Hiding from the media seems to be a hallmark of Leftist “leaders” these days. And while Gov. Gretchen Whitmer isn’t hiding in her basement, she’s doing the next best thing.
Last Wednesday, she used her unilateral authority to restrict the press from her in-person press briefing. Then, she cherry-picked the questions she wanted to answer from those reporters on Zoom.
Thankfully, those reporters weren’t having it, and voiced their concerns on Twitter. As a result, the governor’s team has allegedly promised that it won’t happen again. But had reporters not pushed back, is there any doubt Governor Whitmer would have continued down this path, free from the scrutiny of the press, and their tough questions?
John Adams said, “The liberty of the press is essential to the security of the state.” Our Founding Fathers understood that the freedom of the press was every bit as important for the protection of liberty as the freedom of speech, and chose to protect both in the First Amendment.
It’s bad enough that Governor Whitmer refuses to work with the legislature. Refusing to work with the press isn’t just bad form – it sets a dangerous precedent that flies in the face of the transparency and accountability she pledged to improve when she first took office.
It’s just the latest in a long line of abuses that demonstrate why it’s so critical that Michigan get back to the rule of law, with all the checks and balances our Constitution requires.
Sincerely,
Tony Daunt
Executive Director
Michigan Freedom Fund
