After Jim Acosta got into a tussle with a White House intern (not that kind of intern tussle) who tried to remove his microphone when he was told to stuff it, his press pass was finally revoked. Half of America has been completely confused as to why this hasn’t happened before during any number of his unprofessional outbursts, while the other half thinks he’s some kind of hero speaking truth to power.
We truly are witnessing the two simultaneous realities that the opposing camps are living in, playing at the same time. (H/T Scott Adams.)
In a close-up video, the movie most Republicans see is a young, scared intern trying to do her job. When she gets the signal to take the microphone to another reporter, she tries three times, rather timidly, while Acosta avoids her. On the third try, he deliberately blocks her from taking the microphone by pressing her arm down quickly with his hand. This was enough to get her to turn and look at the president with a bewildered “help me” look. I wouldn’t call it assault, but it wasn’t nice and it was a complete violation of press etiquette. When the president says your turn is over, it’s over. You don’t keep screaming like you’re the only guy in the room and everyone must listen to you. Sorry, Jim, there’s a room full of people who need to ask questions. Acosta always acts like he’s the most important person in every press briefing. It’s tiring.
What do you see happening in this clip?
Watch her face as she turns to the president with a look that very clearly says "What do I do? Help me!" This is so wrong #JimAcosta. Apologize to this girl and the president and get on with your life. Be decent. https://t.co/EHnwzveTDR
— #BelieveEvidence (@MeganFoxWriter) November 8, 2018
The other half of America is claiming that the intern assaulted Acosta! In their movie, the belligerent and dastardly “white nationalist” Trump didn’t answer any of Acosta’s questions (he did answer several) and then sent his violent 118-pound intern to yank the microphone away from him. Then he immediately walked down to the National Archives and scratched out the First Amendment with a red pen and then set it on fire.
What the actual f**k?!?! Don’t mess with our national treasure! 😡#Acosta #istandwithacosta https://t.co/BLRIYIFd6h
— Alea Redetzke (@AleaRedetzke) November 7, 2018
So much for #BelieveAllWomen, eh MSNBC?
To make the Democrat meltdown worse, Sarah Sanders revoked Acosta’s press pass indefinitely! (Cue uncontrollable laughter.) They are not taking it well. It’s the end of democracy as we know it because one of CNN’s other reporters is going to have to go to the White House briefings instead of St. Acosta the Brave.
The WH is lying about #JimAcosta and actually defaming him, claiming he put his hands on a female WH intern. The video shows that's bullshit. Revoking his credential is petty authoritarianism. Every legit journalist should REFUSE to attend any WH presser until he's reinstated
— Tim Wise (@timjacobwise) November 8, 2018
Strangely enough, however, Ben Shapiro is joining CNN and Democrats in their movie. Shapiro appears to call Sarah Sanders a liar.
This is not what happened. You could have banned him simply for refusing to abide by any of the normal rules of the press room. No need to state something happened that didn’t. https://t.co/p9hgtVE8eZ
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) November 8, 2018
And Shapiro had just made it back onto my good list after his unconscionable Never Trump hissy fit in 2016. But worse than Shapiro calling this one completely wrong, it’s a total departure from his temper tantrum over Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields, who got shoved by Cory Lewandowski. If you can remember that far back, Shapiro rage-quit Breitbart over this “incident,” where Fields was aggressively questioning then-candidate Trump, who was surrounded by Secret Service. When he wouldn’t answer her, she reached out to grab him as he was walking away and Lewandowski grabbed her arm and pulled her back out of the way. She claimed he bruised her and put up a huge fuss about it. It was stupid.
There is no comparison between the kinds of situations reporters find themselves in (i.e., the crush of a press gaggle where toes are stepped on and elbows are thrown regularly as reporters jostle to get a better position) and a young, unpaid intern who is clocking an 8-hour day doing chores she is assigned. Most likely the interns don’t know what they will be doing from day to day. They could be fetching coffee, filing papers, copying things, meeting clandestinely in the Oval for cigar breaks…wait…wrong president. But the point is, she signed up to work in the White House in a non-confrontational environment where she would be learning about government, not getting crushed by rabid reporters. Michelle Fields, on the other hand, like Acosta, signed up for this. News reporting on the ground is not a sport for the timid. But to hear Shapiro tell it, Fields suffered abuse so bad he had to quit his job over it. He took a stand that women are not to be manhandled on his watch. But Acosta refusing to hand over the microphone and manhandling and intimidating a young intern is fine. Come on, Ben!
Dude. Just dude. https://t.co/ddbXVsur2v
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) November 8, 2018
Someone needs to ask @benshapiro what was different about @CLewandowski_ and #JimAcosta, Ben was apoplectic over Michelle Fields and demanded that @BreitbartNews get an apology and ultimately quit. Why the double standard?
— Wrongthink Radio (@wrongthinkradio) November 8, 2018
I like Shapiro, I really do. His election coverage was so fun and he’s wickedly smart, but this kind of stuff is just silly. Normally he’s consistent and on this one, he’s just plain wrong.
The best part about all of this was something I thought I was the only one to catch. The president almost took that microphone from Acosta himself! This is the best video you’ll see all day. Wayne Dupree was clearly watching the same movie I was. President Trump don’t play. Watch what happens directly after the tussle with the intern. The president has clearly had enough of the antics. When he comes around the podium, Acosta can’t hand that microphone away fast enough. Like Dupree, I too have seen that move from my father, and when Daddy gets serious, all foolishness stops. Like all good fathers, President Trump then delivers a major scolding to Acosta that should make him burn with shame because it’s pretty accurate. I don’t know if Acosta is a terrible person, but he sure behaves like one at work.
CNN’s #JimAcosta learned pretty quick don’t play with @POTUS! When @realDonaldTrump says put down the mic, why does there need to be an argument, put it down and let others talk #realtalk pic.twitter.com/spbjpkKh9d
— Wayne Dupree 🎙🎥 (@WayneDupreeShow) November 7, 2018
How sad that the left (and Ben Shapiro) can’t get in on our movie. Ours is so much better and funnier. Theirs is just depressing and inconsistent.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member