Donald Trump has threatened to sue the Des Moines Register for printing a report that he came out second in a pre-election survey of Iowa residents.
This was not an Election Day report, but an earlier private survey of what some potential voters planned to do several days later, on Election Day itself.
It was not an official government tabulation of Election Day votes. It surveyed only a relatively few potential voters in Iowa, and none in other states. It was also done before Election Day. And there was no promise that they must do what they said they would do.
There was also no guarantee that those surveyed actually would vote as they said they might. There were no promises that they would do on Election Day what they said two days earlier they probably might do.
That's the kind of information surveys collect.
Nonetheless, Trump sued the newspaper for printing a story about what might happen, could happen, would happen or should happen if, if, if, and if.
None of the above actually did happen. It was only a survey of what some folks thought might happen.
Even so, he sued.
Why?
Was this part of a threat to punish anyone who dared to make any negative comment about him, or about what might happen?
By this standard, criticism is not allowed.
If this incoming president succeeds in punishing anyone who does anything that can be perceived as negative, this nation founded on the doctrine of free speech is in trouble.
Perhaps Trump and his cohort should read the First Amendment to the Constitution.
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