Have you seen this from the Huffington Post - A Note on Trump: We Are No Longer Entertained?

2015-12-08T10:15:06-05:00

Have you seen this from the Huffington Post - A Note on Trump: We Are No Longer Entertained?

I posted the whole article here for you to read - very interesting! RP Members what do you think? Is this a ploy to bring down his campaign by the press or are they doing the right thing?

by Arianna Huffington
President and Editor-in-Chief at The Huffington Post Media Group

Earlier today, the candidate currently leading in the polls for the Republican presidential nomination called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." That was, of course, Donald Trump. As Jeffrey Goldberg just tweeted, "Donald Trump is now an actual threat to national security. He's providing jihadists ammunition for their campaign to demonize the US."

On the heels of Trump's proposed change for America, we will be changing how we cover him at The Huffington Post. Back in July, we announced our decision to put our coverage of Trump's presidential campaign in our Entertainment section instead of our Politics section. "Our reason is simple," wrote Ryan Grim and Danny Shea. "Trump's campaign is a sideshow."

Since then Trump's campaign has certainly lived up to that billing. But as today's vicious pronouncement makes abundantly clear, it's also morphed into something else: an ugly and dangerous force in American politics. So we will no longer be covering his campaign in Entertainment. But that's not to say we'll be treating it as if it were a normal campaign.

Our decision in July was made because we refused to go along with the idea, based simply on poll numbers, that Trump's candidacy was actually a serious and good faith effort to present ideas on how best to govern the country. We continue to believe this to be true -- and will continue to let it guide our coverage -- but much has changed.

Yes, there was certainly no shortage of ugly comments from the beginning, as he kicked off his campaign with outrageous comments about Mexicans. But at first, this over-the-top xenophobia, though disgusting, played as the sour shtick of a washed-up insult comic. Now that Trump, aided by the media, has doubled down on the cruelty and know-nothingness that defined his campaign's early days, the 'can you believe he said that?' novelty has curdled and congealed into something repellent and threatening -- laying bare a disturbing aspect of American politics.

We believe that the way we cover the campaign should reflect this shift. And part of that involves never failing to remind our audience who Trump is and what his campaign really represents.

As Jay Rosen recently observed:

"To an extent unrealized before this year, the role of the press in presidential campaigns relied on shared assumptions within the political class and election industry about what the rules were and what the penalty would be for violating them ... These assumptions were rarely tested because the risk seemed too high, and because risk-averse professionals -- strategists, they're called -- were in charge of the campaigns."

That is, most politicians knew not to say outlandish and offensive and dangerous things because they knew they'd be punished for it. As Rosen continues, "Those beliefs have now collapsed because Trump 'tested' and violated most of them -- and he is still leading in the polls."

But that doesn't mean we in the media should in any way let Trump or those who would follow his footsteps off the hook. So as we cover his daily campaign, we'll constantly remind the public of what he stands for, citing references and providing links.

For example:

1) His enthusiasm for creating a database of all Muslims in the United States.

2) His ongoing lies about Muslims in New Jersey celebrating 9/11.

3) His status as birther-in-chief, cynically sowing doubt about President Obama's legitimacy as the duly elected President of the United States.

4) His misogyny -- here's just one HuffPost piece on this, but there's no shortage of these.

5) His xenophobia and scapegoating of immigrants, including his lies about Mexican immigrants and his ardent desire to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

6) His unmistakable passion for bullying. Again, there's no shortage of examples, but you could start with his defense of supporters who roughed up a protester at one of his rallies or his ridiculing of a disabled New York Times reporter.

And we're happy to see we're not alone in our desire to present the unvarnished, un-euphemized Trump. Last week, The Washington Post's Dana Milbank opened a column by writing, "Let's not mince words: Donald Trump is a bigot and a racist." And he went on to back that up, which isn't hard and is the approach any reporter with an interest in telling the truth to his or her readers should adopt.

So if Trump's words and actions are racist, we'll call them racist. If they're sexist, we'll call them sexist. We won't shrink from the truth or be distracted by the showmanship.

Of course, Trump isn't the only candidate out there spouting extreme and irresponsible messages, but he's in a unique position in the wall-to-wall coverage, from Meet the Press to SNL, that he elicits. By not calling out Trump's campaign for what it is, many in the media, addicted to the ratings buzz he continues to deliver, have been legitimizing his ugly views.

As we've seen in the Republican race so far, Trump's worst comments don't occur in a vacuum -- or land without repercussions. They affect the tenor of the conversation, frequently moving the line between what's considered mainstream and what's considered unabashedly extreme and unacceptable.

So we'll not only be covering the ways Trump's campaign is unique in recent American politics, but also the disastrous impact it continues to have on his fellow candidates -- and the national conversation.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2015 10:16 AM

2015-12-08T10:16:01-05:00

Huffington Post has never written anything non-liberal biased.... not shocked by this article.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2015 10:17 AM

2015-12-08T10:17:30-05:00

Well ... let see do the mindless republicans entertained or not. That is the most important part for him right now. If they are still entertained ... he will keep going at it.

Response by Maj Matt Hylton made Dec 8 at 2015 10:21 AM

2015-12-08T10:21:04-05:00

I read it last night and believe the article has valid points. Do I think it is "a ploy to bring down his campaign by the press?" No, it's just an article from a historically liberal based media outlet stating how they feel about Trump's campaign. Personally, I believe he is hurting the GOP, but I also believe the entire base of Tea Party members (including Cruz) have hurt the GOP. It's the main reason I no longer call myself a Republican. I used to consider myself a moderate Republican, but now I just call myself a middle of the road Independent. I didn't leave the Republican party, the party left me (and most other moderates).

Response by LTC John Shaw made Dec 8 at 2015 10:21 AM

2015-12-08T10:21:29-05:00

Neither the Huffington Post or Donald Trump are right. We need to screen properly but not block all.

Response by CSM David Heidke made Dec 8 at 2015 11:11 AM

2015-12-08T11:11:09-05:00

Does anyone read the Huffington Post outside of Facebook? If it weren't spammed on every page, I doubt anyone would see it.

Who cares what they do?!

The media will smear anyone anyway, in order to further their candidates and their agenda.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Dec 8 at 2015 11:20 AM

2015-12-08T11:20:43-05:00

HP is so full of invectives for Trump: actual threat, vicious, hateful, offensive, dangerous, xenophobic, extreme, irresponsible, unacceptable, racist, sexist, bully...the list goes on...that it leaves no room at all for any rational discourse about HOW TO ADDRESS THE THREAT. Once we turn to the real threat posed by Islamic Extremism, a majority of Americans will support a temporary halt to fast visas for the nations currently hosting ISIS and other Islamic Extremist operations and training sites. Until HP is willing to have a real discussion on the merits of different COAs addressing the threat, it may as well be all Entertainment section.

Response by SSG Todd Halverson made Dec 8 at 2015 11:30 AM

2015-12-08T11:30:34-05:00

The only thing the HP is good for is an entertaining read. This is a liberal based news paper that wholly supports the Democrat Party. Of course they will always attack the front runners in the Republican Party to help the liberal based candidates in the election. The reason they are so against Trump is that he speaks his mind and does not coddle to the liberal groups or organizations. He knows that what he says will offend some people, but he is not afraid to say what needs to be heard.
Yes, he sometimes does go overboard with his comments.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Dec 8 at 2015 11:38 AM

2015-12-08T11:38:29-05:00

Anything the HP writes, I ignore. They are so biased and left it makes my head hurt.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Dec 8 at 2015 11:41 AM

2015-12-08T11:41:09-05:00

I have already responded to Trump's proclamation in another discussion thread on RP and that isn't really the challenge in this one. Here we're asked if we've seen HP's response to Trump. Well, no. I don't waste time on the HP website. Their opinion is too predictable to interest me. I'm waiting for PJTV to discuss it. Although some may dismiss PJTV and PJ Media as right wing shills, I find their news and analysis far more fair and balanced than anyone else's.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Dec 8 at 2015 12:10 PM

2015-12-08T12:10:36-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs HP is a hack site, far-left, completely biased, living in a universe with Rainbows and Unicorns. To call it a news site would be a crime against the universe.

Response by MAJ Jim Steven made Dec 8 at 2015 1:06 PM

2015-12-08T13:06:49-05:00

I actually agree with it..."
At first, with Trump...it was all, "OMG, I cant believe he said that!" And what he said, there was a kernel of truth to it (our lack of border security).
and while I agree that Trump has tossed out political correctness...the truth is, its now getting old.
He is has no plans, he is all talk - and he is making republicans look bad.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Dec 8 at 2015 1:18 PM

2015-12-08T13:18:07-05:00

I pay very little attention to the Huffington Post which is simply a liberal propaganda rag.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2015 5:25 PM

2015-12-08T17:25:37-05:00

He still leading in the polls, I guess people are buying what that old leather face dingbat from the key west is selling?

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Dec 8 at 2015 5:47 PM

2015-12-08T17:47:26-05:00

I have to admit, in order to realize how entertained we are not about Trump, we have to listen to him/read about him to make that assessment... Pretty freakin ingenious!!! LOL!

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Dec 8 at 2015 5:54 PM

2015-12-08T17:54:28-05:00

I think Trump doesn't need help bringing down his campaign. He is doing a good job every time he opens mouth without engaging brain.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Dec 8 at 2015 8:27 PM

2015-12-08T20:27:04-05:00

Why complain about it? If you're not actively engaged in fact checking him, putting his viewpoint on blast, making him account for his claims publicly, willing to be sued for slander in combating his bullying ways, then you're no better than he is, and you're giving him free press on top of it. He wins no matter what. Personally they are right.

Response by SSG Michael Hartsfield made Dec 8 at 2015 8:41 PM

2015-12-08T20:41:21-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, Donald Trump has been reading Putin's playbook on how to stay in the public eye. He knows that he can say and do anything he wants and the public and the pundits will do the work of keeping his candidacy alive. PSYOP 101, RP. Don't matter how they talk about you, as long as they keep talking about you

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Dec 9 at 2015 1:47 AM

2015-12-09T01:47:43-05:00

The HP is a liberal publication; they are against ALL of the GOP candidates. Trump is just the biggest target at the moment.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Dec 9 at 2015 2:02 PM

2015-12-09T14:02:55-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs - Mikel; Is it necessary that "a ploy to bring down (Trump's) campaign" and "doing the right thing" be mutually exclusive.

Face it the man has already made passing allusions to the setting up of concentration camps for American citizens who have not been proven "guilty" of anything more than belonging to an identifiable minority group.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 11 at 2015 1:35 PM

2015-12-11T13:35:10-05:00

Where does he get his talking points from? He is the single person who will lead us to WWIII.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2015 8:22 AM

2015-12-13T08:22:53-05:00

I'm so happy that is being recognized! This statement speaks volumes. "The Huffington Post. Back in July, we announced our decision to put our coverage of Trump's presidential campaign in our Entertainment section instead of our Politics section. "Our reason is simple," wrote Ryan Grim and Danny Shea. "Trump's campaign is a sideshow.""

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Dec 14 at 2015 12:32 PM

2015-12-14T12:32:28-05:00

If they are going to put Trump's news on the entertainment page, in order to be fair, they would have to put Hillary's news in the Crime Beat section and the Sanders news in the Bat Shit Crazy section. My guess is they will not as they are liberal, democrat shills at the HP. Why anyone would get news from there is beyond me.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2015 3:36 PM

2015-12-15T15:36:43-05:00

Thank you for the post and the information it contains.

Response by LTC David Brown made Dec 16 at 2015 9:18 AM

2015-12-16T09:18:58-05:00

I have a hard time with our press anyway. I am not surprised. Birtherism was started by the Hillary Clinton campaign, left unmentioned in the article. The Muslim data base is questionable, also not covered ( he didn't reject it said it should be considered). There are several other inaccuracies but why bother. Meanwhile Hillary Clinton is under investigation by the FBI for her classified emails being on a private server. Hillary Clinton's top aid sent an e mail to State department employees saying " watch Clinton she is often confused". Hillary sent an email to the head of the NFL asking about concussions, gee wouldn't some Doctor be a better source? Yet the whole press corps is largely ignoring this stuff as if it is ho hum. then the emails also reveal that Clinton knew the attacks in Benghazi were a coordinated terrorist effort yet Susan Rice was allowed to go on national television and talk about the video? Really! And the press thinks Trump has problems?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2016 4:24 PM

2016-06-10T16:24:13-04:00

Absolutely doing the right thing. Trump is a buffoon and absolutely unfit to be the nominee of any party, let alone the "Party of Lincoln"

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 10 at 2016 7:27 PM

2016-06-10T19:27:48-04:00

I was never "Entertained" by this man. There are probably not enough bad words that I can use to describe him.