Donald Trump Exposed. Part One: Gaslighting The Media

Freedom of the press is another of our very important first amendment rights. We depend on the media to aid us in receiving important news and giving unbiased accounts of what our government is doing. In fact that is one of their most important functions. To tell us the truth concerning the happenings in our halls of power. No matter who that person might be including the President of the United States. Lies must be uncovered and revealed to the American people who have the right to know. No one should be above the scrutiny of a determined and scrupulous press.

Many Presidents have complained about the news media. It is not a new phenomenon
1. http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20170217/many-past-us-presidents-hated-the-media-but-none-like-trump.
2.  http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-battles-press-20170218-story.html
3. http://abc7news.com/politics/president-trump-calls-fake-news-media-the-enemy-of-the-american-people/1760806/
4. https://www.yahoo.com/movies/critics-notebook-trumps-press-conference-echoes-death-throes-205405979.html
5. http://www.aurorasentinel.com/news/remember-nixon-theres-history-behind-trumps-press-attacks/
6.. http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/320262-trump-doubles-down-on-media-i-will-never-let-them-get-away-with-it
7. http://www.smh.com.au/world/as-the-tempo-of-trumps-media-war-rises-the-unthinkable-becomes-possible-20170225-gul63s.html

Yet at the same time as Trump has disparaged the press he used them to achieve victory during both the primaries and the general election campaign. As the third link shows the media gave him a huge amount of coverage in comparison to other candidates in both the primaries and the general election. In fact a Harvard study shows that he received 55 million dollars in free advertising. One source below states it was 2 billion. The media helped create Mr. Trump and he used them as well.
1. http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/11/2016-election-trump-media-takeover-coverage-214419
2. http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/12/16/trump-campaign-made-deal-media-organization-straighter-coverage-during-election/214853
3. http://fortune.com/2016/06/14/media-trump/
4. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/16/upshot/measuring-donald-trumps-mammoth-advantage-in-free-media.html?_r=0
5. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/09/trumps-media-saturation-quantified/498389/

Mr. Trump did not hesitate to use the media to his advantage when it suited his purposes. Now as President when he faces their criticism they are suddenly the 'enemy of the people. Any media source that criticizes him is 'fake news', and untruthful. This is something that has been done in the past to the media, it follows a pattern of what others have also sought to propagandize. Authoritarians such as Hitler and Putin have attacked the press in this same manner.

It is called gaslighting and it is a technique used by dictators to make their lies appear truthful and to discredit the real truth tellers as being the liars. Gaslighting has been used by Trump as a weapon against the press and all those who oppose him. Let's look first at Freedom of the Press and then how gaslighting is used to diminish and destroy our First Amendment Rights.
1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimpowell/2013/02/05/how-dictators-come-to-power-in-a-democracy/#e77d6827ff70
2. http://ieg-ego.eu/en/threads/european-media/censorship-and-freedom-of-the-press
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_the_press
4. http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/world-press-freedom-day/previous-celebrations/worldpressfreedomday20090000/freedom-of-information-and-the-press/
5. https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/facing-ferguson-news-literacy-digital-age/importance-free-press
6. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/20/360440/-
7. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/oct/06/importance-free-press-alan-rusbridger
8. http://www.lincoln.edu/criminaljustice/hr/Speech.htm
9. http://www.gsdrc.org/document-library/the-role-of-the-free-press-in-promoting-democratization-good-governance-and-human-development/
10. http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/speak-up/article1955056.html
11. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-press-freedom-vital-to-democracy/
12. https://www.dcourier.com/news/2017/feb/01/letter-importance-free-press/
13. https://www.freepress.net/press-freedom
14. https://www.aclu.org/issues/free-speech/freedom-press

Next we'll look at freedom of the press in some of the world's less free societies. Also how censorship came to be in the past as well.
1. https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/04/how-the-media-became-putins-most-powerful-weapon/391062/
2. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/25/how-russia-independent-media-was-dismantled-piece-by-piece
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_freedom_in_Russia
4. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/media-censorship-china
5. https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2016/china
6. http://ieg-ego.eu/en/threads/european-media/censorship-and-freedom-of-the-press
7. http://www.resurgentdictatorship.org/authoritarian-tactics/manipulating-media/
8. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimpowell/2013/02/05/how-dictators-come-to-power-in-a-democracy/#42f1e6707ff7
9. https://rsf.org/en/ranking
10. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2017-04-26/global-press-freedoms-weakening-group-warns
11. https://cpj.org/2015/04/10-most-censored-countries.php

Now let's glimpse at the history of gaslighting. How it has been used over time in particular by the Nazis and other dictators.
1. http://www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_valley/2016/04/18/the_history_of_gaslighting_from_films_to_psychoanalysis_to_politics.html
2. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/1/13/1620193/-How-Narcissists-Abusers-and-Dictators-Use-Gaslighting
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaslighting
4. https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007655
5. https://www.denverlibrary.org/content/knitflix-gaslight
6. http://kut.org/post/gaslighting-there-was-big-lie
7. http://21stcenturywire.com/2016/05/26/gaslighting-state-mind-control-and-abusive-narcissism/
8. http://www.openculture.com/2017/01/hannah-arendt-explains-how-propaganda-uses-lies-to-erode-all-truth-morality.html

Now we can see the history and how the Third Reich and some other dictatorships have used and continue to use gaslighting to manipulate their citizens. As we look at Donald Trump both during the campaign and since his tenure as President we can not help but see the similarities. The truth is Donald Trump is gaslighting the American people. He began by calling the Main Stream Media 'fake news'. Though the term  "Main Stream Media" is a misnomer itself begun by conservatives who were unhappy with the news coverage they received or the press telling the truth about their policies and how they would affect the American people. For the most part the media is honest and telling the truth as much as is possible. People can believe they are lying, but most of the time that is because they wish to not believe what they are being told by the news media. As citizens we are being told that the press is being skewed in one direction, to the left when that is not necessarily the truth.
1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/10/21/lets-rank-the-media-from-liberal-to-conservative-based-on-their-audiences/?utm_term=.5f42d2cf7ecc
2.http://www.newsmax.com/TheWire/newsmax-list-top-newspapers-republicans/2014/02/05/id/551107/
3. https://www.thoughtco.com/top-conservative-magazines-3303617

There are conservative news sources which are large circulation newspapers. But Donald Trump has an issue with the news in general except for those who spend their time agreeing with him no matter what he does or says. In order to attempt to control the media he uses the classic gaslighting techniques. Declares them liars in tweets and rallies. Calls them fake news. Attempts to discredit them at every turn. It is a dangerous and slippery game to play. He is placing himself among the authoritarians, not the leaders of democratic societies with his actions. Here are some of the examples.
1. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/24/media-blocked-white-house-briefing-sean-spicer
2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/cnn-new-york-times-other-media-barred-from-white-house-briefing/2017/02/24/4c22f542-fad5-11e6-be05-1a3817ac21a5_story.html?utm_term=.26a406cea05c
3. https://theintercept.com/2016/11/27/arrests-of-journalists-at-standing-rock-test-the-boundaries-of-the-first-amendment/
4. http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-standing-rock-journalist-arrest-20170205-story.html
5. http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/19/mccain-defends-a-free-press-thats-how-dictators-get-started.html
6. http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/10/opinions/donald-trump-is-gaslighting-america-ghitis/
7. http://www.teenvogue.com/story/donald-trump-is-gaslighting-america
8. http://www.salon.com/2016/10/16/donald-trump-as-a-gaslighter-what-we-must-learn-from-his-manipulative-non-apology/
9. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-video-completely-refutes-trumps-gaslighting-lie_us_5899f7c4e4b061551b3e0413
10. https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2017/02/10/white-house-gaslighting-media-and-entire-country/215302
11. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-donald-trump-and-gaslighting/2017/01/27/b02e6de4-e330-11e6-ba11-63c4b4fb5a63_story.html?utm_term=.4cef2f1cc858
12. https://thinkprogress.org/when-everything-is-a-lie-power-is-the-only-truth-1e641751d150

Now let's see it all in his own words. At times he even resorts to threats.

This is only a very few of his gaslighting of the American media and in so doing the American people. Many more can be seen HERE

Then let's here it from his own lips.

Again these are just a few of the examples and some of the presenters are quite 'interesting' to say the least but the point is made.Since his campaign began Donald Trump has been 'gaslighting'. Attempting, to control, manipulate, bully, intimidate and in some cases destroy the news media. Or at least the sources who reveal the truth about his statements, actions and policies.

What examples might we give as to why Trump wants to destroy the trust of the American people in its news sources? What does he NOT want us to believe? To pay attention to.The reasons are sundry and obvious to most who have the eyes to see. But for those who can't let us post a few. Or many.

1. http://politicaldig.com/video-shows-donald-trump-grabbing-and-kissing-former-miss-universe-onstage/
2. http://politicaldig.com/donald-trumps-lawyers-suing-hes-deadbeat/
3. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/trumps-moral-holiday/528327/
4. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-claims/?utm_term=.9e7741671186
5. http://time.com/4629308/donald-trump-business-deals-world-map/ (Tax returns anyone?)
6. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/18/us/politics/trumps-business-ties-to-middle-east-precede-him.html?_r=0
7. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-property-specialreport-idUSKBN16O2F6
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_projects_of_Donald_Trump_in_Russia
9. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/03/28/trump-business-past-ties-russian-mobsters-organized-crime/98321252/
10. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-16/behind-trump-s-russia-romance-there-s-a-tower-full-of-oligarchs
11. http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/04/trump-financial-ties-russia-money-laundering-banks-oligarchs-manafort
12. http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/05/trump-deutsche-bank-loans-russia
13. http://www.newsweek.com/paul-manafort-got-13-million-loans-trump-tied-businesses-583557
14. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article135243694.html
15. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article142584709.html
16. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/3/3/1634738/-Evidence-of-Trump-s-Connections-with-Kremlin-Expanded-Now-with-Citations-Links
17. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/4/2/1649582/-Part-II-of-Compilation-of-Trump-s-Russian-Connections
18. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/5/11/1661372/-Part-III-of-Compilation-of-Trump-s-Russian-Connections
19. http://nypost.com/2017/05/07/eric-trump-said-dads-golf-courses-were-funded-by-russia/
20. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article150517907.html
21. http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/05/27/jared-kushner-russian-spy-school-gorkov-kislyak-russia-secret-communication-kaye-pkg.cnn
22. http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/09/trump-files-listen-donald-brag-about-his-affairs-while-pretending-be-someone-else
23. http://therightscoop.com/heres-when-trump-bragged-in-his-book-about-his-multiple-affairs-with-his-friends-wives/
24. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/donald-trump-scandals/474726/
25. http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/05/donald-trump-2016-mob-organized-crime-213910
26. https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-dealt-with-a-series-of-people-who-had-mob-ties-1472736922
27. http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/most-corrupt-candidate-ever-is-donald-trump.html
28. http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/mar/02/ted-cruz/yes-donald-trump-has-been-linked-mob/
29. http://www.nationalreview.com/article/432826/donald-trumps-scandals-and-business-failures-roundup
30. https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-08-05/donald-trump-s-colorful-business-partners
31. https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/06/05/donald-trump-has-said-100s-of-false-things-heres-all-of-them.html

There are many, many more things that span the entirety of Trump's life which are dubious, questionable and sinister.  Many are not legal. He doesn't want anyone focusing for more than a second on any of them. So he gaslights the media, plays sleight of hand games to keep the media and the American people from really seeing the truth.

The truth is Donald Trump is not a good person. He is not a good President. His connections to the Russian interference in our election have not been proven false as he would have us believe. They are under investigation along with members of his campaign staff and present administration members. The truth is in fact as yet not fully known and remains an untold story. But it will not be so forever. One day Robert Mueller will have found all the answers and then we will know for certain.

The Republican Party of today is not the Republican Party of Nixon's time. They are a much weaker minded group. When Barry Goldwater and his companions went to Nixon and told him impeachment was imminent, they showed courage. But the Republicans of the present are way too cowardly to take on this President. They repeatedly defend his actions with 'he isn't a politician'. It's an utterly ridiculous, laughable and nonsensical defense. Donald Trump knows exactly what he's doing and always has. The present Republicans are insipid sycophants concerned only with their own self promotion.

But as they do not challenge his repeated attacks on the free press, they assist him in eroding our democracy and the Constitution of which the free press and the First Amendment is an important piece. They should be ashamed of themselves for their inaction or continued support of Donald Trump, a Nixonian figure who is a clear detriment to the true American way of life.

The True American Way Of Life where the media, investigates a news item, locates news sources, gathers all available information, verifies it, then writes a story which is presented to the American people must remain strong. Trump must not be allowed to destroy the Constitutional Right to Freedom of the Press. Which he is clearly setting about to do. Because he believes he has to in order to hide his own wrongdoing and remain in power.

There are many who help him as well in perpetrating this strategy of falsehoods and gaslighting. From Political Pacs, to members of Congress, right wing and alt-right media sources he has defenders. Defenders who in fact have to be revealed. Many are hidden behind the scenes which is also different than it used to be. Citizens United made it so many of these individuals can remain anonymous.

Those of us who hold our democracy dear, must fight back. We must help to protect the news media, and the Constitution from the diminishing this President wishes to bring about. We must stand strong and not allow him and his supporters to destroy who we are as a Nation. A nation of free press and free expression where no one is sacrosanct or above the law. Not even a President who styles himself a King.


To Be Continued.