Much has been written and said about the media's slant during the election process. Towards the end of February the Clinton campaign began chanting a steady mantra claiming unfair bias against Hillary. During a televised debate she complained about the unfairness of receiving the first question. Yet at the Compassion debate after winning a coin flip, she chose to receive the first questions. To date, I've seen none of the media address her obvious flip flop.
Much of the Clinton strategy has centered about her experience, 35 years, she claimed. To that end she assures us that she has been vetted while Obama is an unknown and must go through the process.
Put into a defensive position the media has responded by making certain they seemed to challenge Senator Obama at every turn. Instead of asking how Senator Clinton can compare 35 years of her adult life with 12 years of his elected life, the press remained silent.
It's generally accepted that she has been vetted and he has not. But what is the truth? Senator Clinton and the media assimilate the vetting of Bill Clinton into hers. Yet when has she truly been challenged about her support for NAFTA when it was passed and against it in Ohio? Obama's relationship with Wright is a daily sound bite but there has been no discussion of Clinton's associations from her early days.
In essence, Senator Clinton has tried to back the media into a corner. And, for the most part, she has been incredibly successful. Look at the news stories over the past month and you will find an overwhelming number of negative ones relating to Senator Obama.
Prior to the the Texas/Ohio primaries, his adviser's interview with Canadian officials were used to deflate his results. This despite Obama's assurances that the views did not represent his. Guilt by association. Prior to the Pennsylvania primary, a sound bite was used to portray him as elitist. Again, despite his attempt to explain, he is now commonly referred to as an elitist. Finally, Wright reappears and the media treats it as if Obama has spoken from the mount.
Personally, I believe the media was initially enamored of Senator Obama to the point that it biased in his favor. However it has turned into a circus lately. It has effectively impacted the concept of him among blue collars workers. And none of it is based upon his voting record or public statements. Instead, they have denigrated him into a caricature image of all that is bad for the blue collar worker. The media has presented us with a nomination choice devoid of true issues. They are selling sizzle when Americans need steak.
But I would predict that the essential fairness of the citizenry will rise above their circus act. In the end I suspect that one day soon they will have seen too much of Rev. Wright and realize the unfairness taking place. There will be a backlash by fair minded voters. As an American I truly believe that.