I submitted this email to the White House on Saturday 25, 2017. I doubt he will take my advice. President Trump, The following is from the American Civil Liberties Union website regarding freedom of the press. “The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.” —U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black in New York Times Co. vs. United States (1971).
The freedom of the press, protected by the First Amendment, is critical to a democracy in which the government is accountable to the people. A free media functions as a watchdog that can investigate and report on government wrongdoing. It is also a vibrant marketplace of ideas, a vehicle for ordinary citizens to express themselves and gain exposure to a wide range of information and opinions.
I am a Vermont elected official and although I can appreciate how your feelings are probably sensitive in regards to how the press is watching and reporting on you carefully, you of all people should never restrict access or information to the press simply because you feel like it. You are a public servant now and this is part of the job description you accepted. Put your suit on, open the door to everyone in the press and do your job.
The best advice I can give you: It’s important that you focus on the job and not your feelings. Best,
Susan Shashok
East Middlebury