As Deanna pointed out yesterday, CNN decided to go all in to protect their precious Jim “Gollum” Acosta by filing suit against the White House for daring to yank his press pass. Last night, on CNN of course, Ted Olson stridently declared that this is a major and I mean MAJOR First Amendment issue y’all!

So, the White House is not allowed to push back against their Precious? If the WH succeeds according to this logic, an incredibly dangerous precedent will be set and will stifle free speech among the press corps.

Nope. I completely disagree. Jim Acosta’s BEHAVIOR is the problem here. His full on Trump Derangement Syndrome has been escalating. Especially over the last few months.

A good reporter, one who actually practices journalism, should ask questions. Diatribes and rants espousing the reporters personal point of view is in not journalism. Period.

Jim Acosta is a jackass grandstander who has been given a pass for far too long. I can completely understand why the White House and Trump had finally had enough of his behavior.

On Acosta, I can't defend his behavior. He uses his position in the briefing room to espouse pesonal points of view. "It's not an invasion" he said re the caravan. His job is to ask challenging Qs, not argue for his POV. He goes too far and hurts the rest of the press corps. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) November 13, 2018

I personally wouldn't have pulled his hard pass. I'd have made light of it, wishing him good luck getting his op-eds published. Or hoping he finally gets to host a nighttime cable TV show. The hostility between the press and the Trump WH is unhealthy and Acosta is the example. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) November 13, 2018

Tension in the briefing room is natural and inevitable, but Acosta has pushed the envelope beyond what any reporter I've ever known has done. I think CNN's suit is a bad move that will backfire. Acosta Hill is the wrong one to die on. — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) November 13, 2018

I couldn’t agree more. As I stated above, Acosta’s behavior is the issue.

Photo Credit: Evan Vucci/Associated Press

Patterico makes some interesting points using Sherrill v Knight as a guide.

I think that “controlling a disruptive reporter who won’t surrender the mic” would clearly qualify as a compelling governmental interest. Just like judges can control their courtrooms, and remove disruptive participants, the White House has the ability to make sure that reporters take turns and don’t refuse to give up the mic (and that they don’t stand up and shout over others, April Ryan). That said, Acosta’s behavior, while not exemplary, was not really that over the top. No, he didn’t assault the woman. Yes, he refused to give up the mic, but only briefly. Yes, it’s part of a pattern. Enough of one to avoid the legal roadblocks? That’s not clear. Even if the White House could be justified in their decision — and I think that’s a close call — they don’t seem to have complied with the necessary procedure spelled out by the court: We think that notice to the unsuccessful applicant of the factual bases for denial with an opportunity to rebut is a minimum prerequisite for ensuring that the denial is indeed in furtherance of Presidential protection, rather than based on arbitrary or less than compelling reasons.

The lawsuit whines that Acosta wasn’t given a chance to respond before his credentials were revoked. Many in the press have backed Jim Acosta’s reprehensible behavior as if its something to be applauded. It’s not. CNN is losing long-time viewers because of this.

I am a supporter of CNN, but I was aghast at reporter Jim Acosta’s behavior in his exchange with President Trump. After he had received the expected distorted answer from Trump and still held the floor in debate for another minute, he should have surrendered the microphone to a reporter waiting to ask a question. His continued petulant arguing came across as selfish and grandstanding.

Jim Acosta and CNN have made it clear that their hatred of Trump is personal. Does that mean this kind of Resistance showboating can prevail in court? Personally I think Jim Acosta is a braying jackass who is being enabled by CNN and other members of the press. This frivolous lawsuit is yet another chapter in their TDS. Given that people are named in the lawsuit who WEREN’T EVEN THERE that day and the filing is chock full of errors, it’s going to be interesting to see what the ruling will be on this case.

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Feature Photo Credit: Evan Vucci/Associated Press