# White House likley altered video of Jim Acosta **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 9, 2018, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242 "2018-11-09T15:06:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/101 "2018-11-15T21:41:50Z")
Like I said, I didn’t expect it to do any good. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2018, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/102 "2018-11-15T21:45:09Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Like I said, I didn’t expect it to do any good. > > Regards, > Shodan Yeah, but he CLEARLY didn’t touch her with his hand, so your summation of the video is incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2018, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/103 "2018-11-15T21:47:24Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Not to mention that Trump has put this intern in the spotlight to take heat off of himself. Model of bravery. His bone spurs in his left… or was it the right? leg prevented him from doing it himself. Not to mention his actual medical condition that earned him the 4F: he’s a spineless twit. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2018, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/104 "2018-11-15T21:52:53Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > No, it is true. Watch the [CNN video and the sped up version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXZ2jRZMLrg). Note the contact between Acosta and the intern which is evident in both versions. > > _:shrugs:_ I don’t suppose it will do any good. If someone is going to respond to a video posted by CNN showing Acosta putting his hand on a woman by saying that he didn’t put his hand on a woman, nothing is going to help. > > Regards, > Shodan So I’m 100% clear: in the video, around the :06 second mark, you can see that he pulls his left arm down and withdraws it. As he does so, the edge of his hand near his pinky appears to brush against the arm that the intern has used to try to grab the microphone away from him. His hand is open and turned away from her, and he’s pulling it toward his body, and it may touch her inner elbow for about half a second as he withdraws his hand from the gesture. That’s the half-second you’re characterizing as “putting his hand on a woman,” right? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2018, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/105 "2018-11-15T22:23:27Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I did look at the video. It just seems like a natural reaction anyone would have with their arm above the arm that is grabbing for something. No big deal. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2018, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/106 "2018-11-15T22:59:06Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > No judge worth his legal credentials would rule in favor of CNN. > For starters, the White House press room is a finite resource: there simply is not enough physical room to give a press pass to every person who wants one. The issue is not ‘every person who wants a press pass should get one.’ The issue is that a legitimate news organization has a legitimate right to send the reporter _of its choice_ to press conferences. It’s nothing to do with ‘what Acosta wants.’ It’s nothing to do with ‘all Americans having a right to be at press conferences’ (there is no such right). It’s about a legitimate news organization making legitimate choices, which do _not_ include ‘sending someone who will ask questions the President likes.’ ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2018, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/107 "2018-11-15T23:24:54Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > So I’m 100% clear: in the video, around the :06 second mark, you can see that he pulls his left arm down and withdraws it. As he does so, the edge of his hand near his pinky appears to brush against the arm that the intern has used to try to grab the microphone away from him. His hand is open and turned away from her, and he’s pulling it toward his body, and it may touch her inner elbow for about half a second as he withdraws his hand from the gesture. > > That’s the half-second you’re characterizing as “putting his hand on a woman,” right? At the 4 second mark he is pointing at the President with his elbow bent. She goes in to grab the microphone and gets a hold of it. As she does so, she makes contact with his hand with the crook of her elbow. He immediately pushes down forcefully into the crook of her elbow to make her mike grab unsuccessful. That’s the way it appears to me. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/108 "2018-11-16T00:49:56Z")
Back when I read the New York Times magazine every Sunday, they had a contest to see who could coin a descriptive term for a common everyday event or thing or whatever that did not yet have one. To wit: sheeple - people who are like sheep, in being docile, foolish, or easily led. I’ve seen occasions in the past few years of someone making a statement online about something, who then links to a visual of some sort that clearly contradicts it. I am of the _opinion_ that we need such a word for people who can’t see that Jim Acosta did not put his hands on anyone. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/109 "2018-11-16T01:01:46Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > The issue is not ‘every person who wants a press pass should get one.’ > > The issue is that a legitimate news organization has a legitimate right to send the reporter _of its choice_ to press conferences. I don’t see it this way. I see it as, if a person receives a press credential, can the Government withdraw the credential on the basis that the reporter is asking questions that the Government does not like? I’m not sure what the law says, but as a general question, I think it is an abuse to withdraw press credentials for that reason. The Government would be totally fine not calling on this reporter for questions, but I think withdrawing credentials based on asking questions is a bad thing. And for the record, I think the questions that Acosta was asking at that moment were not good questions. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/110 "2018-11-16T01:16:14Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I don’t see it this way. I see it as, if a person receives a press credential, can the Government withdraw the credential on the basis that the reporter is asking questions that the Government does not like? > > I’m not sure what the law says, but as a general question, I think it is an abuse to withdraw press credentials for that reason. The Government would be totally fine not calling on this reporter for questions, but I think withdrawing credentials based on asking questions is a bad thing. I think this is fair. And it’s not all that different from what I’d posted—I was trying to counter the frequently-seen right-wing arguments: –‘the CNN lawsuit is ridiculous because it depends on the idea that every American has a right to a press pass’ (a false claim), and –‘the CNN lawsuit is ridiculous because it depends on the idea that Acosta’s personal First-Amendment rights have been violated, and that’s not true because he can say anything he wants to when he’s out in public’ (or whatever–it’s another false claim.) In other words, those arguing that CNN has no case are using false premises about what the CNN lawsuit is about. It’s not about protecting Jim Acosta’s personal right to speak his mind, and it’s not about a claim that all Americans have rights to press passes. Those are straw men that are easily knocked down, which is why some on the right are using those as anti-CNN-suit arguments. > [@Ravenman](#): > > And for the record, I think the questions that Acosta was asking at that moment were not good questions. What about the questions led you to feel they were not good? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/111 "2018-11-16T01:22:29Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Yeah, but he CLEARLY didn’t touch her with his hand, so your summation of the video is incorrect. He also hasn’t addressed his false claim: > [@Shodan](#): > > Acosta’s press pass wasn’t revoked based on the video. Trump and everyone else saw him behaving like an asshole first-hand. Can’t you grasp at a better straw than that? despite the fact that the White House spokesperson said: “We stand by our decision to revoke this individual’s hard pass. We will not tolerate the inappropriate behavior clearly documented in this video.” ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/112 "2018-11-16T01:30:26Z")
This will teach Trump to not arm his interns with Billy clubs and body armor. The horror. A reporter accidently brushed her arm when she tried to forcibly take away his microphone. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/113 "2018-11-16T01:38:36Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > What about the questions led you to feel they were not good? The first question broke down to, “You called the migrants a bunch of invaders, but they aren’t. What’s up with that?” I just think it’s a very poorly constructed question. Anything that has a basis of “you said X but it’s wrong” isn’t pinning anyone down or helping the audience learn something. It just feeds a circle of gratuitious assertions. For some reason I’m blanking on hisnunrelated follow up question… ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/114 "2018-11-16T01:59:40Z")
Yeah, it kinda bullshit grandstanding. From this summer: [Jim Acosta’s Dangerous Brand of Performance Journalism](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/08/cnns-jim-acosta-cannot-win/566990/) ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/115 "2018-11-16T06:52:22Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I don’t see it this way. I see it as, if a person receives a press credential, can the Government withdraw the credential on the basis that the reporter is asking questions that the Government does not like? > > I’m not sure what the law says, but as a general question, I think it is an abuse to withdraw press credentials for that reason. The Government would be totally fine not calling on this reporter for questions, but I think withdrawing credentials based on asking questions is a bad thing. > > And for the record, I think the questions that Acosta was asking at that moment were not good questions. The legal precedent mentioned above states the following takeaways: > [@](#): > > the First Amendment interest of a bona fide … correspondent in obtaining a White House press pass qualifies as a “liberty” which may not be denied without due process of law. Also, > [@](#): > > the First Amendment to the Constitution prohibits the use of arbitrary criteria or criteria based on the content of a journalist’s speech in determining whether to issue [or take away] a White House press pass. I think that the precedent set in the 70s is going to play a major part in Acosta getting his credentials back. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/116 "2018-11-16T12:15:51Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > No, it is true. Watch the [CNN video and the sped up version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXZ2jRZMLrg). Note the contact between Acosta and the intern which is evident in both versions. > > _:shrugs:_ I don’t suppose it will do any good. If someone is going to respond to a video posted by CNN showing Acosta putting his hand on a woman by saying that he didn’t put his hand on a woman, nothing is going to help. _Putting your hand/hands on a woman_ has certain connotations, usually taken as physical assault and sometimes sexual assault, wouldn’t you agree? This didn’t happen; neither Acosta or the woman did anything wrong. We’d all be in jail if this is all it took. But given this much latitude of what some want to make of Acosta _putting his hand on a woman,_ it would be easy for someone to spin it by saying the woman clearly went out of her way briskly walking over into his space, and noting she initiated the contact by grabbing his forefinger on his right hand while aggressively trying to jerk the microphone out of his hand. He’s there to do a job, not lob softball type questions to the President. That’s Hannity’s job. Every president before him has went through the same. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/117 "2018-11-16T13:03:42Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Like I said, I didn’t expect it to do any good. What **did** you expect your post to do? ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/118 "2018-11-16T14:23:49Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Not to mention that Trump has put this intern in the spotlight to take heat off of himself. Model of bravery. Reminds me of the old George Carlin anti-meme: “Do what you want to the girl but leave me alone!” ---
**Author:** ![JB99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JB99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JB99)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/119 "2018-11-16T15:38:07Z")
> [@Razncain](#): > > _Putting your hand/hands on a woman_ has certain connotations, usually taken as physical assault and sometimes sexual assault, wouldn’t you agree? This didn’t happen; neither Acosta or the woman did anything wrong. We’d all be in jail if this is all it took. Not sure why I’m supposed to care whether he touched her or not. Trump says it’s okay to grab her by the pussy, so why do Republicans suddenly act like it matters? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242/120 "2018-11-16T15:40:29Z")
And he’s back! > **[Judge orders Trump administration to restore CNN reporter Jim Acosta's White...](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/16/judge-orders-trump-administration-to-restore-cnn-reporter-jim-acostas-white-house-press-pass.html)** > > CNN's lawsuit underscored Trump's increasingly hostile relationship with many mainstream media outlets, which he regularly decries as "fake news" and "the enemy of the people." Doesn’t mean Trump needs to ever call on him, of course. Or in any way acknowledge him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-likley-altered-video-of-jim-acosta/824242.md?page=7)