# Press Failure **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 4, 2020, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253 "2020-08-04T13:28:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/41 "2020-08-08T22:18:32Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Asked by CNN when he and Hillary were interviewed, “Some say there has already been a Black President, Bill Clinton”, he responded “We’ll have to see how well Bill dances”. Candidates not of color would have been crucified, So what? ---
**Author:** ![Bacon\_Cheeseburger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ebca7d/32.png) [@Bacon\_Cheeseburger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bacon_Cheeseburger)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2020, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/42 "2020-08-08T22:27:04Z")
While Trump is probably worse about it than most, Politicians dodging the question is hardly a new phenomenon. I get especially frustrated during debates. Moderator: What would you do about issue X? Candidate: Issue X is very important, so is Issue A,B,C which are my main talking points so i’m gonna talk about those now. ---
**Author:** ![Mickyfinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19b73/32.png) [@Mickyfinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mickyfinn)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/43 "2020-08-10T12:58:40Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > There’s enough footage of Trump petulantly waddling out of press rooms after being challenged, now, to make a really good Project Lincoln ad. It would be so easy to bait him. Just pump some sunshine up his skirt to get him rolling: “Mr. President, when you created the Veterans Choice Act, you brought the struggle of veterans into the forefront and Americans have responded with overwhelming support of those who have served the country. Did you expect your Act to have such a sweeping positive effect of placing such a light on those Patriots”. “Yes people are saying how much I helped them…No one likes veterans more than me. Blah blah…” " But you weren’t responsible for the Veterans Choice Act." "…thank you, thank you (leaving)…(inaudible) nasty…"I ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/44 "2020-08-10T14:36:27Z")
Then most people would think he did have something to do with it, I’d expect. If you’re going that route, I think it would make more sense to butter him up to get him to actually agree to something horrible. Act like whatever it is was a good thing that would get a lot of (the right kind of) people to like him, and he’d agree to anything. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/45 "2020-08-10T14:41:45Z")
I suggest reporters keep pressing him (hehe) and confronting him on his lies especially if that means he stomps out of every so-called press conference. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/46 "2020-08-10T15:09:09Z")
> [@Mickyfinn](#): > > It would be so easy to bait him. Just pump some sunshine up his skirt to get him rolling: > > “Mr. President, when you created the Veterans Choice Act, you brought the struggle of veterans into the forefront and Americans have responded with overwhelming support of those who have served the country. Did you expect your Act to have such a sweeping positive effect of placing such a light on those Patriots”. That’s a mighty big assumption that he would let someone (especially if it’s not a GOP network) ask him such a long question without interupting them midway through and answering a different question that he made up. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I suggest reporters keep pressing him (hehe) and confronting him on his lies especially if that means he stomps out of every so-called press conference. The problem with that is always going to be that the networks that he’s friendly with and those networks would never pull that stunt. A reporter for Fox (most of the time) or OANN isn’t going jeopardize their WH Press Corp credentials by pissing him off. So he’ll never get to the point where all the reporters have stomped out or been kicked out and he knows he can always call on certain people for softball questions so he doesn’t have to stomp off. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2020, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/47 "2020-08-10T17:46:20Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > So he’ll never get to the point where all the reporters have stomped out or been kicked out and he knows he can always call on certain people for softball questions so he doesn’t have to stomp off. He can’t even answer softball questions. “What day is it?” would confuse him. ---
**Author:** ![Win\_Place\_Show](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/win_place_show/32/13469_2.png) [@Win\_Place\_Show](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Win_Place_Show)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/48 "2020-08-13T16:07:40Z")
If I recall President Obama had 3 - 4 press conferences between the 2016 election, and Trump’s inauguration. Suppose that Trump loses in November - any chance he has those same 3 - 4 press conferences between the election and Biden’s inauguration? Reason I ask is wouldn’t that be a great opportunity for the Jim Acostas / Paula Reids / Yamiche Alcindors / Kaitlan Collins to go scorched-earth on his ass, without having to worry about the “new” White House pulling their press pass? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/49 "2020-08-13T17:03:10Z")
> [@Win\_Place\_Show](#): > > If I recall President Obama had 3 - 4 press conferences between the 2016 election, and Trump’s inauguration. Suppose that Trump loses in November - any chance he has those same 3 - 4 press conferences between the election and Biden’s inauguration?- ~~If~~ When he loses, he will lock himself in the Executive Washroom and excrete a foul stream of tweets such as we have not seen heretofore. With any luck, we may never see his face again. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/50 "2020-08-13T19:59:34Z")
If that happens (I can only hope), then the press has done its job of informing the public and protecting democracy. There will be plenty of time to ask Trump all the questions after he has left office. Preferably under oath at his criminal trial, where the only place for him to storm off to is his jail cell. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/51 "2020-08-13T20:09:48Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Preferably under oath at his criminal trial, where the only place for him to storm off to is his jail cell. If he gets charged with criminal offenses, he’s pretty unlikely to testify, I would think. Maybe he could be baited into it. But he could be called to testify in a civil case (still would have 5th amendment protections, but probably easier to get him talking. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/52 "2020-08-13T20:15:59Z")
I agree that Trump does a worse press conference than pretty much anybody. But the particular problem with nobody insisting the politician answer the question, or even pointing out that it wasn’t answered, is unfortunately not limited to Trump. I’m 69 and for as long as I can remember paying any attention to such things I’ve been shouting at radios and TV’s and computer screens “They didn’t answer the question! Why don’t you at least point out that they didn’t answer the question!” ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/53 "2020-08-13T20:37:01Z")
Only people with something to hide take the fifth. But yeah, I know, I just would love to see the juxtaposition. Do you have to have passed the bar in order to ask questions in court? I’d assume so, but I’d still love to give the reporters a chance to get their questions answered under penalty of perjury. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/54 "2020-08-13T20:52:23Z")
The proper response to politicians dodging questions from reporters is not reporters going off the deep end and screaming at politicians after repeated evasions. The reporter’s organization can and should highlight the evasions in editorial opinions in order to influence readers/watchers. Confrontation (to a point) fits into a reporter’s job description. Becoming the news does not. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/55 "2020-08-13T21:03:39Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Do you have to have passed the bar in order to ask questions in court? Short answer: you have to be a lawyer, admitted to practice in that court. (A member of the bar in that jurisdiction, or in another and admitted temporarily, pro hac vice.) So, no, a journalist couldn’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/56 "2020-08-13T21:12:17Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Only people with something to hide take the fifth. Actually I believe it is ‘only people people who wish to avail themselves of their Constitutional right against self-incrimination avail themselves of the 5th’. Guilt has nothing to do with it-guilt should not be presumed by it. 10th grade Civics, folks. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/57 "2020-08-13T21:41:50Z")
I agree, however, I was repeating what Trump has said. Little bit of mocking, I’ll admit. > **[Trump once said pleading the Fifth was for 'the mob' and now he might do it |...](https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/07/politics/donald-trump-fifth-amendment-supreme-court/index.html)** > > Donald Trump has derided the Fifth Amendment as the refuge of mobsters, and Richard Nixon infamously told aides, "I want you all to stonewall it, let them plead the Fifth Amendment, cover up, or anything else." But thank you for the 10th grade civics lesson. It was a reminder of simpler times when a 10th grade civics class understanding of the world would be all you need. Unfortunately, we’ve moved past that now, and relying on being smug about remembering high school level government class won’t get you as far as you might think. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/58 "2020-08-14T00:17:28Z")
Someone finally did it. (Later identified as S. V. Date of the Huffington Post.) [https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1294033254174150658](https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1294033254174150658) ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/59 "2020-08-14T18:53:29Z")
Another miserable press failure today as Trump totally ignored a question about whether he thinks the QAnon bullshit is something worth taking seriously. He praised the QAnon advocate, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and completely ignored the actual question. It’s time for some of these reporters to actually step up here. When you have a schoolyard bully, the ONLY WAY to stop him is to punch him in the nose. That is the ONLY way. And in this case the equivalent reaction would be for the reporter to loudly and publicly throw a vicious insult at Donald Trump. As I have said earlier, and I stand by - any reporter who replied to Trump’s bullshit in these press conferences by saying “you’re a stupid cocksucker” or “you don’t have the balls to answer my question” or “please go ram it up your ass”, right directly to his face - any reporter who did this would have INSTANT folk hero status, INSTANT gigs with Vice or Rolling Stone, and cause an INSTANT sensation that would blow up the media and publicly humiliate this prick who very badly needs to be humiliated. They have everything to gain and nothing to lose. The press needs to let their inner Hunter Thompson off the leash. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253/60 "2020-08-14T19:00:08Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > It’s time for some of these reporters to actually step up here. When you have a schoolyard bully, the ONLY WAY to stop him is to punch him in the nose. That is the ONLY way. And in this case the equivalent reaction would be for the reporter to loudly and publicly throw a vicious insult at Donald Trump. Wow. What bull. On both counts. Journalists should ask tough questions, and, yeah, I agree that they should follow up on nonanswers and lies. But hurling “vicious insults” does nothing but undermine the journalist’s own professionalism and credibility. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/press-failure/917253.md?page=4)