Letter: President disrespects freedom of the press

Recently, we saw a man running for Congress who body slammed a reporter he labeled someone 'from the liberal press.” The reporter asked a question the future congressman did not want to answer. Following, the congressman's campaign staff gave a different account even though everyone there saw it. After he won the election the lie was acknowledged and the congressman-elect apologized. The congressman was finally charged with assault.

An unprecedented attitude in the White House creates a negative feeling toward the First Amendment of our Constitution, freedom of the press. Our president disrespects the people's press in every way possible. The president uses descriptors for individual reporters and news outlets no citizen should accept.

If the president honors our Constitution he should honor and understand all of it. That includes the part that is meant to protect our freedom, Freedom of the Press. It is the peoples' watchdog and protector, not our enemy. It gives the people knowledge about our government's workings and intent. It is the people's eyes and ears and keeps our government transparent. This is not a gift, it's a right.

The press will ask the hard questions of our Congress and our president and others in government. It is what protects us from dictators, tyrants or others who would try to undermine our freedoms. It takes an educated electorate to keep us free. As an educator and veteran, I worked to keep an educated and free United States of America.

Stephen Bobek

Iowa City