American Vet

From Bill O'Reilly

During a dinner with President Trump a few months ago, I expressed regret to him for the general behavior of the press in America. I did this not to pander to the President, but to discuss the disintegration of decorum that, as an American, disturbs me.

In the past, most credible journalists respected the office of the presidency, if not the person inhabiting it. President Nixon strained that respect as correspondents like Dan Rather openly loathed the man. But even Mr. Rather brought a modicum of respect to his White House beat.

In 1992, NBC News reporter Stone Phillips interviewed President Bush the Elder in the White House. Using a poorly sourced newspaper allegation that alleged Mr. Bush had committed adultery, the journalist confronted the President.

Phillips: “Have you ever had an affair?”

President Bush: “I’m not going to take any sleaze questions. I gave you a little warning. You see you’re perpetuating the sleaze by even asking the question - to say nothing of asking it in the Oval Office. And I don’t think you ought to do that and I’m not going to answer the question.”

Stone Phillips backed off and the appropriateness of the question was widely debated. To me, a journalist who has interviewed six Presidents, Mr. Bush was correct; the White House is the wrong place to attempt a tabloid exposition.

Today, many media people do not respect Donald Trump and, by extension, the position he holds or the place where he lives. The hate-Trump press explains its conduct by pointing to the President’s deficits. They attempt to justify their bad behavior by pointing to his bad behavior - as if a third grade rationalization excuses the media’s gross disrespect for the Executive branch.

Americans elect presidents and once that happens the person assuming the office should be afforded a blanket of respect simply for holding the position. The presidency is the apex of our republic, something President Bush well understood.

In the summer of 2007, I interviewed then Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee for President. The chat was in York, Pennsylvania and was lively, to say the least. I challenged the senator and did not let him dodge. I had no problem describing some of his positions as misguided.

The next time I interviewed Mr. Obama he was President and we were in the White House. Whole new ballgame. My questions were still challenging but my tone was more measured. I mean, I couldn’t imply he was a pinhead as I can with senators and congresspeople. His status as the head of the country meant I had to respect his office.

And I did.

I remember getting a flood of letters from anti-Obama people accusing me of being “too soft” on Mr. Obama. These critics wanted rhetorical blood. But that would have not only have been disrespectful to him, but to the country.

By the way, the three chats I had with President Obama were the toughest interviews he saw. Check them out.

Today, President Trump is obviously not afforded respect by the media. Many in the White House press corps have been encouraged by their corporate masters to make Mr. Trump look bad. Legitimate questions are often asked in blatantly hostile tones. It’s wrong.

Americans deserve accountability from all presidents and the job of the press is to seek clarity and truth. But that’s not what’s going on today. It’s “get” Trump all day, every day.

Respect for the office of the presidency has vanished and it is unseemly. Donald Trump was awarded his job by the people. To not respect that is to insult the people.

And that’s what’s happening.

zombinis3 Loc: Southwest

I agree the office should be respected. The one thing about respect is that it also has to be given. The old saying respect has to be earned comes to mind.
That said using school yard nicknames doesn't show respect.

bylm1-Bernie

As far as respect goes, I try to go by what I read in Romans 13. For me that is where it is. Over my eight decades, I have seen a few Presidents come and go and I certainly haven't agreed with all of them but I try to show respect. That is a component that you see very little of today, particularly with the media. Anything goes and sometimes it seems that the main goal of the press is to make the President look bad.

Respect? I have very little for the media. My wife and I have talked a lot lately of how the press is so disrespectful. Their questions are designed to trap him and it appears they all hate him. They simply don't subscribe to the doctrine of respect. I believe the attitude that seems to be so pervasive at press conferences can be traced directly to the institutions of higher learning and the liberal education that colleges are selling today. I don't see anything changing very soon.

Carol Kelly

Very professional explanation of what’s going on today. Insolence at a White House meeting with the President of the United States of America is totally out of place.
Their owners have hired people who can be led by the nose, people who know they will never in their wildest dreams achieve what President Trump has achieved, people who have never loved their country and what it stands for as all Americans should do. He saw what was going wrong and knew, given the chance, he could fix it. He has fixed it against all odds and he’ll bring us back.

Carol Kelly

I agree wholeheartedly. They are all out to entrap the President. They are arrogant and in many instances, impudent. Donald J. Trump deserves the respect he has earned in business as well as in the office of President. I didn’t “Like Ike” but I love Trump for what he has accomplished for “we, the people”. Yesterday’s Town Hall was an opportunity to see him as a relaxed and very likable human being.

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

It's too bad trump doesn't respect the office.

Lonewolf

The biggest problem he has is the American people don't respect him

DASHY

Most people would agree we should give respect to those who have earned it. On his way to, and while in the White House, Trump has lied repeatedly and unabashedly, sometimes denying he told yesterday's lie. He has belittled physically challenged people, bragged of sexual conduct and demeaned entire races of people. He exhibits serious lack of judgment and virtually no self control. He has earned the truth of our feelings for him. We have been called "Trump Haters" and our analysis of his behavior is called "Fake News." We are actually true patriotic Americans who recognize an idiot when we see one.

Lonewolf

amadjuster Loc: Texas Panhandle

You are the self-appointed leader of the illiterate?

American Vet

BS: If you support the current leftist, liberal agenda you are not a patriotic American. As far as recognizing an idiot, how about recognizing what he has accomplished:


1.He recently delivered the best US economy that surpasses the whole countries of the world.

2. US has accomplished the lowest unemployment of 3.5% since 60 years ago.

3. Lowest unemployment for Blacks and Hispanics since history. The lowest unemployment for women since history.

4.US salaries and wages have increased between 7% to 8% annually.

5.Despite of that, President Trump's inflation is very low at 2.1% to zero. During Jimmy Carter, averaging 11.3% in 1979, and 13.5% in 1980.

6.Manufacturing jobs from abroad came home due to lower taxes.

7.The USMCA will deliver more workers for the Americans specially those in car industries.

8.The president sealed the walls preventing the Drug dealers, and Muslim terrorists from entering our country. Minimized illegal entries. US immigration is on the process of improvement via merit based system.

9. President Trump has required NATO members pay its own share of the dues.
10.President Trump in on the process of training millions of workers to obtain various skills to fill up the millions of jobs in private industries that need skilled workers.

11.Currently, we have more jobs than workers, thus salary of workers went up due to higher demands, but lesser supplies. Thus this skills-training program by the president will help them fill up the gap.

12. America has the highest and most stable monetary system. Fact is world banks have been hoarding US $100 bills for their own security in case the world countries economy declines.

13. Because of president Trump, US was able to minimize the Chinese thievery of US Intellectual Properties.

14. President Trump has been effective requiring China to comply with balance trade agreement. China has been abusing that for many decades, and thus Chinese economy went ahead so fast because of that. Not at this time. President Trump has put a barrier by requiring this balance trade agreement which is about to be signed by January 15th.

15.President Trump loves and cares for all the American people. He works hard and deliver the results effectively for all.

16. Now we are respected again by the world.

17. Killed terrorist Soleimani of Iran who've killed millions of people all over the world and the Middle East, killed 603 Americans plus 1 recently and wounded 4 more.
18. Killed Al Bagdhadi the ISIS terrorist leader who killed hundreds of thousands in the Middle East and in Europe.

19. The president reduced corporation taxes that drove the economy to the highest.

Milosia2 Loc: Cleveland Ohio

Oh for fux sakes,
Are youz people really drinking bleach or something. You have memories like Meth addicts.
This president was Impeached by the House of Representatives. The reason was for Not respecting the Office of The President! By committing High Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Everything coming down on Donald is because of and caused by Donald’s behavior of not respecting the office.
and now you want discuss respect for the office. Youz gotta be kidding me.

Milosia2 Loc: Cleveland Ohio

Bill oreilly. Disgusting, disgraced faux news sound melon.

Carol Kelly

That’s a very foolish statement and you know it’s not true.

Carol Kelly

I’m not crazy about OReilly either. He became a pompous blank but what he wrote is true.