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Misplaced Priorities: Press Corps Attacks Jean-Pierre, Ignores Trump’s Alarming Record

NNPA NEWSWIRE — In an era where critical issues often are overlooked, the mainstream media’s priorities remain deeply troubling at best, or at worst, very partisan.
The post Misplaced Priorities: Press Corps Attacks Jean-Pierre, Ignores Trump’s Alarming Record first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 months ago

July 10, 2024

Oakland Post

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

In an era where critical issues often are overlooked, the mainstream media’s priorities remain deeply troubling at best, or at worst, very partisan. While the nation faces urgent matters like the implementation of Project 2025, significant Supreme Court rulings, and the global rise of right-wing movements, the media remains fixated on baseless health rumors about President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, it conveniently ignores Donald Trump’s incoherent speeches, convictions for 34 felonies, sexual assault, and massive business fraud, along with his clear authoritarian aspirations and lack of White House transparency during his term. The media’s treatment of White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre recently reached new lows, reflecting a broader problem of disrespect and hostility in the press corps. Following an onslaught of combative questioning regarding President Biden’s health, Jean-Pierre made a powerful statement addressing reporters’ unfair accusations and lack of respect.

“I want to take a step back for a second. I do take offense,” Jean-Pierre asserted. “I come out here every day. We do our best to give you the information we have at the time. We understand the freedom of the press. I appreciate the back-and-forth we have. I try to respect you and hope you respect me. My team does everything we can to get the answers to you. Sometimes, we’re not in agreement, but you know what? That’s democracy. That’s important to have that healthy back and forth. To say that I’m holding information or alluding to anything else is really unfair. I think people who are watching or have been watching can say we are doing our best. I will admit that sometimes I get it wrong. Sometimes I don’t have the information. I will admit that. But I do take offense to what’s happened in this briefing. It’s not okay.” The backlash from the press towards Jean-Pierre’s earnest efforts has drawn condemnation from various quarters. Mississippi Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson called the disrespect “absolutely despicable.” Writer Charlotte Clymer praised Jean-Pierre’s grace and competence while denouncing the unacceptable treatment she endured. “I have the utmost respect for Karine Jean-Pierre,” Cylmer noted. “Her unyielding grace and superlative record of communications competence have made her one of the most effective messaging professionals of this era. The disrespect she experienced today is unacceptable and pathetic.”

Actress and activist Heather Thomas criticized the New York Times for its “lazy reporting” and the press corps for their “piggish treatment” of Jean-Pierre. “The NYT should change their name to Enquirer. That neurologist treats over 1,000 service members with neurological issues at the White House. He was there for them. Shame on the NYT for lazy conspiracy reporting and shame on the press corps’ piggish treatment of Karine Jean-Pierre today,” Thomas stated. However, the White House Correspondents’ Association has done little to address this troubling behavior. The association’s silence is particularly glaring in light of the White House’s transparency about visitor logs, a practice that starkly contrasts the secrecy of the Trump administration. President Biden’s doctor, Kevin O’Connor, had to release a letter explaining that the Parkinson’s expert who visited the White House was there for other patients, not the President. This clarification did little to deter reporters from their relentless and unfounded speculation. Historian Heather Cox Richardson reminded the public of the stark difference in transparency between the Biden and Trump administrations: “A reminder that when this administration took over, it reinstated daily press briefings after Trump killed them. Remember Trump had a press secretary who held not a single briefing, appearing only on right-wing media.”

MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell also criticized the White House press corps for their behavior, describing it as a circus. “The White House press corps, many at their absolute worst in the way they approached Karine Jean-Pierre, who was trying to be responsive to medical questions where there are limitations in what she could say,” O’Donnell noted. “The New York Times’ reporting that she dodged the question is untrue. She responded to the questions; she didn’t give the answer the New York Times or other reporters wanted, but she did answer every single question, and the New York Times and other reporters kept banging on. Out-of-control behavior by most of the White House press corps was as bad a circus as it looked.”

O’Donnell further highlighted the unfair scrutiny.

“So, the White House press corps wanted the White House to confirm this neurologist had visited the White House eight times,” O’Donnell continued. “That’s information only available to the press corps because the Biden White House reveals records of every visitor. How many times did the neurologist visit the White House under Trump? The press will never know because the White House under Trump never released that information. How many times has a cardiologist visited? Trump hid that information. The New York Times knows about visits only because the Biden White House makes that information public.” Political commentator Bakari Sellers emphasized the absurdity of the media’s focus. “I think it’s patently absurd that we’re having this discussion,” Sellers said on CNN. “I think we’re chasing this rabbit of The New York Times saying that a Parkinson’s expert visited the White House eight times without even corroborating that with whether the President was there or who that doctor actually saw.

“It’s extremely clear now that he did not see the President of the United States, and to use visitor logs to simply say or deduce that someone has Parkinson’s is not journalism. We spent more time talking about Joe Biden’s age than we have Project 25, the Chevron ruling, the ruling on presidential immunity. And I think that’s a disservice to voters in this country.”

The post Misplaced Priorities: Press Corps Attacks Jean-Pierre, Ignores Trump’s Alarming Record first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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#LET IT BE KNOWN — LIVE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

Published

3 weeks ago

August 20, 2024

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Democrats Call for Fierce Defense of Democracy and Working-Class Values

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Democrats from all political backgrounds came together to honor President Biden’s legacy, which includes unwavering efforts to reduce costs for middle-class Americans, repair a deteriorating infrastructure, and defend democracy from unprecedented threats.

Published

3 weeks ago

August 20, 2024

Oakland Post

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

In an electrifying moment at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) that likely set the tone for the party’s campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on the opening night, seizing the stage to the triumphant anthem of Beyoncé’s “Freedom.” The crowd erupted with fire in her voice as Harris declared, “I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president, Joe Biden. Thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation, and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you.” The first night of the DNC was more than a celebration; it was a battle cry. Democrats from all political backgrounds came together to honor President Biden’s legacy, which includes unwavering efforts to reduce costs for middle-class Americans, repair a deteriorating infrastructure, and defend democracy from unprecedented threats. The message was clear: Biden’s work is not done, and Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz are ready to continue that fight.

Speakers who are most familiar with Biden, such as Senators Raphael Warnock and Chris Coons, as well as Dr. Jill Biden and Ashley Biden, shared stories that painted a picture of a president who is unwaveringly dedicated to the American people. “In public and in private, President Biden never backed down from his vision for an America where everyone has a fair shot,” Warnock emphasized. Dr. Biden and Ashley Biden gave heartfelt tributes to the man who led the nation and his family with steadfast devotion. The emotional high point of the evening came when Biden, introduced by his daughter Ashley, took the stage to a thunderous ovation as “Your Love Has Lifted Me Higher” filled the arena. The crowd’s response was deafening, with chants of “We love Joe” and “Thank You, Joe” reverberating throughout the hall, a powerful testament to Biden’s connection with the American people.

In a speech that was as much a rallying cry as it was a reflection on his presidency, Biden delivered a stark reminder of what’s at stake. “Let me ask you… Are you ready to vote for freedom? Are you ready to vote for democracy and America? Are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?” Biden’s words resonated as he recalled the perilous moment of his inauguration, just weeks after supporters of the twice-impeached former president stormed the U.S. Capitol. “You cannot say I love my country only when you win,” Biden asserted. “The winter of peril and possibility has passed, and with a grateful heart, I stand before you to report that democracy has prevailed. But now, democracy must be preserved.” Biden highlighted the progress made under his administration, pointing to economic recovery, healthcare expansion, and the battle against corporate greed. He singled out Harris’s critical role in these achievements. “We’ve gone from economic crisis to the strongest economy in the world… More Americans have health insurance than at any time in American history. And we finally beat big pharma. Guess who cast the tie-breaking vote? Vice President and soon-to-be President Kamala Harris. Now it’s the law of the land—$35 a month for insulin.”

The evening was charged with passionate speeches that struck the heart of the nation’s issues. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a searing indictment of Donald Trump, contrasting Harris’s steadfast dedication to American values with Trump’s chaotic legacy. “Kamala won’t disrespect our military and our veterans,” Clinton declared to thunderous applause. “She will defend democracy and our Constitution and will protect America from enemies foreign and domestic. Donald Trump fell asleep at his own trial, and when he woke up, he made history as the first person to run for president with 34 felony convictions.” Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered a fiery endorsement of Harris, framing her as the champion of the middle-class needs. “In Kamala Harris, we have a chance to elect a president who is for the middle class because she is from the middle class,” Ocasio-Cortez proclaimed. “She understands the urgency of rent checks, groceries, and prescriptions. She is as committed to our reproductive and civil rights as she is to taking on corporate greed. She is working tirelessly to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and bring hostages home.”

Ocasio-Cortez didn’t hold back in her critique of Trump, accusing him of being a self-serving demagogue. “Donald Trump would sell this country for a dollar if it meant lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends,” she said. “I, for one, am tired of hearing about how a two-bit union buster thinks of himself as more of a patriot than the woman who fights every single day to lift working people out from under the boots of greed trampling on our way of life.” The night was filled with moments that galvanized the crowd. Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr, invoking the words of Steph Curry, declared, “After the results are tallied that night, we can tell Donald Trump, ‘Night, night.’“UAW President Shawn Fain tore off his jacket to reveal a shirt emblazoned with the words “TRUMP IS A SCAB,” igniting the crowd into a fervent chant of “Trump’s a scab! Trump’s a scab!”

In one of the night’s most pointed moments, Rep. Jasmine Crockett drew a stark contrast between Harris and Trump: “She became a career prosecutor while he became a career criminal. Who would you hire? Donald Trump or Kamala Harris? Kamala Harris has a resume, and Donald Trump has a rap sheet with 34 felonies, 2 impeachments, and 1 porn star to prove it.” The NAACP President Derrick Johnson and Melanie Campbell, the President and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, led a standing ovation for civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson during the celebration.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also delivered a powerful message that resonated deeply with the audience. “I know that my daughter will see not only a reflection of herself in the White House, but she will experience the deepest part of American values… Kamala Harris—she’s got us.” Harris’s words from earlier in the night echoed as the event ended: “We are at a pivotal moment. The choices we make now will determine the future of our nation. Together, we will fight for the soul of America and build a future where everyone has a fair shot. Our best days are still ahead, and we are ready to lead.”