Bill Mitchell, a far-right conservative pundit, radio show host, and Trump supporter, tried to troll The New York Times and The Washington Post on Twitter today.
You know what we should do? Start flooding the NYTimes and WAPO tip lines with all kinds of crazy "leaks." Then laugh when they print them!
— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) May 21, 2017
Maggie Haberman, the White House correspondent for the New York Times, immediately set him in his place.
The Trump administration has tried this a few times, sir. We actually vet these things. https://t.co/CNdET1sRbY
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) May 21, 2017
To try and distract from the more important issues – like the investigation into Russia’s attack on our country – the White House and conservative pundits have long decried “leaks” as the real issue facing the United States today. They conveniently seem to glaze over the fact that these leaks expose grave crimes against our democracy that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Haberman’s tweet also brings to light the fact that even Trump’s White House has made an effort to obfuscate the truth. What they failed to take into account, though, is that – unlike their litany of unfounded claims – the New York Times makes an effort to actually vet the claims that come their way.
Trump has repeatedly come under fire for his tenuous relationship with the truth. He is responsible for perpetuating numerous baseless claims, such as the Obama “birther” conspiracy and that Obama wiretapped Trump Tower. Both claims were unequivocally disproven.
An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2012
Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my "wires tapped" in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2017
In an age where the federal government would rather disseminate falsehoods and suppress reports of criticism, Americans are grateful for a free and fair press with an unwavering commitment to the truth.
What do you think?
