Poll: Less than half of Republicans believe free press important for democracy

[ApatheticAustrian]

there is no single media outlet which can't be replaced - but when all media outlets which get any kind of information must be mouthpieces, we enter autocratic area.

i don't want to see a democratic administration which only talks to MSNBC hosts, daily kos, salon ....and this selection still got nothing on infowars/gateway pundit.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Institutional media outlets =/= freedom of press.

Freedom of press literally extends to your individual blogs and corner leaflets. Freedom of press means that each of us can reproduce speech in tangible form. CNN has no more free press rights than any american, it just has greater resources to do so. Critical viewpoints are important for determining the best policies but again, those critical viewpoints can also come from individuals. Hating the bulk of media institutions isnt the same as hating freedom of press.

Half of Republicans apparently haven't gotten the memo. 

They are dumb.

[peterthlee]

Despite being a pro-Beijing pan-Chinese nationalist in Hong Kong, yes by default. Otherwise, Donald Tsang, our former CE, would have his corruption case acquitted. With the advent of free press, he could be brought to justice. He's now dwelling in jail. Hooray!
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I found the title unbelievable, particularly in the US, where liberty is said to be upheld.

If it is true, those Republicans, especially the alt-right human rights violator Tom Cotton, should withdraw the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act from the Senate. It is weird that they pretend to be guardians for free press in Hong Kong, while stamping on press freedom in their home country.

[peterthlee]

     I mean, I don't think the press should be criticizing anyone. They should report the facts with a deliberate, conscious effort to avoid bias. If those facts happen to build a story that is critical of political leaders then so be it. Perhaps I am being pedantic here, but it strikes me as an important distinction.

Yes, but...it's difficult to change it. CY Leung will be happy to hear from you, as he came under fire from both pro-Beijing and pan-democratic media institutions.

The press should abide by their principles. In Hong Kong, the mass media are in a mess. They often insert their stances in their reports by their instinct. Terrible.

[Badger]

Institutional media outlets =/= freedom of press.

Freedom of press literally extends to your individual blogs and corner leaflets. Freedom of press means that each of us can reproduce speech in tangible form. CNN has no more free press rights than any american, it just has greater resources to do so. Critical viewpoints are important for determining the best policies but again, those critical viewpoints can also come from individuals. Hating the bulk of media institutions isnt the same as hating freedom of press.

Half of Republicans apparently haven't gotten the memo. 

They are dumb.

I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. Reactionary. Alert the media!

(Then shut them down of course)

[pbrower2a]

Institutional media outlets =/= freedom of press.

Freedom of press literally extends to your individual blogs and corner leaflets. Freedom of press means that each of us can reproduce speech in tangible form. CNN has no more free press rights than any american, it just has greater resources to do so. Critical viewpoints are important for determining the best policies but again, those critical viewpoints can also come from individuals. Hating the bulk of media institutions isnt the same as hating freedom of press.

Half of Republicans apparently haven't gotten the memo. 

They are dumb.

It is a commonplace myth that authoritarian types, Left, Right, or simply crazy, are stupid and ill-informed.  There were brilliant Nazis and Stalinists. They were not so much stupid as they were evil.