Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2017 February 25

= February 25 =

Media attacking Donald?
Why is there a concerted campaign to attack the president by the media? It seems like all the major establishments have gone out of their way to criticize Trump. Like non stop. Trump has even said him self that he's the target of false news. Yet, he's only been in office barely more than a month. Clearly, the situation has gotten so out of control that his team has had to restrict which media outlets his team can engage with. Is it because he's an outsider, or some sort of establishment in the shadows genuinely feels fearful and threatened by him. Sad. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.85.27.76 (talk) 23:59, 25 February 2017 (UTC)


 * Every politician gets attacked by the media. In Trump's case, it's like shooting fish in a barrel. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 00:10, 26 February 2017 (UTC)


 * Any politician who lies as often and as badly as Trump does will get attacked. For example, his claim that he had the highest electoral vote margin since Ronald Reagan, when everyone since Reagan has actually done better, in at least one election, with the exception of the last Bush.  His claim that there were 5 million fraudulent votes for Hillary is just as bad.  If he really believed this, he would launch an investigation.  Then his claiming that anyone who points out his lies is "fake news", when he is actually the one generating fake news, isn't going to endear him to the press.  StuRat (talk) 00:22, 26 February 2017 (UTC)


 * We don't answer loaded, leading questions obviously intended to advance an opinion or viewpoint. However, to humor you, the media is calling Trump out because he's a pathological liar. WaltCip (talk) 01:37, 26 February 2017 (UTC)
 * All politicians are liars and are accused of lying. They're a lot like salesmen. And it's not new to Trump at all. I'm thinking back to 1993 or so. You've heard of the "first 100 days"? One magazine (Spy (magazine)) had a picture of Bill Clinton on the cover, with the caption "Clinton's first 100 lies". ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 01:43, 26 February 2017 (UTC)


 * For a historical context, see There's history behind Trump's press attacks. Alansplodge (talk) 01:45, 26 February 2017 (UTC)


 * One job of the press is to keep government honest. Every president has been called out on various fishy statements. The other job is selling ad space. The previous presidents may have been fine statesmen, but lacked the starpower of the WWE Hall of Famer/reality TV heel whose name has adorned giant buildings for decades. Millions of news consumers/voters have seen Trump as a big deal for about as long as they've known Santa (or Satan).
 * Also consider how most candidates run again one party, not two. Each party has its friendly voices and straight-up employees in the mainstream media. Trump still leans red (if you have to put him somewhere), but prevented quite a few influential Republicans from officially running the country, or even running to run it. That won't be forgiven for a while yet, despite how politely those losers conceded on their podiums.
 * Finally, Americans are online more than ever for this president (probably a coincidence), and the Internet has a way of making raving like a lunatic about celebrities, religion and politics way more acceptable and rewarding than doing it in public. If a story harnesses and stimulates that rage, it makes more money than if it doesn't. Since the Web took off, Americans have had a war president and a black president. Raging too hard against either could make a person or company seem unpatriotic or racist, even if the complaints weren't. Donald Trump is made entirely of fair game, so the floodgates can finally open after sixteen years. InedibleHulk (talk) 02:09, 26 February 2017 (UTC)


 * But how can they keep government honest when they themselves lie all the time??? 2601:646:8E01:7E0B:F88D:DE34:7772:8E5B (talk) 03:37, 26 February 2017 (UTC)


 * You've bought into the Trumpist propaganda. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 03:52, 26 February 2017 (UTC)


 * Give us some examples of the press "lying about Trump", and we will tell you if those really were "lies". More likely, it's just something true that Trump didn't like. StuRat (talk) 03:56, 26 February 2017 (UTC)


 * "Donald Trump is a spider monkey fighting tortoises." InedibleHulk (talk) 04:03, 26 February 2017 (UTC)


 * Looks like a good metaphor [and a good prediction]. He vanquished every foe in the Republican primaries. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 04:09, 26 February 2017 (UTC)


 * And "driven by pure anger". InedibleHulk (talk) 04:11, 26 February 2017 (UTC)


 * Note that the press wasn't particularly kind to Richard Nixon. See Woodward and Bernstein.  When the press sees lies, they go in for the kill.  That's what they are supposed to do. StuRat (talk) 02:15, 26 February 2017 (UTC)


 * And the media were after Nixon long before he became president. Likewise with Trump. He's been lampooned for at least 30 years. A 1987 Doonesbury series about him had him saying he would be running for president. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 02:19, 26 February 2017 (UTC)


 * Before there were Muslims, before there were transexuals...there were Indians. Fun Fact: During Election '88, that writer shot an unarmed and undressed stoned teen in his pool. With an illegal weapon. Nobody's perfect. InedibleHulk (talk) 02:45, 26 February 2017 (UTC)


 * And he was on Nixon's list, too. Small world. InedibleHulk (talk) 02:54, 26 February 2017 (UTC)


 * Note that Trump doesn't just say the media is out out get him. He also says the courts are, the political system was rigged against him, millions voted illegally to deny him the win in the popular vote, then there's the  women who accused him of sexual misconduct, the students who accused him of fraud at Trump U, the people and businesses he refused to pay, etc.  See paranoia. StuRat (talk) 04:20, 26 February 2017 (UTC)


 * ...and the latest, Trump now accuses Obama of leading a conspiracy against him. StuRat (talk) 23:36, 28 February 2017 (UTC)
 * This, from a guy who insisted Obama was born overseas. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 05:43, 1 March 2017 (UTC)