By: Megan Pendagast
No person, or voter for that matter, can reasonably expect absolute perfection from those who are angling to be President and Vice President of the United States. Tensions between Dems and Reps are at a highpoint and it seems as though every time Senator John McCain or Governor Sarah Palin misspeaks the media jumps down their throats. Forget about it if they attempt to crack a joke, any stab at humor is immediately scrutinized and taken by those who read the transcripts as a gaffe.
When the Republican VP candidate was announced to be Sarah Palin people instantly exclaimed over her inexperience, despite the fact that she is a one-term governor running for VP with executive experience as opposed to one-term Senator Obama who is running for Head of State with no exec. experience whatsoever.
Very few media outlets chastised the Democrat VP candidate Biden, despite the fact that he is known throughout Washington as an 'attack dog'. Delaware Senator Draper wisely stated, "Joe Biden Can't Shut Up." Biden certainly has his strengths that make him a very important commodity to the campaign, such as his experience, his oratory talents as well as his heart-wrenching life-story. While the media bombards Sarah Palin for her blunders, Biden's slip-ups are generally disregarded by the media at large.
Who could forget how Palin's mistakes were rewinded and replayed on several mainstream news sources after her bumbling interview with Katie Couric, who pelted many 'GOTCHA!' questions at the VP hopeful. Couric took an entirely different tack when interviewing Biden, going from fierce inquisitor to bashful fan in between the span of the two interviews. Biden asserted that Roosevelt, after the crash of '29, addressed the nation on the television to alleviate fears. Couric sat, listening sympathetically, either not realizing or bothering to correct Biden's two colossal gaffes. For one, Hoover was President during the crash and secondly, television had yet to be mainstreamed.
The VP hopeful also managed to offend many by making snide references to Palin's attractiveness, as well as openly disagreeing with Senator Obama's position on gun laws. They are the Odd Couple indeed.
Strangely, none of these historical inaccuracies and general faux pas have made Biden the target Palin has become. Mark Halperin, the author of the article I am commenting on, asserts that this could be a result of the fact that Biden is well known for putting his foot in his mouth on numerous occasions.
One of the beauties of America is the press' ability to freely state the news, but my question is, why is the 'truth' so selective? Why is it that Palin can make a gaffe the same caliber of Biden's, and yet only she is a victim of the media's scorn? If a journalist cares to broadcast their opinions, it is perfectly fine—if in the context of an editorial. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a fair and balanced depiction of any news story anymore, much less the election or its proceedings. If I wanted to read a liberal rag or a conservative rant I would subscribe to it. But I don't so I don't want that! Is it really too much to ask for some equal treatment in the press?
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1846632,00.html?imw=Y
Read this article! It's really good and it's where I got my info & insights.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
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