Can the media ever stop talking about how they can’t stop talking about how they can’t stop talking about Obama’s pastor?
Tonight on cable "news."
A typical cable "news" cast:
News anchor: Welcome to our continued election coverage. The top story today, Iraq? The economy? Mortgage crisis? Nope! We’re continuing our focus on Sen. Obama’s pastor—can we ever stop talking about it? Mr. Pundit, what do you think?
Mr. Pundit: Well, even though Obama has fully addressed this issue on two occasions and was praised both times, it doesn’t seem that he can put this behind him as long as we keep talking about the fact that we keep talking about it.
News anchor: Well said Mr. Pundit. Now, let’s get some reporters in on this discussion. Ms. Newspaper and Mr. Talking Head, welcome to the show. Ms. Newspaper, let’s start with you. You’re out there the campaign trail with Obama, what’s the story there?
Ms. Newspaper: Well Sen. Obama probably said something today about the economy or the fifth anniversary of President Bush’s "mission accomplished" statement but I didn’t hear any of that because I was thinking about whether we can ever stop talking about his pastor.
News anchor: I know reporters are only supposed to deliver facts and not give opinions, but I’m going to ask you for your opinion anyway. Can you and I ever stop talking about Obama’s pastor?
Ms. Newspaper: In my opinion no, we can’t.
News anchor: And the voters, out there on the campaign trail, how are they reacting?
Ms. Newspaper: Well none of them I talked to brought up Obama’s pastor until I asked them about it, so I would say they are still thinking about it especially after I told them they should be thinking about it.
News Anchor: Thank you Ms. Newspaper. Now, we turn to Mr. Talking Head, who is with us here back in the studio. Mr. Talking Head, can we ever stop talking about Obama’s pastor?
Mr. Talking Head: No, we can’t stop talking about Obama’s pastor.
News Anchor: And why is that?
Mr. Talking Head: Because we keep talking about it, that’s why. First we were talking about it because people were talking about it, but now we’re talking about it because we keep talking about it and we keep talking about how much we keep talking about it which keeps us talking about how much we keep talking about it.
News Anchor: And what do the voters or the Obama campaign think of this?
Mr. Talking Head: Well, I haven’t spoken to anyone from the Obama campaign or any actual voters so I’m just going to assume that they’re all talking about how much we keep talking about it, so in effect they are all talking about it which justifies my claim that they really are talking about it.
News Anchor: Because they’re talking about how much we’re talking about it?
Mr. Talking Head: Exactly. That’s why it’s an issue.
Mr. Pundit: By the way, has anyone heard anything lately about the real issues, such as the war or the economy?
News Anchor: I’m sorry, we’re out of time.