I am just curious...has anyone noticed the behavior of the media, specifically on CNN, MSNBC (of course Fox is what it is)? I was fascinated by them last night as they covered the Penn. Primary and wondered what has happened to responsible journalism. It's become more about personal opinion and innuendo that the actual reporting of fact. Is it because the owners of these media conduits are big businesses with significant lobbying investments or because it is the old guard resenting change?
I am admittedly an Obama supporter. That said, I prefer facts over innuendo. As I stated in yesterday's post on my blog, I do take issue with the lack of similar coverage on similar matters. I haven't see repeated loops on CNN or Fox News concerning the anti-Catholic comments made by McCain supporter, Pastor John Hagee, an influential minister who has endorsed McCain. In fact, McCain was quite sarcastic with George Stephanopoulis for bringing Hagee up during ABC This Week. But he didn't distance himself, nor did he dismiss the comments.
So let's rehearse some facts that are actually documentable:
On Minister Wright:
Many perceive the statement played over and over on the media airwaves was a recent statement and that Senator Obama was in the room when the statement was made. Wrong. Someone went to the church where you can buy DVDs of sermons, apparently bought some and went through them to find some incendiary comment and "leak" it to the press. Not a single media outlet has stated when the comment was made, who provided the sound byte and if Senator Obama was even in the church at the time. Minister Wright had retired from the church before this piece surfaced and was not even in the country when it was leaked. The other little known fact is that this church is 99% Anglo; this particular location is predominantly African American, although Anglo Americans also attend there. I attend a predominantly Anglo church and, yes, sometimes the minister says things that make me cringe as well, and yes, he is Anglo. Just like Senator Obama, I won't throw out the baby with the bath water. The reality is that you cannot hold one man responsible for how another man thinks or behaves. What came out of this was a true testimony of what Senator Obama stands for. He told you who he was in his speech on race, which to me, took courage because I have yet to see him throw anyone under the bus.
On the Ayers Connection:
Somebody really had to be reaching for controversy on this one. Ayers, who was a member of the Weather Underground thirty years ago, was reported to be a close friend or someone Senator Obama was in collusion with. Wrong. They are probably about as close as their houses are...because they live in the same neighborhood. This is tantamount to you being accused of associating with a serial child molester because, he lives one block over from you, It's ludicrous. Oh, and let's not forget: they were once on a board and in the same meeting room at one time. So, if you were in a meeting with a group of strangers and one of them happened to be a person who secretly beats his wife when he gets home, what does that make you? Exactly. Ayers was a Weather Underground member thirty years ago..when Senator Obama was eight years old at the time and so I am still trying to figure out what the "controversy" is about.
On the "bitter" comments:
Have you heard the entire speech? If not, go take a listen. Whoopi Goldberg actually read that portion of the speech on The View so that viewers could hear his words in context, not a sound byte that was blown out of proportion. And I really understood the point he was actually trying to make, as will you if you decide to listen. That said, Senator Obama apologized, although I have yet to understand how the words made him an eletist. Again, if you are looking for something to find fault with, you will fall for anything.
It seems to me that there are those who want to continue to talk about ethnic backgrounds, speak to stereotypes -- all African Americans have something negative in their backgrounds and affiliations, therefore cannot be trusted. -- cast unfounded innuendos, create doubts in your minds about your decisions. And if you are an Anglo, they are targeting you. And whether you want to admit it or not, do you buy into their diatribe because it reinforces whatever your current or former beliefs are , i,e., you can't really trust African Americans, women aren't made for leadership, etc. Do you want the truth or do you want someone to reassure you that you are on the winning side no matter what? I would love to see responsible journalism for the remainder of the primaries through the election. Journalist who share the facts, not biased, unsubstantiated, sensationalized points of view that yellow journalism is known for. How do we get there?
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