The selective coverage of politician “sins”

 

 

 

Rob Christensen, senior political writer and resident newsroom wonderboy at The N&O, wants us to believe that today’s allegedly mainstream media (AMSM) is MUCH tougher on political candidates than the scribes of the past.  He’s partially right.  Today’s  AMSM is a lot tougher on candidates THEY DON’T LIKE.

John Edwards upset incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth in 1998, mainly, by flashing his pearly whites, showing off his family, and talking about how much he loved them.  We had to wait until the end of ONE Senate term, TWO presidential campaigns, and ONE vice-presidential campaign for The National Enquirer to introduce us to Johnny’s baby-mama.  If you make your family a central part of your campaign — while keeping a baby mama on the side — and pay said baby mama off with campaign funds — a clear violation of laws you championed on the campaign trail and the Senate floor — THAT’S newsworthy.

In 1995, an “agricultural adviser” to then-Gov Jim Hunt was caught shaking down a prospective Department of Corrections employee for a contribution to Hunt’s 1996 reelection fund.  The “adviser’s” job got eliminated in the next budget.  The AMSM poo-pooed the whole uproar, and Hunt came out smelling like a rose.  NEVER MIND that said “adviser’s” office was literally right next door to Hunt’s office.  NEVER MIND that said “adviser” was also the subject of ethical questions during Hunt’s first two terms.  The N&O (and the rest of the AMSM) dutifully took dictation from the former N&O employees in Hunt’s press office.

Rob offers up a Freudian Slip that speaks volumes about the mindset of the AMSM:

If former House Speaker Newt Gingrich continues to rise in the polls, the three-time married former House speaker’s messy personal life will once again be dredged up.

Really?  Question:  If Gingrich’s divorces and marriages are so important, why NOT report on them NOW?  What does his standing in the polls have to do with it — if you are an impartial observer in the media and NOT a Democrat campaign operative?

The “allegations” against Herman Cain are mostly gossip from anonymous sources.  The two who have come forward: one is a BarryO administration political appointee, and the other is a Chicago woman with a history of filing sexual harrassment claims against powerful men.   Rob conveniently left out Bill Clinton, whose well-documented victims include Monica Lewinsky, Paula Jones, Gennifer Flowers, and Juanita Broderick (who got the added bonus of a bruised lip).  The AMSM took dictation from James Carville and laughed it all off (“That’s Just Bill”) and went to work on fabricating Slick Willie’s legacy as a “statesman.”

The AMSM is attempting to derail Herman Cain’s candidacy with vague, mostly anonymous reports of bawdy behavior.  Yet, behavior by the AMSM’s beloved Dems that borders on criminal gets ignored or poo-pooed.  Joe Biden — thanks to his plagiarism — was “unfit” to be president  in 1988.  Now, we are told, he is a GREAT veep.

If everybody who “sinned” was exempted from government service, DC would be a QUITE empty place. (Hmmm ….. )

The AMSM needs to stop checking party registrations before making coverage decisions, and start lowering the boom on leaders who — oh — shake down state employees for money, physically or sexually assault other people, make human sandwiches with waitresses, or thumb their noses at laws they impose on the rest of us.  It’s important.