The left should respect press freedom, too

President Trump has properly taken considerable heat in recent weeks from we in the press for his vicious, broad-brushed and untrue attacks on the news media.

So, it only seems right to call out those on the left when they could use a refresher on the importance of a free press as well.

Progressive candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is running for Congress in Queens, banned the media from reporting on two public town hall meetings this month, citing a desire to create a safe space for people to ask questions, according to the Queens Chronicle.

Everyone else was welcome — just not the press.

Cortez, a 28-year old self-described democratic socialist who shocked the political establishment by her primary trouncing of longtime Rep. Joe Crowley, said on Twitter that the event “was designed to protect” attendees.

That sure comes uncomfortably close to suggesting that press attendance at a public event is something people need to be protected from — as if the press were an enemy of those people.

But, of course, Ocasio-Cortez and her campaign framed their press restrictions in the most progressive of terms.

“We wanted to help create a space where community members felt comfortable and open to express themselves without the distraction of cameras and press,” said campaign spokesperson Corbin Trent.

It’s an unfortunate rationalization that invokes “comfort” to justify barring members of the press from a public event.

It is as though Ocasio-Cortez is unaware that, as a candidate for Congress convening public events accessible to the public, members of the press should be able to attend so that they may do their jobs and help inform the public about how Ocasio-Cortez speaks to her potential future constituents.

While Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign has claimed that the two incidents of press-barring are “an outlier,” even having to have that be said reflects a lack of understanding about the importance of press access to public events.

Ultimately, such foundational understandings shouldn’t be left to partisan political games.

The importance of a free press is something every American should understand.

— Southern California News

Group, Digital First Media

Ultimately, such foundational understandings shouldn’t be left to partisan political games.The importance of a free press is something every American should understand.