Until I read today’s editorial in the Herald-Times, I never understood the historical references to the phrase “enemy of the people.” Now, Trump’s repeated use of that phrase seems even more chilling.
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Trump's attacks on media can't go unchallenged
Editorial staff
President Donald Trump's media bashing has hovered around a middle school level of maturity and sophistication for quite a while now. Apparently he thought it was clever when he first called legitimate news organizations and some facts he simply didn't like "fake news." The term remains a staple in his assault against the working press.
That attempt to be clever is a cheap shot of concern to those who understand the value of the Fourth Estate. There's nothing "fake" or less than genuine about the mission and effort of the professional, legitimate media.
Bona fide journalists continue to seek the truth and report it accurately and fairly. They — we — strive to keep citizens informed about everything from what's going on in the White House to what's going on in every town hall, school and neighborhood around the country.
Sometimes mistakes are made. But they are made in good faith, in the pursuit of truth, as an advocate for the people — not out of a desire to deceive.
The president doesn't seem to think that's true. He crossed a dangerous line when he started calling journalists enemies of the American people. Here's just one example, from an Aug. 5 screed on Twitter:
“The Fake News hates me saying that they are the Enemy of the People only because they know it’s TRUE. I am providing a great service by explaining this to the American People. They purposely cause great division & distrust. They can also cause War! They are very dangerous & sick!”
The name-calling isn't new. During 2017, he called members of the media "disgusting," "scum," "lowlifes," "the lowest form of humanity" and "the lowest form of life.”
However, his attacks intensified a few months ago with his use of "enemies of the American people" and variations of that tag. The language suggests to those who support him that reporters, editors and broadcasters are people who are against them, this country and the ideals of the country; that they should be fought. That's dangerous talk that puts journalists at risk and undercuts an institution important enough to be protected by the Founding Fathers in the First Amendment to the Constitution.
Threats and vitriol have been spewed at media members covering Trump rallies in recent weeks. These actions are a short step from violence.
It's instructive to look at the origin of the term Trump embraces. During the French revolution Robespierre stated: "The revolutionary government owes to the good citizen all the protection of the nation; it owes nothing to the Enemies of the People but death." Historians estimate he and his followers sent 40,000 people to the guillotine.
A later use in government came from Soviet dictator Vladimir Lenin, who declared leaders of an opposition party "enemies of the people" who were to be arrested immediately. Historians estimate his secret police executed as many as 100,000 "class enemies."
The term is not clever. It's a threat.
Newspapers from coast to coast are publishing editorials today to draw attention to Trump's continued demonization of the media and his attempts to paint journalists and media organizations as enemies. He's attacking the institutions and individuals who tell the stories of our nation and of their communities, small and large; who work to hold the powerful accountable; and who seek to give voice to the underserved and the underrepresented.
His rhetoric divides and causes distrust. It could lead to violence.
It can't be left unchallenged.
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