Provincial families minister ‘likes’ anti-media tweets from Trump

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/01/2018 (3142 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Provincial Families Minister Scott Fielding trumpeted one of the American president’s inflammatory attacks on the media this weekend.

Fielding’s Twitter account “liked” an anti-media rant by President Donald Trump and “liked” a full-caps promise that more cuts in government regulations and taxes are on the way.

And the verified account of the Conservative Kirkfield Park MLA also “liked” disgraced conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly’s promotion of his latest program.

Fielding is away this week and could not comment, his press secretary Andrea Slobodian said Tuesday.

Over the long weekend, Fielding “liked” a Trump tweet in which the American president declared that many mainstream media stories are pure fiction. Twitter users “like” tweets by other Twitter users by clicking on a heart symbol.

“I use Social Media not because I like to, but because it is the only way to fight a VERY dishonest and unfair ‘press,’ now often referred to as Fake News Media. Phony and non-existent ‘sources’ are being used more often than ever. Many stories & reports a pure fiction!” Trump tweeted Saturday.

In another presidential tweet Fielding liked, Trump said, “Jobs are kicking in and companies are coming back to the U.S. Unnecessary regulations and high taxes are being dramatically Cut, and it will only get better. MUCH MORE TO COME!”

Fielding “liked” a promo tweet for O’Reilly’s new online show. Fox News fired O’Reilly after stories broke in the New York Times that the former host of The O’Reilly Factor paid out more than $50 million to deal with sexual harassement allegations.

New Democrats immediately called out Fielding on Tuesday.

“It’s disappointing to hear that Fielding is supportive of Donald Trump’s approach to politics. I expect better from a minister with his responsibilities; however, he’s not the first Tory to come out for Trump,” said families critic Bernadette Smith.

Smith cited two MLAs who told the House during the most recent session to “make Manitoba great again”, which Smith interpreted as support for Trump on the basis of “parroting” his slogan: “make America great again.”

“While I’m sure that (Premier Brian) Pallister would like to distance himself from Trump’s disgraceful style of politics, it seems there are several Trump fans in his caucus,” Smith said.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca