Alexander Hamilton once said, “It is the Press which has corrupted our political morals – and it is to the Press we must look for the means of our political regeneration.” The Founding Fathers understood how easy it is to sway public opinion; they also understood this feat is best accomplished by controlling the media narrative. That’s why so much importance was placed on protecting the rights of the press – to ensure transparency through open dialogue, “justly deemed the only effectual guardian of every other right” (James Madison). That’s exactly what this administration is trying to circumvent. “Like hall monitors of the worst kind, White House staff is playing middleman with White House pool reports,” writes Betsy Rothstein of The Daily Caller, “sometimes changing lines and forbidding information written by reporters.” Is this sometimes justified? Perhaps. But as Rothstein notes, “[T]he problem is where is the line and who decides it?” Moreover, “[S]ince when do White House staffers consider themselves news editors?” Boundaries are of no concern to an administration intent on obfuscating the truth. More…