The Political Hypocrisy of the Media
582008 The year watchdog media died
From the start of the election cycle we have all witnessed the slow, agonizing death of the old media. The investigative reporter has officially become extinct being replaced by fawning mouthpeices with air time. A very simple example of the last gasp of the dinosaur media is the coverage of the daughter of JFK, Caroline Kennedy being a possible replacement for Hillary Clinton's soon to be vacant senate seat. We hear of the rebirth of this wacky thing they call "Camalot" with B.H.O as the reincarnation of FDR,JFK and Lincoln all in one, and now there is another Kennedy. You can almost see the saliva dripping from the lips of Keith Olberman as he rants about the virtues of Obama and the "qualifications" of a woman with a famous name.
Let's compare the critizisms of former VP nominee, Sarah Palin. Remember when they said she doesn't have the qualifications to be VP? She was the only person in that race with any exectutive experience whatsoever, and she was dismissed as inexperienced, as opposed to a first term senator who spent his only term campaigning for president. His experience was only allowed to be questioned during the primaries (by his VP, and secretary of state). General election time, the media rolled over and instead of asking the tough questions, they were able to frame the debate by setting limits and choosing topics that are "off limits". They could however, enjoy an anything goes format against Gov. Palin. "She's a bad mom because she has a special needs child and she should be home taking care of him," this from the feminists that insisted on saying Hillary Clintons middle name every time she was mentioned.And "Her daughter is the real mother of her special needs child." And "She was mayor of a small town and governor of a small state, she has no experience dealing with important issues." My personal favorite, "She spent over a hundred thousand on her wardrobe during the campaign." As if President-Elect Obama got his wardrobe from Goodwill. With that being said, has Caroline been asked about how much money she spends on clothes, not just for her senate bid, but everyday? NO OF COURSE NOT. In fact, they expect her to be rich, she does come from Camalot afterall. Is the media asking her why she is qualified? No, instead they provide the answer themselves, it's because she wrote a book (it worked for Obama) and she raised money for a school. Thats it. If Palins uncle was directly or indirectly involved in the drowning death of some woman thirty years ago, you think Katie Couric would have brought it up and asked for an explanation in that "interview"? Where are all of the questions about her foriegn policy experience? There are none, and there wont be. NBC, CBS, ABC, should all merge and buyout the E entertainment channel for their news shows, because it's all about another Kennedy on the red carpet.
I tried a little experiment that I'd like to share. I Googled the words Sarah Palin unqualified. There were 360,000 results. Then I just replaced Sarah Palin with Caroline Kennedy. The exact search, Caroline Kennedy unqualified rendered 19,400 results. Thats just a basic Google search, I haven't bothered to contrast the broadcast news stories about Palin and Kennedy, but if it makes any difference MSNBC did yet another story on Sarah Palin and her wardrobe. More then a month after the election, a huge step toward nationalisation of our banking and manufacturing industry,and they still talk about Sarah Palin's campaign wardrobe as if she's Jackie O. Caroline, obviously much closer to the Jackie O mold then Palin, is never asked anything about her quality of life. DOES SHE OWN SEVEN HOUSES? If she does, remeber that means she can't identify with the average American. Doesn't it? It use too a few months ago. Has she even been asked how many houses she owns? Will she ever be asked? It's up to the media, and they would rather talk about her couragous fight to get the PTA to implement a bake sale for needy inner city children that have been thrown out on the street because of President Bush and his policies.
The fact that there are people out there that thought Palin was unqualified a month ago, but praise Kennedy now, and are serious about it, amazes me. The fact that newspapers and "mainstream" rags like Newsweek and Time are still considered...well, news amazes me. If Keith Olberman can be called a "newsman" with a straight face, then to avoid the hypocrisy, you must also call Rush Limbaugh a "newsman". The difference is that Limbaugh admits that he is bias, he admits being a conservative commentator. Olberman, on the other hand, is still a closet commentator posing as a news anchor. When do we start to apply the same standards across the board? When is one major news anchor (a real one) going to refer to Gov. Blagojevich as a Democrat? Remember when republican congressman Mark Foley was busted with his "republican page" sending dirty text messeges on his "republican" cell phone. For about a week I thought that his full name was Republican Mark Foley. I thought it was cool that there was a congressman with the name Republican, then I realized it was just his party affiliation. Then Republican Senator Larry Craig did the ol' bathroom stall tap dance, how many articles and news stories ran that Identified him as a republican? They were held up as examples of a "culture of corruption" When is the last time we heard that term? It's been a while, but Blagojevich is party neutral it seems because Fox news is the only ones that mention the fact that he's a democrat, but we all know that Fox is bias right?
It must end, this double standard must end. If we are expected to take them seriously then they must raise to the occasion and become the enemy of propaganda, not the ministers of it.
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
I respect your opinioin but I must disagree on many points. First and foremost , the constitution places empasis on the legislature, the job of a senator is a bigger role in government then the VP. Who voted, not sent, but voted to invade Iraq? The so-courageous Hillary Clinton, and other Senators. Who holds all of these investigations and committee hearings that shape our foriegn and domestic policies? So maybe you can tell me exactly what active role a VP has in the grand scheme of things? They don't make law, they don't execute the laws, and they don't vote. They get sent off to meet with foriegn leaders, they give speeches and they wait. Palin was lacking foriegn policy experience, but then again, foreign policy should be an expectation of a possible senator, they do vote on wars after all. What experience does Kennedy have in dealing with crucial matters? I'm only suggesting fairness here. Palin had more "executive experience" then McCain, Biden or Obama. Exectutive experience, that's the experience it takes to run the executive branch.
I, like you watched the primaries, and Obama did a good job, and he deserved to win because he ran a better campaign. I hope he does well, and I will support him when he's right. But, winning a campaign doesn't mean he is ready to lead anything.
Well done my friend. You do have some valuable points but those points reflects the view of popular thinking which I don't think you're are. As you continue reading my opinion, you'll see why but first I must say that you really are putting Sarah Palin on a pedestal that is seriously too high for her. Nonetheless, from a constitutional point of view, you right, the job of the senator is more detail than the Vice President. However, to assumed because a Vice President don't make or execute the law makes his position less valuable is something a common person would say. Had this position been offered to Hillary she would have taken it and yet her position as secretary of state is more details than the VP. So now the question is ….why is it that the VP position is such a prestigious one? To know the answer to that, all you have to do is look at the influential performance of our current Vice President, Dick Cheney. Cheney is such a powerful VP that people often confused his role with George W Bush.
The VP is the president left ears, better yet he is his left nut. He's the only man who can assumed presidency if something where to happen to the president. Although he may gives out speeches, the most important thing is to know who to give speeches to. He's where the confusion come in, most of us assumed that the power that the president holds is the most powerful force that exist within our government. We're looking at things in three dimensional when they can be more than three. The power that the president holds can only be viewed as Apparent Power which is Power that us the people have given the president by electing him to office. We must keep in mind that there are what is known as True Power which is power gain from commerce. Some of us call them interest group but those that reach the level of True Power does not need interest group. I will leave it as that.
So yes, the VP job is a chilling position but does it mean those who held these position are not influential people. Your supervisor if you have one who tells you what to do, doesn't he take commands from a bigger BOSS who listen to another big BOSS who sit around all day, pointing fingers, dictating what should be done. That's how the world works my friend, as far as I'm concern we are all slaves who thinks that we're free which makes us more of a slave.
My advice to you is to stop taking the role of public servant so literally, because the guy who tap your back, telling you good job maybe more influential than the president elect. The active role that a VP has in the grand scheme of things is an invisible one. I know that's not the answer you were looking for but it's the best answer you'll find out here.
You said “Palin was lacking foriegn policy experience, but then again, foreign policy should be an expectation of a possible senator, they do vote on wars after all” I agree. However though, if you agree with that statement, you must also agree that Sarah Palin was not ready to be VP since the job required one to be experience not only in foreign policy but in all aspect of politic. I refused to accept a woman who thought talking to a joker from Canada was the same as talking to the French president Nicolas Sarkozy, I mean she spoke with that guy for minutes without realizing that it was a prank. Was that the vice president you wished for us, you must be joking, you can't be serious, perhaps you're playing a prank on me.
No prank. Yes I agree that Cheney expanded the office of VP to a level that it wasn't previously. Joe Biden said that was wrong, EVEN DANGEROUS. However he recently said that he hopes to expand it further. Im not putting Palin on a pedistal. I am simply saying that you must be fair. Palin is inexperienced, but guess what? She lost, and isn't an issue anymore. The issue is that somebody (democrat with a famous last name) has even less experience then Palin did, for a job thats just as important then the VP's job, and is getting favorable media attention. Kennedy is on the petastal because of her name. If Palin said that her experience includes writting a book and raising money for a school district, tell me that wouldn't have been a real issue. JUST BE INTELLECTUALLY HONEST THATS ALL.
There are many qualified people that could be appointed by Patterson. To say Caroline Kennedy is the most qualified in New York State is absurd. To say Caroline Kennedy carries the spirit of JFK and because of that is the most qualified is like me saying that Jeb Bush is the most qualified man for a Florida Senate seat. Sounds crazy to you but the Bush family is the republican version of the Kennedys. We could argue the merits of both families, but thats for another day. Caroline Kennedy is so rich (I thought democrats were for the average guy) that once appointed she would use her money and name to stay in that seat for the rest of her life. The original question still remains and will continue to remain unanswered. How many homes does she own? How much does she spend on clothing? and most importantly, why won't she release her financial records. And have you seen her sham of an interview where she couldn't even complete a thought? How is she qualified?
Also, if you think a woman should be replaced by a woman, and a black should be replaced with a black, then does that mean white male senators should be replaced by white male senators? If not, then the double standard continues.
Good Hub...I too feel that objective journalism in the mainstream media has died, I fear the Marxist have infiltrated (and now control) all aspects of our society and government. The two main political parties (Democrat and Republican) are different sides of the same coin and the majority of citizens are willing sheep being blindly led to their own demise.
Great article and comments - thanks
The Political Hypocrisy of the Media in the News
- Dubai - Business as usual?Guardian Unlimited32 hours ago
When news broke of Dubai World's economic crash, many feared that the emirate was heading for disaster. But among the high-rise hotels and high-end boutiques, there is much more optimism You realise you're in trouble when they start talking about what you can see from the moon. Really? That's interesting, you think, when someone tells you there are pictures from the International Space Station ...
- Things That Are Political and ParadoxicalThe Tech30 hours ago
By Craig Broady Ever since Obama visited MIT a few weeks ago, I’ve been feeling more politically charged. Was it because the President of the United States came to MIT? No. Was it because he delivered an address about MIT’s devotion to clean energy? No. Was it because we had an auditorium full of political giants? No. Because MIT scrambled in less than a week to prepare the campus for a ...
- Chris Weigant: Friday Talking Points [103] -- Just Do It!The Huffington Post13 hours ago
Before we get to all of that boring political stuff, we tune in to what the mainstream media has decided is the official Thing Everyone...
Coolbreezing says:
11 months ago
This is long because of what you have written in your hub.
Look, you must be a brave supporter because not too many people would have taken for Palin. I felicitate you for that but however, I must let you know that Palin shouldn't be compared with Caroline Kennedy. To compare them can be seen as a mistake of identity. Caroline Kennedy is running for US State Senate while Palin ran for Vice President of the United State. That's totally two different job requirements, most people would agree that a VP job is for someone who's as experience as the president running for office. I'm sorry to say but Sarah Palin was not as experienced as McCain, and you don't need me to tell you that, it's written in all the news papers. What if McCain had been elected, God for sake something were to happen to him, is that how you would want our first women president to make it in the white house. No, I don't think so, that's too much of a cheap shot for women. Hillary showed too much courage for that, women will make it to the white house just like most of our president have made it, the hard way, through the process of election.
Sarah Palin Alaska’s Governor nearly had two years in office. According to some sources she has absolutely no experience in foreign policy. In Dayton, Ohio, John McCain introduced Sarah Palin as his choice for VP. He said, "She's got the grit, integrity, good sense and fierce devotion to the common good that is exactly what we need in Washington today." I thought this VP job required one to have experience and all aspect of politic. Did you noticed anything about her being experienced in this quote? Yes, she may have been devoted but what is devotion if you don’t have the experience that goes with it. That was another bad choice from Senator Mc McCain. Governor Palin then spoke to the crowd and said, "it turns out the women of America aren't finished yet, and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all." She made the election seems as though she was the replacement of Hillary Clinton. It almost seemed as a joke to people for Senator McCain to have thought that the women of America were so desperate to have a woman in the white house, that they would settle just for any woman. That my friend was the biggest mistake of his campaign, it tremendously reduced McCain chance for winning the election.
For those of us who were watching the primaries, we saw Senator Barack Obama fought desperately to win this nomination. His opponent was Senator Hilary Clinton the wife of former president Clinton. This woman was not just any woman, she’s an aggressor, a heavy duty and a very experienced woman whose no stranger to politic. There are speculation that she may have lost against Obama because some didn’t want the Clintons to assumed office for another third terms. They would have made too much connection and thereby would have acquired too much power. So let us get it right, Obama is very proud to have won this election. It was then that Obama proved to America that he was experienced enough to direct this country in a new direction. It was after he defeated Hillary I predicted that he was going to be the next president of the Unite State. Just comparing the choices that McCain and Obama made for vice president, it's obvious that Barack Obama was more likely to make the right choice for America. McCain made his choice base on what he thoughts America wanted. Obama made his choice base on what he knew America wanted and that was Joe Bidden. It was this decision that placed the candle on the cake for Obama. I always wondered if Governor Palin was McCain first choice and I later found out Joe Lieberman was McCain first choice, then it made sense to me. Because at first most people thought that Palin was a last result situation that came true ...because to most people McCain choice didn't make sense. They all saw it as a fight for womens rights instead of a presidential election.
The Palin’s daughter issue became an issue mainly because she didn't support sex education. As a Governor running a state, you should be competent enough to know if the statistics showed your state to be the most infected with sexual transmitted disease, it's your responsibility to do something about it. Since she didn't support sex education, it's apparent why when her daughter got pregnant, people were furious to use her as an example to show the American people why sex education is important in our education system. Whether you believe it or not, it’ was more about her judgment than it was about her daughter. This is something that happen to most American families. We’re not condemning the child but her parents for not educating her on how to use protection. This was one of the many reasons why we democrats said that she was not fit to be Vice President. Obviously, if she couldn't direct her daughter’s life into a better path, why should we have believed that she would have help direct America into prosperity?