And to think a cable news network that all but dedicates 24/7 coverage to destroying President Donald Trump doesn’t “impact” his life?
CNN announced that it has filed a lawsuit against the White House in support of its reporter Jim Acosta, who had his access stripped over a physical encounter with an intern who was trying to retrieve a microphone.
Washington Post media reporter Eric Wemple shared on Twitter a statement from Acosta in support of the legal action.
“In his declaration in support of CNN’s suit against White House officials, @acosta claims that @realDonaldTrump rhetoric has had a direct impact on his life,” Wemple tweeted, along with a screen grab of a portion of Acosta’s statement.
In his declaration in support of CNN's suit against White House officials, @acosta claims that @realDonaldTrump rhetoric has had a direct impact on his life. pic.twitter.com/YEUvNKtLb9
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) November 13, 2018
Acosta said for the first time in his career, he’s receiving death threats “aimed at my work covering the President.”
Lost in all the media-driven drama is that CNN can send other reporters to cover the White House — it is clear to the casual observer that Acosta has some real animosity toward the Trump administration.
On a side note, the White House responded to CNN’s lawsuit, characterizing it as “just more grandstanding from CNN.”
White House @presssec has issued a statement calling the CNN lawsuit 'just more grandstanding.' pic.twitter.com/MUbfXKGzRn
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) November 13, 2018
Meanwhile, ratings from this past Friday shows that CNN has MUCH bigger worries than an overly-pompous reporter being stripped of his hard pass.
The Daily Caller’s Benny Johnson tweeted: “CNN did not have a *single* show in the top 25 cable news shows.”
CNN did not have a *single* show in the top 25 cable news shows. pic.twitter.com/gxmMFHBjBB
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) November 12, 2018
Speaking of Benny, he nails the response to the network’s legal action.
He tweeted: “Jim Acosta is protected by the little-known Article 66, Section 71 of the US Constitution which stipulates all Americans have a God-given right to a White House hard pass in order to scream at the President as long as they want to & play ‘hide the mic’ with WH interns.”
Jim Acosta is protected by the little-known Article 66, Section 71 of the US Constitution which stipulates all Americans have a God-given right to a White House hard pass in order to scream at the President as long as they want to & play ‘hide the mic’ with WH interns https://t.co/T1REDENXhv
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) November 13, 2018
As might be expected, social media wasn’t very sympathetic to CNN or Acosta, whose value as a “journalist” is diminished when not making himself the center of attention by sparring with the president of the United States.
Here’s a sampling of responses from Twitter:
This seems like a tough sell, considering what's happening to people like Tucker Carlson and Kat Timpf. But then, it's Washington. https://t.co/Ywb8bK4i6F
— I got your #Unity right here (@jtLOL) November 13, 2018
Dear Diary,
— Colt Seavers Role Model and Hero (@realColtSeavers) November 13, 2018
Now every time I see “Dear Diary” I think of Jim throwing a tantrum and whining. #DearDiary
— OzMan (@butcheboy88) November 13, 2018
— Perry (@BAMAPERRY) November 13, 2018
That’s interesting. Does it open the door for Conservative figures to sue CNN over the death threats they receive?
— Eric Drouant (@Edrouant) November 13, 2018
People always forget about the "CNN must get a question" clause in the First Amendment but it's there. https://t.co/hkSDaCQluN
— Brady Howell (@bd_howell) November 13, 2018
I would come close to betting that if I showed up at the WH gate demanding my Constitutional right to ask questions at a press briefing, I’d be turned away. Should I sue? I have a Blog and 13 followers (well, Mom has 3 accounts, but she follows me on all 3)
— Glenn (@Glennmarrs) November 13, 2018
Now back to the real world where adults actually act like adults and take punishment for bad behavior like an adult.
— The Real Duffinator (@Duffinator1) November 13, 2018
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