[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 182 (Friday, November 16, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H9552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1115
                    RESPECT WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, today the court has affirmed the value 
of the First Amendment and provided the credentials back to CNN 
reporter Jim Acosta.
  It is unfortunate that since taking office, the President has treated 
members of the press differently than did his predecessors. The 
President constantly disparages the fourth estate as fake news, derides 
the press as the enemy of the people, and routinely singles out 
individual members of the press.
  It is fortunate that no injury has yet come, because last month the 
Trump zealot in Florida, inspired by his devotion to the President, 
took it upon himself to mail pipe bombs to perceived enemies of the 
President, including two former Presidents, the news desk of the Cable 
News Network, Secretaries of State, Attorneys General, and 
Congresspeople.
  The President seems to reserve his most special and pointed derision 
for African-American women members of the media. In particular, April 
Ryan of the American Urban Radio Networks and CNN; Abby Phillip of The 
Washington Post; and Yamiche Alcindor of the Public Broadcasting 
System. Instead, the President derided April Ryan as a loser; called 
Abby Phillip stupid; and accused Yamiche Alcindor of racism when she 
asked him about his claim to be a nationalist.
  Let us be very clear. The questions asked of the President were 
pointed, timely, and relevant. They were not dumb, racist, or stupid.
  They were protected by the First Amendment, and I ask the President 
to stand for the First Amendment and stand against racism.
  Since taking office, the President has treated members of the press 
differently than did his predecessors.
  The President constantly disparages the Fourth Estate as ``fake 
news,'' derides the press as the `enemy of the people,' and routinely 
singles out for verbal abuse individual members of the press.
  Although this conduct by the President is rude, childish, and 
unbecoming of the leader of a great nation, we are fortunate that it 
has not yet resulted in physical injury or harm to any member of the 
press.
  I say fortunate because last month, a Trump zealot in Florida, 
inspired by his devotion to the President, took it upon himself to mail 
pipes bombs to perceived enemies of the President, including two former 
Presidents and the news desk of the Cable News Network (CNN).
  Mr. Speaker, the current President of the United States has disgraced 
his office on numerous occasions, most recently this past weekend when 
he refused to visit a cemetery in France where Americans gave their 
lives to defend freedom in World War I because he did not want to get 
wet in the rain.
  But it is beneath the dignity of his office for the President to 
deride the free and independent press, which the Framers knew was 
indispensable for a functioning democracy and enshrined its protection 
in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a protection that 
every President takes and oath to preserve, protect, and defend.
  The President reserves his most special and pointed derision for 
African American women members of the media who do their jobs and have 
the temerity to ask him questions regarding his actions or the policies 
of his administration.
  So it came as no surprise that in the aftermath of the 2018 midterm 
elections, in which his party was routed and lost control of the House 
of Representatives, the President refused to answer questions put to 
him by three great and highly respected African American woman 
reporters: April Ryan of the Urban American Urban Radio Networks and 
CNN; Abby Phillip of the Washington Post; and Yamiche Alcindor of the 
Public Broadcasting System (PBS).
  Instead, the President derided April Ryan as a ``loser,'' called Abby 
Phillip ``stupid,'' and accused Yamiche Alcindor of racism when she 
asked him about his claim to be a ``nationalist.''
  Let us be very clear: the questions asked of the President were 
pointed, timely, and relevant; they were not dumb, racist or stupid.
  They may have made the President uncomfortable but it is not the role 
of the media to make public officials feel comfortable, especially one 
who lashes out because he clearly feels the legal, ethical and 
political walls closing in on him.
  The President's misconduct conduct is consistent with his pattern and 
practice of routinely disparaging African American criticism--
especially from females.
  The American people see the President's unmistakable pattern of 
disrespectful and abusive treatment of African American women members 
of the White House Press Corps; they do not like it, they see through 
it, and they know that these flailing attacks say more about this 
President than it does about the three very able, highly respected, and 
fearless African American women journalists.
  I call upon the President to cease and desist his disrespectful 
treatment of all journalists in general, and of African American women 
journalists in particular.

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