Putting The Finger On Media Bias

The photographs above were taken during the 2012 LGBT-pride reception held at the White House last week. Showing this kind of disrespectful public behavior has no place in the President's home or anywhere for that matter.

Here is how Dennis Prager begins his National Review Online article on this incident:

Imagine this:

A future Republican president invites tea-party leaders to the White House. Some of them have themselves photographed standing in front of a portrait of President Barack Obama with their middle fingers extended. They then posted these photos on Facebook with the caption “F**k Obama.” (Needless to say, the F-word was spelled out.)

Some questions:

1. How much coverage do you think the national press would give to this?
2. How would Democratic — and Republican — leaders react?
3. How would tea-party activists react?

The "real life" event got this result in the traditional media:

Not a word about it appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, or on NPR . . . . There was no coverage on ABC News, NBC News, or CBS News.

Read the rest of Prager's observations on media bias as well as his answers to the other two questions here. 

Very enlightening. It's no wonder new media formed to fill such an obvious information vacuum.


Photo: blog.phillymag.com

Could Growing Executive Authority Be A Problem?

When your support among a select groups of Americans drops 36% in two years, what's a politician to do? Of course, you exercise your executive authority when possible-as every wise executive does-to stop the bleeding. The Obama administration has done just that by implementing portions of the Dream Act that was defeated on the Hill. The action replaces wholesale deportation of "safe" illegal aliens with a case by case review and decision. This should please many in the Hispanic community. Read more about this story, in addition to some excellent comments, at this NRO link posted by Mark Kirkorian.

Interestingly, this decision is also a perfect fit for the "White House Friday afternoon bad news dump" and coincides with the President's departure for his Martha's Vineyard vacation. Convenient? Yes. But remember that this activity isn't new. It's been an increasingly common practice for decades.

Internet 101: Basic Sexting For Republicans

You would expect by now that any man who thinks with his brain understands the working of the Internet and World Wide Web. Yesterday, New York Republican Congressman Christopher Lee exposed himself as completely ignorant of the consequences of risky behavior in cyberspace. Now, as ex-Congressman Lee, OTR suggests that he write a basic Internet manual for all the computer Luddites on the Hill. The first lesson should focus on the simple fact that anything posted on the Internet has the potential to become public information. It's an essential lesson and one that could save the party of God, Mother, the flag, apple pie and family values from future ridicule.

For all the details of this real life tragicomedy, here is your link to the Gawker article. Hat tip to Gateway Pundit.

Snatching Defeat From Almost Assured Victory

The "master of all trades," William Katz, has another simple and profound observation about four Senate races and four "Tea Party" types who lost them:

It is time to contemplate thoughtfully the quality of some of the candidates the Republicans, especially the tea partiers, placed before the voters in Senate races. Sharron Angle, Christine O'Donnell, Ken Buck, Joe Miller. These were all winnable races. Proper vetting of candidates, and good campaign strategies, are critical keys to victory. You can't just run someone is "right" on the ideology, but lacks almost everything else. Losing is very boring.

OTR hopes the conservatives are listening.

Vetting For Loonies

Sometimes the dream is just too good to be true. In the rush to embrace new fashion, be it granite counter tops, neon neckties or political candidates, the probability for error always increases. When it comes to politics it is, unfortunately, far easier to change your necktie than change your candidate. It is for this reason that vetting for loonies should be foremost in the minds of those seeking new directions in politics. This brings OTR to the subject of Christine O'Donnell, Republican candidate for Senator from Delaware.

Though not yet certifiably loony, new direction candidate O'Donnell brings plenty of personal, well-publicized baggage into the campaign. There's no need to make a list here; let's just say it's broad and colorful and somewhat odd. Unfortunately, with so much baggage comes the nagging question that there could be more, and if so, what it could reveal. And guess what! There is more baggage, and Bill Maher, host of HBO's Real Time and a popular left-wing mouthpiece, is ready to reveal it. It seems that O'Donnell made several appearances on Maher's earlier show, Politically Incorrect, in the late '90s. The subject matter could easily turn this campaign into a circus. Here's a link with the details.

O'Donnell may survive this madness and become a senator. If that's the case, OTR should be pleased because he likes to see balance on Capitol Hill. And Dennis Kucinich could use the company. If O'Donnell loses, it will be a lesson for any political movement or party that thorough vetting is an essential ingredient of successful politics.

Story and link source: John Hinderaker, Powerline Blog

Steele Away?

I had high hopes for Michael Steele when he took over the senior position at the Republican National Committee. He had a rather short apprenticeship. And it hasn't been a happy marriage for the outspoken Marylander. Not that we should expect a completely spotless performance from any leader, still, there should be an awareness that leadership demands discretion as a means of managing a national organization. That brings us to Steele's latest statement yesterday at a Connecticut fundraiser that the Afghan war was of "Obama's choosing." Furthermore, Steele remarked that the war was likely "a lost cause." Personally, I find both statements odd given that the Afghan war had its roots in 2001. As for the "lost" war, conservatives traditionally have no issue supporting our troops under fire once they are committed to a conflict.

This personal conflict for Steele may blow over, but calls for his resignation by party members are already starting to appear. It's early on this one, but the baggage gets heavier with every potentially negative action. You can read the details on the latest flap her from Fox News.