Failure of the Fourth Estate

I am really amazed by the complete abdication of journalistic standards by the mainstream media regarding coverage of President Obama and major political issues.

There are four items which really make me shake my head. First, the incredible turnaround by so many Obama apologists on his Libya war (or should I say  limited kinetic engagement) policy. Some of them, like Andrea Mitchell and Jonathan Alter were almost pathetic in their attempts to rationalize their praise for Obama's "measured" and "nuanced" policy with their prior views on pre-emptive war ala Bushitler.

The other three are things not being reported. Despite the calls for civility in the wake of the shooting of several persons in Arizona, the media has gone silent in the face of partisan violence, intimidation and insult in Wisconsin. Why, you ask? Because the violence is by progressive unionists, not Tea Partiers, so in the minds of today's leftist media, it isn't a story.

Similarly, there are hardly any stories dealing with the staggering increases in gasoline and food prices. The price of gasoline has doubled since Obama took office. When Bush was President, there were two Congressional investigations into "price gouging" by "Big Oil", widely chronicled by the press. Today, hardly a peep. Apparently, the nation is taking the price rise in stride.

Finally, there was the ridiculous spectacle of Senator Schumer schooling his colleagues in the "proper rhetoric" for a phone session with reporters. Unfortunately for Chuck, he forgot to push the mute button and the reporters heard him telling the assembled Senators to characterize the GOP as extremists and to use other pejorative terms whenever possible. Of course the story was page one news, right? No, barely a mention and then only under the headline "How News Is Made". That seems to be the problem. Our current leftist media doesn't mind reporting news made to fit their partisan views.

Somewhere, Thomas Jefferson is weeping.