Did you know that Barack Obama has his own traveling softball team?
It's called the media.
Wherever the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee goes, reporters follow, eager to lob softball after softball in hopes that he will rhetorically hit each one out of the political park.
Now the aces are stepping up to the mound. When Obama takes his act on the road next month to Europe and the Middle East, the big three who anchor the network evening news -- NBC's Brian Williams, ABC's Charles Gibson and CBS' Katie Couric -- will travel with him, and will report nightly from new locales along the way.
If the media were trying to keep up any shred of a pretense that their coverage of Obama has been objective or hard-hitting, that shred has been ripped away with the news of this forthcoming jaunt. Could the media's adoration of Obama be laid more bare?
But when expected Republican presidential nominee John McCain made several trips abroad this year, suddenly the folks behind the anchor desk found their chairs a lot more comfortable.
McCain went to Europe and the Middle East last March, but the major networks filed a scant four stories about his weeklong tour.
Instead of hurling objectivity out the nearest window, the media need to treat the public to some balanced, substantive campaign coverage.
Comments
I'm tired of the softball questions about Marxist politics and terrorist associates. I want someone to ask the tough questions. Is Space Chimps going to catch as much flack as Curious George and is Disney in trouble over that hat with the gigantic ears? Inquiring minds want to know.
Great editorial, but I hope no one on the editorial staff is holding their breath over that last paragraph. It just ain't gonna happen, not from the "big" 3 networks, at least.
Can the right-wing whine and cry any louder? Face it, the American people have rejected right-wing extremism. Even Bush is talking to Iran as Obama has said should happen all along.
Next month? Man the McSame camp is so out of touch with its right wing "base" (i.e. press corps) they can't even get the message of when the next President of the United States is going to be in a combat zone. McSame broadcast it to the world yesterday. Great OPSEC there Mr. McNational Security. Someone should remind the Senator that "loose lips, sink ships." I guess the Chronicle did not watch the oh so Liberal 60 Minutes when they covered McSame in a Baghdad square along with 100 Infantrymen, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and 5 helicopters.
ShivASS, I doubt tht you speak for th majority of Americans. Should Osama be elected (God forbid), then you leftist can whine and moan about higher taxes, lost jobs and guv'munt intervention in every aspect of your life including telling you what doctor you may see if sick. That's what Marxism is all about-control of the people.
sjgraci, the press is and alweays have been anti-Bush/Republican. The MSM no longer report news, but openly biased opinion trying to hawk it to the public as "news". Osama needs all the help he can get in his trip as he sure as hell knows nothing about what he is about to experience as does McCain. Who cares if the liberal news anchors travel with him? The educated and knowledgeable American will be listening to Rush, Hannity et al for real news and exposure of the left for what it is-pure Marxism.
ShivASS, I doubt tht you speak for th majority of Americans. Should Osama be elected (God forbid), then you leftist can whine and moan about higher taxes, lost jobs and guv'munt intervention in every aspect of your life including telling you what doctor you may see if sick. That's what Marxism is all about-control of the people.
Where in the hell did Space Chimps come from? So thinketh the mind, so sayeth the tongue. Man some people.
The media has been lobbing softballs at George W. Bush for his entire presidency, and still are.
This is the pot calling the kettle black. The Chronicle is 110% pro-right wing, republican, evangelical, etc., and can't stand to see the major media on the other side. What about your friends at Fox News? Can't take getting a taste of your own medicine?
Grouse, I guess you don't read the NY Terrorist Times, Washington Poop or Left Angeles Times, eh? They have excoriated Bush at every turn since he hs been in office. The MSM these days is nothing more than minions of the DIMocRAT Party/Osama.
Former Augustan, FOX news is about as unbiased as news reporting gets. Brit Hume is one of the best. There ARE programs that are to the right, but not the news. Hannity and Colmes does something no other MSN station does and that is invite and debate with both the left and right, something I fail to see on the other channels.
ffh, space chimps come from space. Duh!
grouse, Jake , Former Augustan, do you really think no one reads the papers and watches all of the far left news programs? Do you think making baseless accusations makes you look smart or witty? You can't think everyone is as uninformed as you seem to imply. Watch something other then CNN and NPR/PBS. You'll see what I mean.
jack- "The educated and knowledgeable American will be listening to Rush, Hannity, FOX news is about as unbiased as news reporting gets. Brit Hume is one of the best." HAHAHAHAHAHA! ROFLMFAO!!! God you really are a drunkin' idiot! How many cheap drinks did you have down at the Legion this morning?
Well, well. I see the hypocrisy coming from the Augusta Chronicle (once again). Last Monday, they railed against the Fairness Doctrine and now they are in favor of the Fairness Doctrine anytime there is little to no coverage of a GOP candidate.
and patriciathomas, CNN is now conservative. Look at Nancy Grace, Glenn Beck, Lou Dobbs, Campbell Brown, Wolf Blitzer, Jack Cafferty, and John Roberts. CNN has been conservative since employing everyone of the above mentioned.
willistontownsc, no intelligent person is ever in favor of the fairness doctrine under any circumstances. Commenting on the biased coverage of the networks doesn't mean support of that crazy legislation. CNN does have some conservative features on it now. Nancy Grace is a little wacky to be called a news person though. Lou Dobbs show has become very straight forward, but Wolf Blitzer is still way left of reality most of the time. Glenn Beck is a right wing talk show host that calls it like it is, especially if the right messes up. While CNN still has tilted news reports, it's improved drastically since getting some competition. NPR, on the other hand is pure socialist bunk. When I listen to it I'm amazed that anyone would buy their spiel. I guess without competition you can say anything.
actually, willistown, the frustration over fairness stems from inability to compete in the open market when political stances are declared: liberals just end up sounding whiny and silly. the mainstream media, with the notable exception of fox, claim no bias - but when the evidence is clear that they do hold a bias, graci et al are quick to jump on the fairness bandwagon. so which is it? does fairness need to be enforced even upon news agencies that claim no political affiliation or do we just let the market sort out the news for us? tmz seems to be doing quite well and i'd hate to see its coverage of celebrity trash be diminished by having to equally cover celebrity success stories...
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