Utah Senate candidate Mitt Romney argued this week that the free press is essential to American society despite its political bias one way or the other.
Romney penned a blog post on his campaign website and made the case for keeping the media free and open.
Romney recalled a question from a recent campaign event about whether he would take action to shut down one or more media organizations because of their perceived bias against conservatives.
"When I responded 'of course not,' and that, in fact, I would do everything in my power to preserve freedom of speech, the person persisted by arguing that these outlets purvey fake news. I found this deeply disturbing."
Romney then admitted the media has bias, but he said that's OK because it demonstrates the right to free speech.
"We can and should call for accuracy and responsibility in reporting from every member of the press," he wrote. "But a free press, even if biased, was guaranteed in our Constitution because it is critical to the preservation of the Republic."
Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts who was the 2012 Republican presidential candidate, closed by saying false stories make him "irritated" — but not to the point of wanting to see the news outlet be shut down.
"The media is essential to our Republic, to our freedom, to the cause of freedom abroad, and to our national security. It is very much our friend," Romney wrote.
President Donald Trump and other Republicans often criticize the media for what they call fake news and too much negative reporting of the Trump administration.
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