--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America is free because it has…" description: "\"“America is free because it has disrespectful newspapers and television shows to expose and shame presidents who fuck the Constitution up the ass.” He ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/ken-follett-941_free-press_america-is-free-because-it-has-disrespec_2282829.jpg" --- # America is free because it has disrespectful newspapers… ![“America is free because it has disrespectful newspapers and television shows to expose and shame presidents who fuck the Constitution up the ass.” He raised his glass. “Here’s to the free press. Here’s to disrespect. And God bless America.” quote by Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/ken-follett-941_free-press_america-is-free-because-it-has-disrespec_2282829.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/ken-follett-941_free-press_america-is-free-because-it-has-disrespec_2282829.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/ken-follett-941_free-press_america-is-free-because-it-has-disrespec_2282829.jpg) > ““America is free because it has disrespectful newspapers and television shows to expose and shame presidents who fuck the Constitution up the ass.” He raised his glass. “Here’s to the free press. Here’s to disrespect. And God bless America.”” [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Free press thrives on irreverence, exposing power abuses through bold criticism. **In simple terms:** Disrespectful media protects freedom. Key Takeaway Support bold journalism. Themes freedom media politics Mood cynical defiant Type political satirical When to use this quote - public debates - news commentary - political rallies Key Concepts satire accountability Questions to Reflect On - How to balance critique with respect? - What role does satire play in democracy? A Different Perspective Irreverence can erode constructive discourse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-free-614956/) [Bless America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bless-america/) [Constitution Ass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-ass-5335436/) [Free Disrespectful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-disrespectful-5335435/) [Free press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-press/) [Fuck Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fuck-constitution-5335437/) [God bless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-bless/) [God bless america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-bless-america/) [Television shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television-shows/) ## Related quotes > [“Take me as I am Take me, baby, in stride Only you can save me tonight There's nowhere to run Nowhere to hide You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/take-me-as-i-am-take-me-baby-in-stride-only-you-can-save-me-tonight/) [Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/) > [Together, We will make America strong again. We will make wealthy again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/together-we-will-make-america-strong-again-we-will-make-wealthy-again/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“I want to have faith in strangers. I want to have faith in what we're all going to do next. But I'm worried. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-want-to-have-faith-in-strangers-i-want-to-have-faith-in-what-we-re/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Some folks may be really bummed to find that "God bless America" does not appear in the Bible. So often we do things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/some-folks-may-be-really-bummed-to-find-that-god-bless-america-does/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [“I saw a banner hanging next to city hall in downtown Philadelphia that read, "Kill them all, and let God sort them out." A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/i-saw-a-banner-hanging-next-to-city-hall-in-downtown-philadelphia/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [“You know what these “God Bless America” people oughta do? They oughta check with that Jesus fellow they’re so crazy about. They’re always talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/you-know-what-these-god-bless-america-people-oughta-do-they-oughta/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [My gratitude and respect to our fallen military and their families and to those who continue to serve. God Bless America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-gratitude-and-respect-to-our-fallen-military-and-their-families/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God bless America. But God, please help Canada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/god-bless-america-but-god-please-help-canada/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [Josh: So, Toby, it’s election night. What do you say about a country that goes out of its way to protect even those citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-sorkin/josh-so-toby-it-s-election-night-what-do-you-say-about-a-country-that/) [Aaron Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-sorkin/) > [Ladies and gentlemen, god bless America - land of the free, home of the brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/ladies-and-gentlemen-god-bless-america-land-of-the-free-home-of-the/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [US is a very religious country. Separation of church and state is part of our credo, but that it is hard to understand since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/us-is-a-very-religious-country-separation-of-church-and-state-is-part/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Have a blessed day and God bless America, the most amazing country in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-a-blessed-day-and-god-bless-america-the-most-amazing-country-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Now look at the crowd. We’ve got everybody here tonight: Black, white, Asian, Latinos—and guess what? President Obama says we can all stay! God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pitbull/now-look-at-the-crowd-we-ve-got-everybody-here-tonight-black-white/) [Pitbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pitbull/) > [God bless America, land that I love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-berlin/god-bless-america-land-that-i-love/) [Irving Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-berlin/) > [When we look at the settling of America we see a Bible in hand and God. Every Thanksgiving has God and the peacefulness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/when-we-look-at-the-settling-of-america-we-see-a-bible-in-hand-and/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) ## More by Ken Follett > [“A child will always be what he is, she thought, and not what you want him to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/a-child-will-always-be-what-he-is-she-thought-and-not-what-you-want/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“The extra line or two around her eyes only made them more fascinating; the touch of silver in her hair enhanced the blackness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/the-extra-line-or-two-around-her-eyes-only-made-them-more-fascinating/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“You're the one who doesn't understand," Lev said. "In America, I have my own car. There's more food than you can eat, all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/you-re-the-one-who-doesn-t-understand-lev-said-in-america-i-have-my/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“They did not suspect her for a moment. It did not occur to them that a woman could be dangerous. How foolish they were.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/they-did-not-suspect-her-for-a-moment-it-did-not-occur-to-them-that-a/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“Remember our story. You’re going to visit a cousin who has just started to farm in North Carolina. You’re taking gifts.” “Even though we’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/remember-our-story-you-re-going-to-visit-a-cousin-who-has-just/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“What don’t I know?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/what-don-t-i-know/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“And here's my advice to you. If you get the chance of the mad kind of love, grab it with both hands, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/and-here-s-my-advice-to-you-if-you-get-the-chance-of-the-mad-kind-of/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“Two blades clashed, ringing like a bell. Like all small boys, Philip thought his father was invincible; and this was the moment when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/two-blades-clashed-ringing-like-a-bell-like-all-small-boys-philip/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“It had been a morning of vivid images: the man-made streams, the rats in the butchers’ shops, the stacks of new-minted silver pennies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/it-had-been-a-morning-of-vivid-images-the-man-made-streams-the-rats/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“tickets and lifts begged on carts, but Grigori was mesmerized by her face as she talked. Once again Lev listened with rapt attention, making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/tickets-and-lifts-begged-on-carts-but-grigori-was-mesmerized-by-her/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“A man who has no fear can do anything he wants, Feliks thought. He had learned that lesson eleven years ago, in a railway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/a-man-who-has-no-fear-can-do-anything-he-wants-feliks-thought-he-had/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“Alison was relieved: she would have hated to see Mary lose her dignity as well as her life. “Follow me,” said the sheriff. Mary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/alison-was-relieved-she-would-have-hated-to-see-mary-lose-her-dignity/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“Jack was too absorbed in his work to hear the bell. He was mesmerized by the challenge of making soft, round shapes of hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/jack-was-too-absorbed-in-his-work-to-hear-the-bell-he-was-mesmerized/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“might spook Harald and cause him to flee. She had to visit in person. This would be even more risky. Morlunde was a town,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/might-spook-harald-and-cause-him-to-flee-she-had-to-visit-in-person/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“I bambini vennero presto per assistere all'impiccagione.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/i-bambini-vennero-presto-per-assistere-all-impiccagione/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) [Explore all 291 Ken Follett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) ## More Free press quotes > [“It struck me that there is a reason James Madison put freedom of speech and freedom of the press in the very first amendment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-karl/it-struck-me-that-there-is-a-reason-james-madison-put-freedom-of/) [Jonathan Karl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-karl/) > [It is almost superfluous to say that there is no such thing as a free and independent press among the mainstream news media today.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-baldwin/it-is-almost-superfluous-to-say-that-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-free/) [Chuck Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-baldwin/) > [No matter how imperfect things are, if you've got a free press everything is correctable, and without it everything is concealable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/no-matter-how-imperfect-things-are-if-you-ve-got-a-free-press/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Developing and newer democracies are much more susceptible to the tactics of populists and demagogues - they often do not have strong institutions, free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/developing-and-newer-democracies-are-much-more-susceptible-to-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [A free press is not a privilege but an organic necessity in a great society. ... A great society is simply a big and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-free-press-is-not-a-privilege-but-an-organic-necessity-in-a-great/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [It is part of what makes America great. That tradition of the free press, and also the tradition of this highly competitive market for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-h-winters/it-is-part-of-what-makes-america-great-that-tradition-of-the-free/) [Ben H. Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-h-winters/) > [Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/were-it-left-to-me-to-decide-whether-we-should-have-a-government/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Israel is a country with a thriving free press and a nation known across the world for its support of women's and LGBT rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacky-rosen/israel-is-a-country-with-a-thriving-free-press-and-a-nation-known/) [Jacky Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacky-rosen/) > [“The ability of a free and independent press to hold political leaders accountable is what makes open government possible—it is the heartbeat of democracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-k-albright/the-ability-of-a-free-and-independent-press-to-hold-political-leaders/) [Madeleine K. Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-k-albright/) > [What is the value of having millions of people in Iraq not having a repressive regime? What is the value of having the Iraqi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/what-is-the-value-of-having-millions-of-people-in-iraq-not-having-a/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [“In regard to propaganda the early advocates of universal literacy and a free press envisaged only two possibilities: the propaganda might be true, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/in-regard-to-propaganda-the-early-advocates-of-universal-literacy-and/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [A free press doesn't mean it's not a tame press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-vachss/a-free-press-doesn-t-mean-it-s-not-a-tame-press/) [Andrew Vachss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-vachss/) > [A free press isn't the enemy of America; it's a big part of why makes America great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-karl/a-free-press-isn-t-the-enemy-of-america-it-s-a-big-part-of-why-makes/) [Jonathan Karl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-karl/) > [You hear about constitutional rights, free speech and the free press. Every time I hear these words I say to myself, 'That man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-hague/you-hear-about-constitutional-rights-free-speech-and-the-free-press/) [Frank Hague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-hague/) > [What I'm thinking about more and more these days is simply the importance of transparency, and Jefferson's saying that he'd rather have a free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/what-i-m-thinking-about-more-and-more-these-days-is-simply-the/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) [Browse all 165 Free press quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-press/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“America is free because it has disrespectful newspapers and television shows to expose and shame presidents who fuck the Constitution up the ass.” He raised his glass. “Here’s to the free press. Here’s to disrespect. And God bless America.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ken Follett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/america-is-free-because-it-has-disrespectful-newspapers-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Free press" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/america-is-free-because-it-has-disrespectful-newspapers-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/ken-follett-941_free-press_america-is-free-because-it-has-disrespec_2282829.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/ken-follett-941_free-press_america-is-free-because-it-has-disrespec_2282829.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/ken-follett-941_free-press_america-is-free-because-it-has-disrespec_2282829.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“America is free because it has disrespectful newspapers and television shows to expose and shame presidents…” — Ken Follett", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ken Follett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“America is free because it has...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/america-is-free-because-it-has-disrespectful-newspapers-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/america-is-free-because-it-has-disrespectful-newspapers-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```