When you really think about it.
I remember when I was younger and used to talk to my dad about politics, when I was first really starting to understand it and learn about it. He's a diehard liberal, compassionate, intelligent and the most honest man I know, but he really believed that the media would ALWAYS be a legitimate check against the Republicans/Corporatists/Forces of Evil, because it had an inherent liberal bias. Most people who worked for the media, the reporters, editors, etc, were learned, and intelligent and of course Liberal. This was back in the 70's, when there was still a modicum of independence, integrity and legitimacy to the TM as a whole, so in some ways his confidence was warranted. And Watergate was fresh on everyone's minds and reporters and news organizations actually VALUED their role as the "4th estate" and actually, you know, reported things accurately and stuck to facts and *GASP* investigated things. And at the time, I believed it too, which is why it's still so shocking to see what's become of this once honorable, necessary and valued institution.
I sit here and I read about what's going on in Libya and in my head I compare how things would play out in the media if roles were reversed and a Repub President had actually been in office and been responsible for US policy during such an historic event, that follows a series of historic events in the region. And we all know, we really do we KNOW it would be much, much different picture. I mean we know this beyond a shadow of a doubt.
The President would be hailed, non-stop on every channel. Anything uttered by the opposition that wasn't deemed laudatory enough would be scorned and derided and the people who uttered such laudably deficient words would be vilified and shamed.
I know we don't like to admit it, but that sort of propaganda has an effect. It really does. We don't notice the influence as much because we're political junkies and we are AWARE, so it doesn't effect us (as much), but it really does have a significant effect on the majority of the population.
Ask yourself this question: If a Repub was in office how big would his approval rating jump have been after OBL was killed? Would it have been bigger than Obama's?
I submit it would have been MUCH bigger and the reason why would have been because the media circus would have been MUCH more astronomical. It would have been verboten to discuss any negative aspects of such an event. And yet, Obama's approval bump was incredibly modest. Granted, some of that was due to his not boasting and not fueling the media circus because that's not his style. He has too much integrity. But still, think about it. Would a single person from the opposition party be allowed to even be on TV if roles were reversed? And yet, after OBL was killed you could STILL get the "other side's" view of events like "Oh, it wasn't Obama it was the Special Forces!! Don't give Obama credit!". Could you even imagine anyone who said that being given any attention in the media under a Repub President? Honestly?
So here we are again. An incredibly historic foreign policy event, after a series of such historic events that when looked at cumulatively really add to up to one hell of an historic run. We're talking mega-history here. World changing shit. And Obama will get only some modest kudos for it.
But if a Repub was President during such a period? We'd be talking sainthood and the TM would beautifying him as we speak and we all know it.
So yeah, the double standard is still stunning to me. I know it probably shouldn't be, but it is. Thank goodness for the tubes though. At least we have a fighting chance to end around the fuckers. All hail the Al Gore!