Veterans Hit a Breaking Point With Trump

[Chosen Daughter]

Veterans Hit a Breaking Point With Trump

The president's recent VFW appearance was supposed to be an easy win with his base. It was anything but.

By Mark Perry • July 31, 2018

There are hundreds of local, state, and national organizations representing veterans, but there are only four that really matter: the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the newest, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). These organizations are the 400-pound gorillas of the veterans movement: they have the numbers, power, and money, and they know how to throw their weight around. So it is that candidates scramble for the veterans’ vote by targeting this quartet, meeting with their local chapters, state conferences, and national conventions—like the VFW’s recent confab in Kansas City where last Tuesday Donald Trump appeared to what he thought would be a raucous welcome.

It wasn’t. .................

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/veterans-hit-a-breaking-point-with-trump/

[Bigun]

I was a member of the VFW just long enough to discover the very left leaning tendencies of their leadership.  I left soon after.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Do they mean this Veteran?

[Emjay]

I was a member of the VFW just long enough to discover the very left leaning tendencies of their leadership.  I left soon after.

Most of the crowd looked happy enough.  They carefully chose to feature 3 angry men.

[Chosen Daughter]

I was a member of the VFW just long enough to discover the very left leaning tendencies of their leadership.  I left soon after.

Well, first off let me thank you for your service to this country. 

What I am wondering about is how you do not think Freedom of the press is an important aspect of a free country?  And how you could label something that is clearly written into our Constitution to protect all of its citizens as left leaning?  These veterans all regardless of party affiliation, or personal opinions on politics have all sacrificed for freedom and deserve the same respect.

US Constitution
Amendment 1

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.


From our own State Department Website:


May 3rd marks the annual commemoration of World Press Freedom Day. The United States values freedom of the press as a key component of democratic governance. Democratic societies are not infallible, but they are accountable, and the exchange of ideas is the foundation for accountable governance. In the U.S. and in many places around the world, the press fosters active debate, provides investigative reporting, and serves as a forum to express different points of view, particularly on behalf of those who are marginalized in society. The U.S. commends journalists around the world for the important role they play, and for their commitment to the free exchange of ideas.

The U.S. in particular salutes those in the press who courageously do their work at great risk. The press is often a target of retaliation by those who feel threatened by freedom of expression and transparency in democratic processes. Journalists are often the first to uncover corruption, to report from the front lines of conflict zones, and to highlight missteps by governments. This work places many journalists in danger, and it is the duty of governments and citizens worldwide to speak out for their protection and for their vital role in open societies.

https://www.state.gov/j/drl/press/

[Bigun]

Well, first off let me thank you for your service to this country. 

What I am wondering about is how you do not think Freedom of the press is an important aspect of a free country?

Where did you get the idea that I don't think it is?  My problem with what we have currently is that it's neither free or independent for the most part.

[Chosen Daughter]

Most of the crowd looked happy enough.  They carefully chose to feature 3 angry men.

I don't see it.  The article was fair and expressed the truth of what happened.  Many vets booed the Press and others didn't .

This has been going on since the campaign.  It is one of the things I really find offensive about Trump.  Presidents all receive positive and negative reports in the media.  I posted above to @Bigun what our own State Department says about Freedom of the Press.  You should read it because it is time to hold Trump accountable for his dictating.  Yes, dictating what people can or can't, should, or should'nt read.  Clearly our government is not supposed to dictate that.

Furthermore the article brought up some excellent points.

• The media has helped Veterans bring light to issues important to them

[li]Many members of the press have put their own lives on the line and have lost lives reporting in war times.

As for me I would like to make a very important point.  Either Trump is for Veterans or he isn't.  They are men and woman of many opinions and party affiliations.  All deserving respect.
[/li][/list]

[Frank Cannon]

Anyone bother reading this shit piece? It is loaded with spin from Leftist activists. Either this writer is a Commie or there were no Right Wingers in the audience. I can tell you at any given time at the 2 VFW's I drive by there is at least one truck or old Buick in the lot with a Trump sticker still on it.

[Bigun]

Anyone bother reading this shit piece? It is loaded with spin from Leftist activists. Either this writer is a Commie or there were no Right Wingers in the audience. I can tell you at any given time at the 2 VFW's I drive by there is at least one truck or old Buick in the lot with a Trump sticker still on it.

I'm very sure that there are many good people in the VFW. In fact, I know some but the fact is that the leadership of the organization is very much left of center.  Kinda like the AARP.

[To-Whose-Benefit?]

Where did you get the idea that I don't think it is?  My problem with what we have currently is that it's neither free or independent for the most part.

Jefferson was a great believer in a free press though he also said he thought people were better off being uninformed than being Misinformed by the press of his day.

Slanted reporting goes back quite a ways.

[Chosen Daughter]

Where did you get the idea that I don't think it is?  My problem with what we have currently is that it's neither free or independent for the most part.

Meaning no disrespect, especially for your service.  I got the idea because you excused the whole thing because of your view of the leadership being liberal.  I would be the first to agree that there is very poor reporting, and much of it is liberal.  The best way to combat that is by getting the Conservative message out in a more bigly way.  Fact is though that everyone deserves the right to read and determine for themselves what is in the news.  Clearly Trump was telling the entire audience to disregard the press.

[Bigun]

Jefferson was a great believer in a free press though he also said he thought people were better off being uninformed than being Misinformed by the press of his day.

Slanted reporting goes back quite a ways.

Yeah!  I guess so!

One night, probably in 1880, John Swinton, then the preeminent New York journalist, was the guest of honour at a banquet given him by the leaders of his craft. Someone who knew neither the press nor Swinton offered a toast to the independent press. Swinton outraged his colleagues by replying:

"There is no such thing, at this date of the world's history, in America, as an independent press. You know it and I know it.
There is not one of you who dares to write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid weekly for keeping my honest opinion out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for similar things, and any of you who would be so foolish as to write honest opinions would be out on the streets looking for another job. If I allowed my honest opinions to appear in one issue of my paper, before twenty-four hours my occupation would be gone.

"The business of the journalists is to destroy the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread.
You know it and I know it, and what folly is this toasting an independent press?
We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities and our lives are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes."

Source: Labor's Untold Story, by Richard O. Boyer and Herbert M. Morais, published by United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America, NY, 1955/1979.

[Frank Cannon]

I'm very sure that there are many good people in the VFW. In fact, I know some but the fact is that the leadership of the organization is very much left of center.  Kida like the AARP.

That's the case with most leadership of national groups because Libs feel compelled to be in control of shit and worm their way to the top. It's real easy with large national groups where the names people are voting on have never been heard of or even seen. I'm reminded of the stupid ballots I get for the NRA where I recognize a handful of celebs and then there are 52 names of nobodies.

[Bigun]

Meaning no disrespect, especially for your service.  I got the idea because you excused the whole thing because of your view of the leadership being liberal.  I would be the first to agree that there is very poor reporting, and much of it is liberal.  The best way to combat that is by getting the Conservative message out in a more bigly way.  Fact is though that everyone deserves the right to read and determine for themselves what is in the news.  Clearly Trump was telling the entire audience to disregard the press.

Thank you for the kind words @Chosen Daughter and I certainly mean no disrespect to you when I say that IMHO the president was giving very good advice given the current environment.

[Chosen Daughter]

Thank you for the kind words @Chosen Daughter and I certainly mean no disrespect to you when I say that IMHO the president was giving very good advice given the current environment.

And thank you.  I would have to say that if Trump thinks he has to tell people what is acceptable reading he has no confidence they are smart enough to know what they are reading.

[Chosen Daughter]

Yeah!  I guess so!

Source: Labor's Untold Story, by Richard O. Boyer and Herbert M. Morais, published by United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America, NY, 1955/1979.

John Swinton. 

https://solidarity-us.org/atc/45/p4886/

[Chosen Daughter]

Yeah!  I guess so!

Source: Labor's Untold Story, by Richard O. Boyer and Herbert M. Morais, published by United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America, NY, 1955/1979.

Perhaps at that time they didn't want Swinson to speak his mind because he was a radical anti Capitalist Socialist.  Interesting read.


https://books.google.com/books?id=t9gpAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=John+Swinton+was+socialist&source=bl&ots=ZHSsdi3djN&sig=h4p8G2PN6mqLPAZasiEgxcDIB5c&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi80JyHiMvcAhVSJ30KHdmuB8gQ6AEwAXoECAAQAQ#v=onepage&q=John%20Swinton%20was%20socialist&f=false

Also of interest is the rest of the quote you posted.

The business of the journalists is to destroy the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I know it, and what folly is this toasting an independent press?

We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities and our lives are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes.

(Source: Labor's Untold Story, by Richard O. Boyer and Herbert M. Morais, published by United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America, NY, 1955/1979.)


http://www.constitution.org/pub/swinton_press.htm

Interesting stuff.  This guy was in the midst of the making of New York values.

[sneakypete]

Not even bothering to read the story. I am a veteran,and I am mostly loving what Trump is doing and has done. My only complaint is I wish he were doing more of it.

[Mesaclone]

I’m a member of the VFW and the Legion...Trump is wildly popular amongst Vets in general. This, anecdotally and statistically, is a simple fact. As for a free press, the President pointing out dishonesty and bias in media...and recommending people ignore the press that has become little more than a propaganda wing for the Dems...IS advocacy for a free press. The President’s expression of an opinion about the media, in no way restricts the Constitutonal freedom of the American press.

Criticizing a press that is no longer free or which no longer holds impartiality and honesty as essential values...is not just the President’s right, it is his duty. Further, despite the media’s shift towards propagandizing, the President has taken no action to limit their freedom to report as they will.

[aligncare]

Obvious by my postings, but I’ve never worked in journalism. But I did major in it and enjoyed the challenge and got my degree. It’s an important discipline and if done right journalism serves a noble role in a free society.

But, that’s not what we have today and it saddens me. Journalism today is largely ideologically/politically driven. Advocacy journalism (which normally should occupy only a small portion of journalism’s purpose and role in society) is being seamlessly baked right into the just-the-facts-Ma’am, hard news, part of reporting.

In that regard Donald Trump is the best thing to happen to news consumers since the battle was joined, and because of him fighting back and often winning, most of us are now starting to see the media and journalism for what it is, a partisan tool for the Left.

Bottom line, President Trump is serving his country well if all he manages is to open a crack in the media’s political double standard so that people can see it.

[Chosen Daughter]

I’m a member of the VFW and the Legion...Trump is wildly popular amongst Vets in general. This, anecdotally and statistically, is a simple fact. As for a free press, the President pointing out dishonesty and bias in media...and recommending people ignore the press that has become little more than a propaganda wing for the Dems...IS advocacy for a free press. The President’s expression of an opinion about the media, in no way restricts the Constitutonal freedom of the American press.

Criticizing a press that is no longer free or which no longer holds impartiality and honesty as essential values...is not just the President’s right, it is his duty. Further, despite the media’s shift towards propagandizing, the President has taken no action to limit their freedom to report as they will.

I don't know how pointing to the press telling them not to listen to them isn't interfering.  Certainly is making them unwelcome.  No news these days are impartial.  FOX News is often not news but opinion.  And when they are done with their contributors they toss them out the same way Trump does.  Hardly fair and balanced.  I read all news outlets with Conservative in the name.  Because that is what I want to hear.  Some of it isn't always positive about Trump and I weed out what I believe is true.  As I am sure everyone does.

[Mesaclone]

I don't know how pointing to the press telling them not to listen to them isn't interfering.  Certainly is making them unwelcome.  No news these days are impartial.  FOX News is often not news but opinion.  And when they are done with their contributors they toss them out the same way Trump does.  Hardly fair and balanced.  I read all news outlets with Conservative in the name.  Because that is what I want to hear.  Some of it isn't always positive about Trump and I weed out what I believe is true.  As I am sure everyone does.

As with Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the press simply ensures freedom from legal restrictions imposed by the government...it does not suggest that one’s speech nor one’s publication be free from criticism. Nor does it imply that leaders, politicians and citizens cannot call for others to ignore either speech or press publication.

[endicom]

As with Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the press simply ensures freedom from legal restrictions imposed by the government...it does not suggest that one’s speech nor one’s publication be free from criticism. Nor does it imply that leaders, politicians and citizens cannot call for others to ignore either speech or press publication.

Yes. Free speech is for all and not for just who wangles a press card.