Reports of Donald Trump targeting NBC News reporter Katy Tur at Nov. 2nd 2016 rally are very disturbing!
I am a social media writer who has done some amount of social media whistle-blowing to expose Asathya & Adharma (untruthful and immoral/unethical) actions of some persons due to which I have been insulted and harassed on social media, including someone putting up a post threatening legal action against me. So I would like to do my bit towards supporting media reporters' right to report truthfully (or truth as they see it), by publicly expressing my serious concerns about reports of Republican nominee for USA president, Mr. Donald Trump, targeting a reporter, Ms. Katy Tur, of NBC News, in a recent public rally. I have given some info. and links about it later on in this post.
I think the appropriate action from Mr. Donald Trump would be to PUBLICLY ask his supporters not to do anything that might frighten or worse, harm, Ms. Katy Tur. A free media is a vital institution of a functioning democracy. Mr. Trump is free to criticize the media as biased against him but if he incites his supporters to a point where they behave threateningly towards media reporters, and especially when he names a particular media reporter which incites his supporters to behave threateningly towards that reporter, then he is doing something that has to be viewed as dangerous behaviour by a political leader, especially a top-level political leader, in a democracy.
Here's an around 2 minute video clip of Mr. Trump's speech where he refers to Ms. Katy Tur, Trump Toys With NBC's Katy Tur One More Time - 11/2/16 [Nov. 2nd 2016], https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeogC52wyK8. His reference to Ms. Katy Tur is from around 1 min 40 secs in the video. I MUST say that Trump does not show anger at Tur while speaking these words. It is almost as if he is simply telling her to report the crowds at his events which he says she is not reporting.
But Trump has bashed the media as corrupt and as thieves so many times in this election campaign. So even if his references to Tur were not made in anger, some of his supporters may take it as a cue that Trump is pointing out Tur as a personification of the supposedly corrupt and dishonest media. And then some of such supporters of Trump may harass and even threaten Tur. THAT'S THE PROBLEM!! The words uttered IN PUBLIC by Trump who now has to be viewed as a mass political leader of the USA with tens of millions of followers, have consequences!!!
In a tightened race, Clinton and Trump make urgent push to get out the vote, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-a-tightened-race-clinton-and-trump-make-urgent-push-to-get-out-the-vote/2016/11/02/bc267d54-a112-11e6-8832-23a007c77bb4_story.html, Nov. 2nd 2016
Here's an extract from the above article:
Animosity against the news media flared at Trump’s rallies on Wednesday as he accused reporters of taking part in a “rigged” system. The tension was particularly acute in Miami, where the usual buffer zone between supporters and the traveling press was missing. Screaming supporters stood just inches from reporters.
At one point, the candidate appeared to single out NBC News reporter Katy Tur for criticism, as he has done before.
“We have massive crowds. There’s something happening. They’re not reporting it. Katy, you’re not reporting it, Katy. There’s something happening, Katy. There’s something happening, Katy,” Trump said.
As the rally continued, one man near the press pen shouted menacingly at Tur.
--- end extract ---
Donald Trump Calls Out NBC's Katy Tur During Florida Rally, http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/donald-trump-targets-nbcs-katy-tur-at-miami-rally-943460, Nov. 2nd 2016
Here's a conversation between Mr. Wolf Blitzer of CNN and Ms. Kellyanne Conway, campaign manager for the Trump campaign, Wolf Blitzer Grills Conway On Trump Singling Out Katy Tur: ‘Don’t You Feel Uncomfortable?’, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d279yIwvPC8, 2 min. 44 secs, published on Nov. 2nd 2016.
I have given below a transcript of relevant part of that conversation:
Blitzer: Donald Trump today, in (his) major rally, (in his) big speech, he really singled out a reporter, [audio is blanked but I presume Blizter said, Katy Tur] of NBC News. I want you to listen .. to what he said in front of all those people.
[Video clip of Trump event is shown:] Trump: We have two more today in Florida and we have massive crowds. There's something happening. They are not reporting it [Trump is pointing perhaps to the media]. Katy, you are not reporting it, Katy [Trump points again, perhaps to Katy Tur]. (But there's) something happening, Katy. There's something happening, Katy. [Trump event video clip ends]
Blitzer: After he did that, she was singled out. She was harassed by a lot of the people over there. Last time we spoke, you told me that you shared my concerns about the singling out of these embeds, these reporters who are travelling with Donald Trump. You said you talked to him about that. How did that conversation go?
Conway: The conversation was very productive and I have also talked to NBC News today. So, look, we want fair coverage and (want everybody to be) safe at our rallies. I don't appreciate a lot of the threats I get either from people who I guess are worried that we (may actually) win this thing. [Ravi: Oh Lord! I condemn any threats Trump's campaign staff, including Ms. Conway, receive. Jesus Christ! This political campaign stuff even in the materially advanced USA democracy is really rough-and-tumble.]
Lot of folks out there who should tamp it down, (but) in the case of, I think - I am glad that you played the entire clip, because, Donald .., he's not asking people to be mean to her. He's not asking people to do anything, God forbid. He basically calls out (some people in the media and wants to say ..) please show our crowds. He talks to people in the media all of the time, privately and publicly. ..
Blitzer: But .. don't you feel uncomfortable when he does that in front of all those thousands? He's got huge crowds there and when he points to the journalists who are covering him and says these kinds of things, doesn't that make you feel uncomfortable too?
Conway: I will always urge our supporters at these rallies and elsewhere, Wolf, to be civil and to be respectful to each other because, again, if Hillary is going to be (in the gutter) then we should be the candidate that (should be) much more joyful, much more positive and uplifting - and we are. And as I (say), I have already talked to NBC today.
Blitzer: Kellyanne Conway, thanks very much for joining us as usual.
Conway: Thank you. Thank you.
--- end transcript ---
Ravi: That's nice to hear from Ms. Kellyanne Conway, Trump campaign manager. Hopefully the message goes out to Mr. Trump not to mention any reporter by name in such a context.
Here's an older Aug. 2016 article by Ms. Katy Tur herself about a previous incident when Trump singled her out in a rally, My Crazy Year with Trump, http://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a21997/donald-trump-katy-tur/, Aug. 10th 2016. In this incident Trump said (publicly at the rally) that Tur lied about him having abruptly left a previous rally due to protests. Trump is reported to have said in this rally, "What a lie it was.".. "What a lie. Katy Tur. What a lie it was. Third. Rate. Reporter. Remember that." In response then the crowd booed. And later Secret Service walked her to her car! She writes that she later received social media insults, harassment and threats.
The article is a fascinating one about the life of this reporter over a year of covering Trump and his campaign. Interestingly, Tur rather accidentally got assigned to cover Trump as she was present at Trump's presidential run announcement in Trump Tower, New York city. She writes, "Because I happened to be around—literally just standing around the newsroom—I got the assignment for NBC Nightly News and the Today show."
Another short quote from it about what has happened during her year of covering Trump, "Friends and family have married, divorced, given birth, and died during this campaign, and I've missed it all."
My God! I did not realize that the life of a reporter covering USA presidential campaigns could be so hectic.
Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me voting in these elections.
[I thank cnn.com, washingtonpost.com and marieclaire.com, and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above trancript/extracts (short extract from marieclaire.com) from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
I think the appropriate action from Mr. Donald Trump would be to PUBLICLY ask his supporters not to do anything that might frighten or worse, harm, Ms. Katy Tur. A free media is a vital institution of a functioning democracy. Mr. Trump is free to criticize the media as biased against him but if he incites his supporters to a point where they behave threateningly towards media reporters, and especially when he names a particular media reporter which incites his supporters to behave threateningly towards that reporter, then he is doing something that has to be viewed as dangerous behaviour by a political leader, especially a top-level political leader, in a democracy.
Here's an around 2 minute video clip of Mr. Trump's speech where he refers to Ms. Katy Tur, Trump Toys With NBC's Katy Tur One More Time - 11/2/16 [Nov. 2nd 2016], https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeogC52wyK8. His reference to Ms. Katy Tur is from around 1 min 40 secs in the video. I MUST say that Trump does not show anger at Tur while speaking these words. It is almost as if he is simply telling her to report the crowds at his events which he says she is not reporting.
But Trump has bashed the media as corrupt and as thieves so many times in this election campaign. So even if his references to Tur were not made in anger, some of his supporters may take it as a cue that Trump is pointing out Tur as a personification of the supposedly corrupt and dishonest media. And then some of such supporters of Trump may harass and even threaten Tur. THAT'S THE PROBLEM!! The words uttered IN PUBLIC by Trump who now has to be viewed as a mass political leader of the USA with tens of millions of followers, have consequences!!!
In a tightened race, Clinton and Trump make urgent push to get out the vote, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-a-tightened-race-clinton-and-trump-make-urgent-push-to-get-out-the-vote/2016/11/02/bc267d54-a112-11e6-8832-23a007c77bb4_story.html, Nov. 2nd 2016
Here's an extract from the above article:
Animosity against the news media flared at Trump’s rallies on Wednesday as he accused reporters of taking part in a “rigged” system. The tension was particularly acute in Miami, where the usual buffer zone between supporters and the traveling press was missing. Screaming supporters stood just inches from reporters.
At one point, the candidate appeared to single out NBC News reporter Katy Tur for criticism, as he has done before.
“We have massive crowds. There’s something happening. They’re not reporting it. Katy, you’re not reporting it, Katy. There’s something happening, Katy. There’s something happening, Katy,” Trump said.
As the rally continued, one man near the press pen shouted menacingly at Tur.
--- end extract ---
Donald Trump Calls Out NBC's Katy Tur During Florida Rally, http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/donald-trump-targets-nbcs-katy-tur-at-miami-rally-943460, Nov. 2nd 2016
Here's a conversation between Mr. Wolf Blitzer of CNN and Ms. Kellyanne Conway, campaign manager for the Trump campaign, Wolf Blitzer Grills Conway On Trump Singling Out Katy Tur: ‘Don’t You Feel Uncomfortable?’, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d279yIwvPC8, 2 min. 44 secs, published on Nov. 2nd 2016.
I have given below a transcript of relevant part of that conversation:
Blitzer: Donald Trump today, in (his) major rally, (in his) big speech, he really singled out a reporter, [audio is blanked but I presume Blizter said, Katy Tur] of NBC News. I want you to listen .. to what he said in front of all those people.
[Video clip of Trump event is shown:] Trump: We have two more today in Florida and we have massive crowds. There's something happening. They are not reporting it [Trump is pointing perhaps to the media]. Katy, you are not reporting it, Katy [Trump points again, perhaps to Katy Tur]. (But there's) something happening, Katy. There's something happening, Katy. [Trump event video clip ends]
Blitzer: After he did that, she was singled out. She was harassed by a lot of the people over there. Last time we spoke, you told me that you shared my concerns about the singling out of these embeds, these reporters who are travelling with Donald Trump. You said you talked to him about that. How did that conversation go?
Conway: The conversation was very productive and I have also talked to NBC News today. So, look, we want fair coverage and (want everybody to be) safe at our rallies. I don't appreciate a lot of the threats I get either from people who I guess are worried that we (may actually) win this thing. [Ravi: Oh Lord! I condemn any threats Trump's campaign staff, including Ms. Conway, receive. Jesus Christ! This political campaign stuff even in the materially advanced USA democracy is really rough-and-tumble.]
Lot of folks out there who should tamp it down, (but) in the case of, I think - I am glad that you played the entire clip, because, Donald .., he's not asking people to be mean to her. He's not asking people to do anything, God forbid. He basically calls out (some people in the media and wants to say ..) please show our crowds. He talks to people in the media all of the time, privately and publicly. ..
Blitzer: But .. don't you feel uncomfortable when he does that in front of all those thousands? He's got huge crowds there and when he points to the journalists who are covering him and says these kinds of things, doesn't that make you feel uncomfortable too?
Conway: I will always urge our supporters at these rallies and elsewhere, Wolf, to be civil and to be respectful to each other because, again, if Hillary is going to be (in the gutter) then we should be the candidate that (should be) much more joyful, much more positive and uplifting - and we are. And as I (say), I have already talked to NBC today.
Blitzer: Kellyanne Conway, thanks very much for joining us as usual.
Conway: Thank you. Thank you.
--- end transcript ---
Ravi: That's nice to hear from Ms. Kellyanne Conway, Trump campaign manager. Hopefully the message goes out to Mr. Trump not to mention any reporter by name in such a context.
Here's an older Aug. 2016 article by Ms. Katy Tur herself about a previous incident when Trump singled her out in a rally, My Crazy Year with Trump, http://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a21997/donald-trump-katy-tur/, Aug. 10th 2016. In this incident Trump said (publicly at the rally) that Tur lied about him having abruptly left a previous rally due to protests. Trump is reported to have said in this rally, "What a lie it was.".. "What a lie. Katy Tur. What a lie it was. Third. Rate. Reporter. Remember that." In response then the crowd booed. And later Secret Service walked her to her car! She writes that she later received social media insults, harassment and threats.
The article is a fascinating one about the life of this reporter over a year of covering Trump and his campaign. Interestingly, Tur rather accidentally got assigned to cover Trump as she was present at Trump's presidential run announcement in Trump Tower, New York city. She writes, "Because I happened to be around—literally just standing around the newsroom—I got the assignment for NBC Nightly News and the Today show."
Another short quote from it about what has happened during her year of covering Trump, "Friends and family have married, divorced, given birth, and died during this campaign, and I've missed it all."
My God! I did not realize that the life of a reporter covering USA presidential campaigns could be so hectic.
Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me voting in these elections.
[I thank cnn.com, washingtonpost.com and marieclaire.com, and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above trancript/extracts (short extract from marieclaire.com) from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
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