Obama getting sworn in

[PanamaLane]

A general point about media bais.

Those who point to one, you're completely right. Having seen it first hand, I can tell you for certain it does exist, but not usually in the way people think it does. There are no secret plots or ploys. There usually isn't a hidden agenda of any sort either. Journalists focus on that which is most interesting about any particular story to them. Compare it to reading a novel every day and having to later summarize the most important part. Obviously different people are going to see and report different sections, ideas or themes of the same novel.

Obama is our first black president. Its a clean, good story. And its a symbol. Journalists love symbols. People love symbols. Its our way as human beings of expressing a great plethora of ideas in as few words as possible. In this instances, its one that represents themes of change, and having overcome impossible odds. I mean, its a damn good story! Chalk full of history and rich, colorful (no pun intended) characters.

When you boil right down to it, that is what good journalists do. They find the symbols and themes for us, so that the viewer at home doesn't have to actually read the whole book. It may not be the actual picture, but we at home take a lot out of it. I mean, look at this discussion? I never actually lived through the 60's or the Southern Strategy. As far as I know, those things only happened on television.

[Sternhund]

Glad to hear it Sternhund, I did not think it was supposed to be a stab at me, but it did come off that way. I'll point out why and be done with it briefly. I get very frustrated by the liberal proponents of "tolerance" (I can explain the reason for quotes if you'd like, but that's a LONG topic, better left for IRC) and accepting other people's opinions and beliefs who use terms like "backwater" and "redneck"; it seems rather contradictory doesn't it? Indeed, the very use of the term reveals the same type of thinking that racists use to hate on blacks/hispanics/Jews/Merpeople-- prejudice and ignorance combined. And at that, I took offense, even if I am neither backwater nor redneck (in the sense of the word that you use it), just as most people would be offended by racials slurs.

Edit/Addendum: It occurred to me that someone reading this may think, "Well, shit, intolerant redneck isn't a race!" Very astute observation. Neither are gays or lesbians though, and yet most people agree that using the word "faggot" is almost as offensive as racials slurs.

Your other points, absolutely, no disagreement at all, barring that this really has nothing to do with Obama, everything to do with poor media performance and THAT is always something we must unite against by fighting the untruths it produces and the effects thereof.

Yeah, in retrospect my comment wasn't tasteful. I've no actual grudge against them, I was playing to stereotypes.

On race, while more blacks voted for Obama, I'm sure many people voted the other way as well. This augments your point further, and I believe anyone who would disagree that race was a factor is completely off. Yet, I don't see too much point in worrying about it hardcore.

On media, I've many complaints. Back in the day, if media outlets showed partisan tendencies, people would immediately call them out. Now, looking at FOX News, MSNBC, and CNN, it's obvious that they lean left or right, yet many people don't realize this. To me, it's dishonest journalism. While I haven't watched TV News Networks in a while, I wouldn't know how they've portrayed Obama, though I am sure they put a spin to it. I've come to rely on Slashdot and the BBC for my news.

Now, if we want to fight media untruths, I think it'd be hard to argue the MLK Dream Machine isn't complete. Documentaries like "Outfoxed" would be more accurate, and these criticisms have indeed changed how some news networks operate.