~ “I hope we once again have reminded people that man is not free unless government is limited. There’s a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: as government expands, liberty contracts.” Ronald Reagan.
The argument is often made that First Amendment protections means we can’t do anything about the Media.
Well, yes and no.
You see, the Media is a Thing, just as a corporation is a Thing, the FBI is a Thing. You know what I’m saying. Liars, traitors, criminals of every stripe, are people…with names and faces, and dozens of personal weaknesses, even addictions.
And this ‘Thing’ is protected by the First Amendment.
You can sue a corporation, but you can’t put it in jail. You can bring criminal charges against a corporation, but then you have to dig way deep to find the individual “trigger finger” that did it. Then you have to make sure you can prove your case and not convict a fall-guy, which large organizations are filled with.
Finding the genuinely guilty is often very difficult to prove and teams of lawyers are there to try to blight your path every step of the way.
And for the Media, the First Amendment is there to blight your path almost every step of the way, generally beginning in 1971.
These days, the most difficult task is to simply know what is actually a crime, or civilly, an actionable injury, or tort, since the law makes so many exemptions, especially for the Media.
In the 1971, New York Times v United States, (the famous Pentagon Papers trial) the Supreme Court ruled that the NYT was protected by the First Amendment.
All that was sought in that case was an injunction, stopping the publication of a “classified” history of the United States involvement in SE Asia going back to the Eisenhower Days.
Virtually no one even knows what that history revealed, probably more damaging to the Democrats than the Republicans on the history end, but more damaging to The Republicans politically since, by 1971, Vietnam was Nixon’s War, and the leftwing media wanted to hang that war around his and the GOP’s neck, which they effectively did. Most Millennials believe he started it, and lost it.
In 1971, CNN was still almost a decade away from being born, and the founders of Buzzfeed’s fathers were still in college, their sons but gleams in their eyes. Besides the Pentagon Papers case said nothing about Fake News, or the malicious intent to do injury. No lies were involved in the passing by Daniel Ellsburg of the Papers to an NYT reporter named Neil Shaheen.
Ellsburg was indicted under the federal law for giving Shaheen the Papers in 1973, but his case was dismissed for misconduct by the Nixon DOJ five months later, and three years after SCOTUS allowed the NYT to publish the Papers[…]
Attempts to obstruct Brian Kolfage’s “We The People Will Build the Wall” Campaign is not going as Progressives would like it because Americans want border security. We want a border wall where none exists. What the left does not get is that this is about national security.
HUGE! 93% opt in rate, 40% reached in 48 hrs! HUGE SUPPORT for Gofundme Campaign! WIN WIN WIN!
How Dare the President of the United States Act to Do the Same!
Sarcasm!
Not sarcasm: (a) Dismantle all efforts to make the wall, correction improved border security of which the wall plays a part a reality; and (b) destroy anyone who has designs on making it a reality by any means necessary
While several GoFundMe Pages have been launched by individuals, the purpose of which is to secure donations toward the construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, none have garnered nearly as much attention or support as that of Brian Kolfage’s “We The People Will Build the Wall’ Go Fund Me Campaign.”
One can only surmise that Kolfage’s campaign is a threat to those who oppose a border wall, particularly since President Donald J. Trump has for several weeks sought funding for border security from Congress.
Thwarting the Border Wall, Trump, Campaigns to Build Wall and Brian Kolfage By Any Means
The usual suspects, i.e., the Communist media complex, NeverTrumpers, the Party of No, the Deep State and their globalist backers reported a few days ago verbatim that Kolfage’s “We The People Will Build the Wall’ Go Fund Me Campaign” had failed, it was over and that all monies collected was being refunded to donors of the campaign.
NOT TRUE. The usual suspects are pedaling FAKE NEWS, have declared war on Kolfage, a triple-amputee Air Force veteran, Purple Heart recipient and the Campaign overseeing the campaign and who will in time will sever ties with GoFundMe.
For the record, Kolfage made clear from the inception of the campaign that “if we did not reach our goal we will refund donors.”
Enter Bobby Whithorne, director of North America Communications for GoFundMe and social justice warrior who emailed CBS a statement missed his goal and failed to abide by the rules (or something to that effect); therefore, all monies donated to the campaign would be refunded on April 11, 2018 one day after Buzzfeed’s attack on Kolfage.
The smear campaign against Kolfage is two years to the day that Buzzfeed released their very fake and equally salacious article entitled, These Reports Allege Trump Has Deep Ties To Russia in which they published the infamous unverified Golden Shower dossier in a plot to destroy and take down now President Donald J. Trump. What a way to celebrate an anniversary.
Less than 24 hours after Buzzfeed wrote the article accusing Kolfage of pushing a “get rich” scheme, Bobby Whithorne in an email to CBS stated that GoFundMe would be refunding the donations.
…GoFundMe campaign to subsidize what it called “the Trump Wall” will refund all money to donors because it did not meet its $1 billion goal, said Bobby Whithorne, director of North America Communications for GoFundMe. Donors will receive their money on April 11, unless they choose to donate their contribution to the campaign creator’s new venture, GoFundMe said in an email to the campaign’s participants….
The refund announcement came a day after BuzzFeed News reported that Kolfage pocketed money in a previous GoFundMe campaign intended to help other wounded soldiers. Kolfage raised $16,246 for a veteran mentorship program, but BuzzFeed News reports that after collecting the funds, he didn’t use the money as promised: none of the partners he claimed to have worked with — including Walter Reed, Brooke Army Medical Center and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany — have any records that Kolfage worked with their patients or donated money, according to representatives at the centers that BuzzFeed News spoke to[…]
SIDEBAR
About GoFundMe’s intent to refund donors “on April 11, 2019” — Question(s): While it took and continues to take GoFundMe less than a minute to grab donations, i.e., $20,405,395 plus so far, it will take 1/4 of the year to issue refunds? Three months? Does that mean that GoFundMe as in “Cash Rules Everything Around Me” will collect interest on said donations in addition to securing its “fair share” of the pie? Or am I overthinking this?
Just saying.
END OF SIDEBAR
NeverTrumper websites also reported verbatim that GoFundMe was refunding all of the donations as in the case of RedState, who quoted the title from tweet posted by One America News.
#NEW on @OANN: The site @gofundme is refunding all donations to the “Build the Wall” campaign after it failed to reach its goal of $1 billion.
Donors to the campaign are now being urged to redirect their payments to a c4 called “We Build the Wall, Inc.” #OANN
As you can see above, Redstate chose to deceptively quote a portion of the tweet allegedly submitted by MAGA student. (???) They updated their article (lack thereof) by posting an update from Kolfage’s “We The People Will Build the Wall’ Go Fund Me Campaign” page, again verbatim.
Moving on…
“We Build the Wall” Campaign Remains an OnGoing Project Just Not at GoFundMe
The campaign to collect donations from Americans to build the much-needed border wall, etc. is still in gear except that eventually donations will cease going through Go Fund Me.
Disclosure: About two weeks ago, I donated to Kolfage’s “We The People Will Build the Wall’ Go Fund Me Campaign” . On Friday afternoon at 2:19 p.m., I received the following email from GoFundMe which I only noticed very early Saturday morning (links removed).
Dear GoFundMe Customer,
As explained in update #18 on the campaign, you have 90 days to let us know if you’d like your donation to be sent to the new 501(c)(4) organization: We Build The Wall, Inc. If we do not hear from you by April 10, 2019, your donation will be automatically refunded on April 11, 2019, as the specific plan for the use of funds raised on the campaign has changed from what was originally stated.
Please take action through the links below:
Yes, I want my donation to go to We Build The Wall, Inc.
Please refund my donation.
If we don’t hear from you, we will refund your donation on April 11, 2019.
Please do not reply to this message. If you have any questions, please visit our Help Center.
Thank you, The GoFundMe Team
Screenshot:
No problem, I re-directed my donation to the 501(c)(4) organization: We Build The Wall, Inc. as later confirmed by GoFundMe. In the meantime, Brian Kolfage who has been accused of changing the rules of the game is working overtime to update donors, refute allegations levied against him and at the same time respond to BuzzFeed’s smear campaign him. Immediately after Kolfage posts updates to the GoFundMe page, emails are dispatched to those who donated.
Endgame: An Attempt by the Left to Thwart Efforts by Americans to Build the Border Wall
If you have made a donation, see Kolfage’s latest update (excerpt below) or the email that you should have received from GoFundMe informing donors to opt-in or your donations will be refunded via GoFundMe on April 11, 2019 after GoFundMe has collected its share of the bounty. (Ah-hah! 2.9% and then some i.e., “+ $0.30 per donation”)
WE ARE BUILDING THE WALL! You can still donate right now on this Gofundme!! The media is falsely reporting all money is being refunded and it’s over. They are WRONG. WE ARE BUILDING THE WALL and you can STILL donate or opt in if you donated before January 11th TO SUPPORT the plan.
Eight days before Christmas I started this GoFundMe campaign because I was tired of watching the U.S. government’s inability to secure our southern border. Like most Americans, I see the porous southern border as a national security threat and I refuse to allow our broken political system to leave my family and my country vulnerable to attack.
The plan of action was simple and straightforward to raise money to construct a wall on our southern border. We have raised over $20 Million from 325,000 plus donors and we are only just getting started! I have been literally overwhelmed and inspired by the outpouring of support, calls, and emails from American citizens who support our efforts to Build the Wall. I got some hate as well but that was easy to ignore with all the positive feedback I was getting. I immediately sought out and consulted with some of our country’s leading professionals in law, politics, national security, construction, and finance. This team has spent countless hours over the holidays reviewing all issues pertaining to the construction of a southern border wall. Unanimously, we have all come to the conclusion that:
★ The federal government won’t be able to accept our donations anytime soon.
★We are better equipped than our own government to use the donated funds to build an actual wall on the southern border.
★ Our highly experienced team is highly confident that we can complete significant segments of the wall in less time, and for far less money, than the federal government, while meeting or exceeding all required regulatory, engineering, and environmental specifications.
★ Our team strongly believes that we can complete our segments of the wall for less than half of the government’s estimated costs on a per mile basis.
To show the government how “We the People” can get this done, we have formed a Section 501(c)(4) non-profit Florida Corporation named “We Build the Wall, Inc.” to receive the GoFundMe contributions. Our website can be found at www.webuildthewall.us.
The following individuals serve on the on the advisory board, and construction, finance, and or audit committees, operations, administration, PR, Media and ongoing fundraising:
So Kolfage’s newfound revelations broke the rules? Among those onboard as referenced by Kolfage are:
Brigadier General Dr. Robert S. Spalding III, Industrialist John Daniel Moran, Jr., Ex-Navy SEAL and businessman Erik Prince, Former Secretary of State of Kansas Kris Kobach, Angel Mom Mary Ann Mendoza, Law enforcement and immigration expert Sheriff David Clarke, Fox news contributor and border security expert Sara A. Carter, Former Colorado Congressman and presidential candidate Tom Tancredo, Angel Dad Steve Ronnebeck and Media consultant and journalist Jennifer Lawrence for starters.
Below are the latest updates as of this morning (link above).
UPDATE 21:
WE ARE BUILDING THE WALL!!! Do NOT listen to the LYING liberal media!
We have changed mission from we Fund the wall to we BUILD the wall. We will build the wall mile by mile for HALF the cost. We have private landowners lining up to get the wall built!
If you want to continue on we just need you to OPT IN by clicking here https://bit.ly/2SIQyBg
Every week on Monday, the WoW! community and our invited guests weigh in at the Watcher’s Forum, short takes on a major issue of the day, the culture, or daily living. This week’s question: Was Trump’s Confronting CNN Publicly A Positive Or A Negative?
Don Surber: Answer: This is a positive.No one in America plays the press better than The Donald. Liz Smith — the doyenne of the gossip queens of New York — devoted an entire chapter to him in her autobiography. If you want to know The Donald, read it.
Attacking CNN works because 1.) CNN tried to frame him as a puppet of Putin putting out a quadruple bylined story without a reaction from his camp. If you cannot fight for yourself, you deserve to lose.
2) CNN is the least liked cable network with favorables below Trump’s.
3.) He did not use the incident to evade answering the question, but rather to punctuate his response. He denied it and then banned (without removing) said reporter.
4.) He relished putting Jim Acosta down.
Eventually the press may catch on. The incessant attacks on his person will not work. No one in the press has the credibility with Trump’s supporters needed to bring him down. I suggest they give him a honeymoon and see what happens.
Stately McDaniel Manor: President-Elect Trump’s public confrontation of CNN was exactly the right thing to do. The Lamestream Media, the Democrat Party, the academy and the other usual suspects are engaged in an unprecedented war against Mr. Trump, and if allowed free reign, their irrational hatred and rage will go far beyond damaging Mr. Trump and will do serious damage to America.
Mr. Trump was right in calling out CNN reporter Jim Acosta (talk about an ironically appropriate name), and should have had him thrown out. Acosta should be permanently banned from any Trump event and from the White House. Even if Acosta does not respect Mr. Trump–and it’s clear that’s the case, or he was raised by wolves–he and every reporter must give due deference to the office Mr. Trump holds. There is no excuse to do otherwise.
Whenever any reporter behaves inappropriately, give them the boot and ban them, period, no exceptions, no reprieves, no apologies accepted. These are people who have declared war on Mr. Trump. They don’t get to decide who is president or how to treat the person holding the office. They are beyond the pale and deserve no consideration. CNN too should have no consideration, and should be banned from all Trump events and the White House.
It’s important that Mr. Trump set the ground rules even before he takes the oath of office. The thinking, civilized public is on his side and very much against the lies and excesses of the media. If Mr. Trump stands firm, the media will have the choice of becoming more and more marginalized, or of working to regain a modicum of the public’s trust. In any case, Twitter is Mr. Trump’s, and the American people’s best friend, and he should use it, carefully, to bypass the media. Mr. Trump has a unique opportunity to strike a blow for all Americans against an arrogant, corrupt, and Leftist media. He should take careful, measured advantage of it.
Mr. Trump should also sue Buzzfeed and CNN for their libelous conduct. Normally, it’s difficult for public figures to recover damages in such cases, but when actual malice is involved–as it surely is–and when Buzzfeed and CNN knew the material they were publishing to be false, that’s another story. Mr. Trump should sue them into oblivion and give the money to Fox News, or to an appropriate non-profit like FIRE that works to uphold the First Amendment and that behaves honorably.
If Mr. Trump does as I suggest, the media will wail, gnash their teeth and rend their garments. They’ll claim Mr. Trump is destroying the First Amendment and Democracy! They’ll call him a Nazi! They’ll…what’s that you say? They’re already doing all of that? They’ve been doing it for more than a year? Why, so they have!
I guess Mr. Trump really doesn’t have anything to lose, does he?
JoshuaPundit: Ah well, I guess everyone enjoyed seeing a smarmy CNN reporter put in his place. I heard several people refer to it as another Christmas present.It worked for several reasons. Acosta was being rude, attempting to shout over another reporter’s question,the Donald warned him twice and then told him he wasn’t going to give him a question saying, “You are fake news” to wild applause. Which of course, they are. Trump merely underlined it.
There are a couple of interesting things I noticed though. First that PEOTUS Trump also went out of his way to throw the rest of the media a bone. In his remarks, he thanked them for their professionalism in not publishing an obviously fake story that had no proof whatsoever behind it including, in Trump’s words, “those of you who haven’t been so fair to me in the past. You’ve all risen a bit in my estimation.”
This was quite important. Trump was letting the media know that if they’re reasonably fair to him, he’ll help them get their jobs done. If they act like CNN, they’ll be treated like CNN because he isn’t afraid of them. He was, in effect, setting rules and guidelines. Call it puppy training, courtesy of The Donald.
This may turn out, believe it or not, to be the start of something positive.
Puma By Design : I view president-elect, Trump’s take down of CNN as a positive. For decades, the mainstream media has shamefully lambasted Republicans while giving Progressives a pass.
Even when I was still a Democrat, I found myself wondering, “What is wrong with the Republican Party? Why do they take that kind of treatment? Stand up for yourselves! Fight back, dummies!”
Up until the Tea Party, many of the old-school Republicans who did respond failed miserably. Adding to that, the mainstream media over the past eight years, gushed shamelessly over Barack Obama like a smitten 14-year-old school girl (no offense to school girls).
Enter 2015/2016 and Donald Trump: Throughout the presidential campaign, media sock puppets gave Hillary Clinton who campaigned on a part-time basis and took weekends off a pass. I don’t recall one news outlet reporting that Clinton who rarely took interviews was playing to empty halls. It was frustrating to watch them fawn over an illusion while declaring Crooked Hillary the victor long before the election.
Throughout Trump and his supporters came under attack while Clinton was given high praise for labeling Trump supporters the alt-right and a basket of deplorables.
CNN until this day has failed to give the victor aka our president-elect the respect Trump has justifiably earned and deserves.
To Trump’s credit, it’s rather refreshing to see a Republican, finally, stand up to the mainstream media and not feel guilty about doing so.
CNN, peers and the grievance industry has been allowed to pedal their filthy propaganda to silence Republicans and other voices of opposition for far too long. They are creatures of habit which is why I suspect that they believe Trump’s take down of Jim Acosta was an anomaly. What fools they are.
Laura Rambeau Lee, Right Reason : Trump’s calling out CNN reporter Jim Acosta during a press conference was a wakeup call to those in the mainstream media. Those of us who have followed the media are painfully aware of the bias in their reporting. It’s the reason we have taken to social media to report on the news and cover the stories they either refuse to report at all or report through a liberal lens.
This recent report was offered up by journalists knowing full well it was a false story, but the content so salacious they couldn’t resist putting it out there for their readers to believe of our president elect. It shows desperation and reveals how upset they are that all of their hard work to boost their chosen candidate did not succeed in delivering her into the Oval Office. They believed themselves to be the king or queen makers and they can’t believe they failed.
They have commanded the airwaves and have been in the pockets of the powerful leftist elites for far too long. They have had free rein to spew outright lies and innuendo about political opponents and cover up and hide any negative reports about their chosen candidates. They have been able to do this because no one will call them out on what they are doing… until Donald Trump. To them a free press means no responsibility or repercussions for their reporting no matter how fallacious or outrageous. The media has become a weapon and a tool to advance a progressive agenda. We are hearing many of our elected officials outraged with disinformation coming from foreign countries, yet they seem okay with disinformation from our own complicit media as long as it supports their cause and keeps them in office.
It makes one wonder if the founders foresaw such a time when the press would become a tool for subversion and destruction of our republic. Of course in those days a man’s word and honor were to be preserved above everything. Reputation mattered and society dealt with liars and thieves quickly and harshly.
In spite of the media bias, the First Amendment must stand. Perhaps PEOTUS Donald Trump has started a dialogue where the media will be held up to the cleansing light of truth and be held accountable for their reporting. But we must acknowledge there will always be fake news. The progressives and their agenda will not go away. They are licking their wounds but they will continue in their goal to destroy America. It is up to We the People to do our due diligence and determine the truth, share it, and expose the liars and their agenda.
Well, there it is!
Make sure to drop by every Monday for the WoW! Magazine Forum. And enjoy WoW! Magazine 24-7 with some of the best stuff written in the blogosphere. Take from me, you won’t want to miss it.
PUMABydesign001's Blog 