Here are some famous quotes….

“The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right, and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government I should not hesitate for a moment to prefer the latter.”… -Thomas Jefferson

“There is no more essential ingredient than a free, strong, and independent press to our continued success in what the Founding Fathers called our 'noble experiment' in self-government.”… -Ronald Reagan

“CNN hurt my feelings.”… -Donald Trump

OK, Historians have verified the Jefferson and Reagan quotes. I can’t prove that Donald Trump actually said that CNN hurt his feelings, although I’d be willing to bet that, at the very least, he thought it.

Donald Trump has prohibited reporters from CNN, MSNow, and Politico from entering the White House in his latest attack on the First Amendment.

Other presidents may not have liked what was reported but understood the importance of maintaining a free and independent press.

George W. Bush said, “We need the media to hold people like me to account. I mean, power can be very addictive, and it can be corrosive and it’s important for the media to call to account people who abuse their power, whether it be here or elsewhere.”

In his farewell address, Jimmy Carter wrote, “Thoughtful criticism and close scrutiny of all government officials by the press and the public are an important part of our democratic society. Now, as in the past, only the understanding and involvement of the people through full and open debate can help to avoid serious mistakes and assure the continued dignity and safety of the Nation.”

Now, not every president has had such glowing reverence for the media. Barack Obama attempted to get a journalist to reveal his sources. Richard Nixon obviously tried to suppress stories about Watergate, the Pentagon Papers, and other stories that were unflattering or criminal.

In fact, Thomas Jefferson made his comment about the importance of the free press when speaking in France years before he became president. After he got the job, he was not so enamored with what the newspapers of the day had to say. In his private letters, he expressed his frustration.

But few presidents have had such open disdain for reporters as President Trump, who called the media “The enemy of the people.”

President Trump has tried to intimidate various reporters by calling them stupid, incompetent and low IQ. He’s especially attacked female reporters by making comments on their appearance, even telling one to “Be quiet, piggy.”

President Trump isn’t the only one who is blocking reporters from investigating their actions. Secretary of Def…er, I mean War, Pete Hegseth has blocked reporters from entering the Pentagon.

But that hasn’t stopped details about the war in Iran, or other military stories like the length of time the USS Abraham Lincoln was at sea.

And blocking CNN, MSNow, and Politico will not stop them from reporting on the President. Those reporters still have their sources. They’ll still be able to get information from insider leaks and whistleblowers.

No legitimate reporter should go out of their way to attack any elected official, but likewise they can’t ignore negative news stories just because that elected official may not like them.

Blocking White House reporters won’t be the number one issue when voters go to the polls in November. But I wonder how Jim Pillen, Pete Ricketts, Brinker Harding, Mike Flood and other Republican candidates feel about this latest attack on media. Do they support President Trump’s actions, or will they stand up for the freedom of the press?

I won’t be surprised if our Republican candidates stay silent on this issue, afraid they might upset the president.

Being afraid to upset the president is a sign of a tyrannical government.

Voters will be more concerned about the price of gas, food, mortgages, medicine and clothing. And those stories aren’t going away no matter how many reporters the president tries to block.

Blocking reporters from having access to the president is another sign of a tyrannical government. We’re not there yet, but Donald Trump is trying to lay the foundation for forming one. Trump praises other authoritarian leaders. A free, independent press gets in the way of him becoming one himself.

A free press gets in the way of President Trump becoming the type of leader that Thomas Jefferson warned against when he said those words in France over 250 years ago.

Tom Becka is a long time Nebraska broadcaster who for over 30 years has been covering Omaha and Midwest issues on both radio and TV. He has been a guest on numerous national cable and news shows, filled in for nationally syndicated talk radio programs and Talkers Magazine has recognized him as one of the Top 100 talk show hosts in the country 10 times. Never afraid to ruffle some feathers, his ‘Becka’s Beat’ commentaries can be found online on Youtube and other digital platforms.

Opinions expressed by columnists in The Daily Record are not necessarily those of its management or staff, and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Any errors or omissions should be called to our attention so that they may be corrected. Contact us at news@omahadailyrecord.com.