so sinister. But half of conservatives don't see a free press as important, and nearly 40% have a favorable view of a murderous autocrat. And think about the overlap - doesn't believe in a free press AND has a favorable opinion of Putin. Scary as hell.
So, I've read the article and clicked through to the write up of the poll results at Pew trying to find the actual wording of the question asked and so far I am unable to find it.
What I see is the following wording; "News organizations are free to criticize political leaders". I don't see a question phrased such that it could elicit a response that could be construed to indicate that nearly half of all Republicans don't support a free press. If the question (and as worded it is not a question) was worded the way it was presented, it centers around whether the press is free to criticize, not whether people of either political affiliation either condemn or condone a free press.
Context is important. But I don't by any means want to diminish the rage of the hour. It keeps a lot of people very busy while other things are being accomplished beneath the haze of rage.
Give us a free press to support. Not the current lineup of political proxies that we have.
So, I've read the article and clicked through to the write up of the poll results at Pew trying to find the actual wording of the question asked and so far I am unable to find it.
What I see is the following wording; "News organizations are free to criticize political leaders". I don't see a question phrased such that it could elicit a response that could be construed to indicate that nearly half of all Republicans don't support a free press. If the question (and as worded it is not a question) was worded the way it was presented, it centers around whether the press is free to criticize, not whether people of either political affiliation either condemn or condone a free press.
Context is important. But I don't by any means want to diminish the rage of the hour. It keeps a lot of people very busy while other things are being accomplished beneath the haze of rage.
News organizations are free to criticize political leaders... is VERY important to maintaining a strong democracy in the United States.
A more scathing indictment could not be made. Shame on the 25% of Democrats who also do not support a free press.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-brief...-half-of-republicans-believe-free-press-press
Oh no, too many dumb folk in the red states don't understand freedom of the press?? But but "it's the edumacated 'coastal elite' liberals' fault for not having any sympathy for the poor white homeschooled folk!"
I don't give a damn if opioid addiction services are no longer covered...Doesn't affect me in the least.
Meanwhile, Brandonbull comes out against the free press in the post before yours....
You missed what the question said, it was EXACTLY this:
Give us a free press to support. Not the current lineup of political proxies that we have.
You are completely clueless. When did I state that I'm against a free press? Overwhelmingly, the "free press" of today acts more like proxies of the government and is more interested in pushing some political/ideology agendas than reporting news. This is a form of obstruction so how can we have a free press?