PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

Back in the day, when I was involved in working with the media on behalf of clients, one of my emphases was to quell arguments with editors and reporters on the theory that it was smart not to argue with those “who bought ink by the barrel.”

That old enough admonition loses a bit of luster today in a world dominated by social media, not ink. But, still, it is worth remembering that arguing with the media usually does not serve one’s interests well in the long run.

At least that used to be the case.

Now, with the Trump Administration, the motive appears to be to argue with the media every day as if such behavior will win friends, influence people and turn out well in the end. Things even went so far as the quote attributed to Trump advisor Steve Bannon, who said the “media is the opposition party.”

Press Secretary Sean Spicer often takes a cudgel to reporters in his daily White House press briefing, making news along the way, not on the basis of facts and figures, but on the basis of his fights with the media.  Some say he is just feinting, trying to deflect focus from the real issues with Trump.

It is not clear that arguing with the media will serve Trump’s interests, but here’s betting that many who voted for him will laud his anti-media disposition.

When I was involved in relating to the media, either for private sector clients, or for a Democrat congressman from Oregon or for Republican Governor Vic Atiyeh, things were very different. Without meaning to call myself an icon of anything, I tried to emphasize commitments such as these:

• Always tell the truth because, if you don’t, you will be caught in a lie that will destroy your credibility as a spokesperson.

• If there is something you cannot divulge or if it is not appropriate to do so, say so – and just try to move on, though editors and reporters may still want the information and find a way to get it. But your honest deferral will add to your credibility.

• On behalf of your client, try to “put your best foot forward.” Stay on message, even as you hew to the truth.

• Try to avoid being caught in what I call “a process story,” where your method of dealing with the media – or, in some cases, not dealing with the media – becomes a story or at least part of the story in and of itself.

Think of these and other commitments and consider how often – many times a day, it appears – the Trump Administration goes the other way in the mistaken belief that their own notions of superiority will “trump” (pardon the play on the words), the media.

My view is that the Trump approach will not stand the best of time.