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McCain Warns Suppressing Press ‘Is How Dictators Get Started’
NBC News ^ | 02/19/17 | CHUCK TODD, PHIL HELSEL and MATT RIVERA

Posted on 02/19/2017 6:36:43 AM PST by Enlightened1

Republican Sen. John McCain took a veiled swipe at President Donald Trump's attacks on the media, cautioning that suppressing the press "is how dictators get started."

McCain, who has broken with Trump on several issues, made the comments in an exclusive interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd, after being asked about the president's condemnation of several media outlets as "fake news" and "an enemy of the American people."

"I hate the press. I hate you especially," McCain joked. "But the fact is we need you. We need a free press. We must have it. It's vital."

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: dictator; fakenewe; fakenews; insurrection; mccain; nbc; sedition; traitor; trump
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To: Pearls Before Swine
Arizonans, don’t you realize he is well past his “sell-by date?”

Yes, unfortunately President Trump endorsed McCain in the primary. We all knew that McCain would sell out Trump in a heartbeat and were sad to see it. McCain also had the support of AZ GOPe which is slowly being defeated but has been very strong.

"McAmnesty" as he is known due to his amnesty McCain-Kennedy bill, promised to secure the border first and only then go after amnesty when that bill was defeated. However, the very moment liberals and RINOs tried amnesty again he leaped on board as quickly as possible.

I think had President Trump endorsed Dr. Ward and given her a lot of speeches and help, she might have won. And Dr. Ward would have beat the Ann Kirkpatrick in the General. Kirkpatrick is a real nutball and could never win. I understand Candidate Trump was looking at the big picture, however and a lot things are more clear in hindsight.

Senator McCain is the most iconic RINO of GOPe. He hates Trump because 1. He's an elitist whom Trump insulted, 2. He's amnesty personified and 3. McCain is a backstabbing jerk and President Trump is not. Trump's very existence enrages McCain.
21 posted on 02/19/2017 6:58:03 AM PST by \/\/ayne (I regret that I have but one subscription cancellation notice to give to my local newspaper.)
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To: Enlightened1

Pretty much the only Senate Republicans the lying press even quotes about Donald Trump anymore are John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and (rarely) Ben Sasse.


22 posted on 02/19/2017 6:58:32 AM PST by Trump20162020
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To: Enlightened1

This a-hole thinks that only the MSM is the press. I abhor McCain.


23 posted on 02/19/2017 6:59:21 AM PST by raybbr (That progressive bumper sticker on your car might just as well say, "Yes, I'm THAT stupid!")
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To: Enlightened1

McQueeg knows not about which he speaks. Trump is not censoring anyone: The press can publish whatever it wants, and it does. Not inviting a member of the press to a briefing is not censorship.


24 posted on 02/19/2017 6:59:38 AM PST by ought-six (Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule.)
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To: Gasshog

I wonder how he feels about the fact that the marching orders the press got from the DNC during the Republican primaries to influence the outcome of same may have given rise to Trump?

But, Russians....


25 posted on 02/19/2017 7:02:14 AM PST by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: Enlightened1

In the US, congress is a check on the president’s powers that can keep him from becoming a dictator. I can understand how McCain forgot that given the way congress has acted for 8 years.

Can McCain show any Trump-related news or opinion that has been suppressed? Seems to me that anything the press wants to say about Trump can be and has been easily disseminated more widely than at any time in history via broadcast TV, cable TV, youtube, twitter, and other channels. When Trump starts shutting down channels or placing his people in newsrooms (like Obama wanted to) then McCain can start talking about suppression.

The fact that Trump calls them fake is not suppression unless that intimidates them into not reporting something. They may need to go back to being journalists and value “news” over “future access” (the excuse many often gave for not reporting on Obama’s administration) if that’s the case.

If not being called on in a press conference is considered suppression, they may need go back to journalism school or put more effort into their job. Covering a scandal/crime/embarrassment usually takes more effort than asking the target a question. Refusal to answer or even hear a question is not suppression of the news - it just means the journalist needs to “work” if there is really a story.

Trump’s attacks on the media are their excuse for low credibility with the public, not the reason. There are steps they can take to prove him wrong. He has not shut down any of the channels they can use to reach the public and rebuild their credibility.


26 posted on 02/19/2017 7:02:26 AM PST by LostPassword
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To: Enlightened1

He’s not suppressing the Press, you returd. He’s calling underserved segments of the Press community.


27 posted on 02/19/2017 7:03:14 AM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Enlightened1

Yeah, well, this would work if Trump was actually, you know, suppressing the press. He’s not, and obviously, he is not controlling what the press reports.


28 posted on 02/19/2017 7:03:39 AM PST by Cboldt
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To: Enlightened1

failure to hold the press accountable for their misdeeds leads to fascism and dictatorship, IMO.


29 posted on 02/19/2017 7:04:58 AM PST by elpadre (AfganistaMr Obama said the goal was to "disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-hereQaeda" and its allies.)
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To: Pearls Before Swine

We do. It was either him or a Democrat.


30 posted on 02/19/2017 7:05:22 AM PST by stansblugrassgrl (PRAISE THE LORD AND PASS THE AMMUNITION!!! YEEEEEHAW!)
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To: Enlightened1

I just watched Chris Wallace go into a self-righteous hissy-fit over Trump saying that some media outlets are enemies of the American people.

First, the media in question is in the habit of reporting entirely false stories, and then echoing them 27/7.

Second, the media, and some politicians, are hinting darkly that Trump has committed treason based entirely on the fabricated false stories.

Third, Wallace refused to acknowledge Trump’s reason for what he said, that some media are outright liars trying to deceive the American people.

And fourth, when you try to deceive someone, you are in fact an enemy of who you are trying to deceive.


31 posted on 02/19/2017 7:06:17 AM PST by odawg
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To: Enlightened1

And what was McCain’s response to Harry Reid’s and other Dem senator’s attack and blatant attempt to suppress Rush Limbaugh from the Senate floor back in ‘07?


32 posted on 02/19/2017 7:07:24 AM PST by paint_your_wagon
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To: Enlightened1
Republican Sen. John McCain took a veiled swipe at President Donald Trump's attacks on the media, cautioning that suppressing the press "is how dictators get started."

Criticizing the press is NOT SUPPRESSING THE PRESS, you senile POW-betraying Globalist traitor ISIS-supporting nuclear-war-wishing piece of crap.

I will celebrate with great gusto the day you pass on and go to hell.

33 posted on 02/19/2017 7:07:40 AM PST by Lazamataz (TRUMP LIED TO ME!!!! ....He said I'd get sick of winning.... AND I'M NOT SICK OF WINNING YET!!!!)
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To: stansblugrassgrl
We do. It was either him or a Democrat.

I fail to see a lick of difference.

34 posted on 02/19/2017 7:08:49 AM PST by Lazamataz (TRUMP LIED TO ME!!!! ....He said I'd get sick of winning.... AND I'M NOT SICK OF WINNING YET!!!!)
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To: Enlightened1

McCain = Dangerous old fool.


35 posted on 02/19/2017 7:09:53 AM PST by TTFlyer
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To: Enlightened1

Thanks for less than nothing, AZ.


36 posted on 02/19/2017 7:11:21 AM PST by onedoug
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To: Lazamataz

Ya. I know.


37 posted on 02/19/2017 7:11:55 AM PST by stansblugrassgrl (PRAISE THE LORD AND PASS THE AMMUNITION!!! YEEEEEHAW!)
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To: Pearls Before Swine
some text
38 posted on 02/19/2017 7:12:05 AM PST by yuleeyahoo (Those are my principles, and if you do not like them...well I have others. - Groucho Marx)
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To: Lazamataz

HEY LAZ GREAT POST, but you should tell us how you REALLY FEEL!!!! LOL!!!!


39 posted on 02/19/2017 7:13:17 AM PST by Trump Girl Kit Cat (Yosemite Sam raising hell)
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To: \/\/ayne

Trump won the presidential election, while John McCain lost. So John envies him.


40 posted on 02/19/2017 7:13:46 AM PST by Morpheus2009
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