The media's Barack Obama fever

Creators Syndicate, Inc. ^ | 11/10/04 | Michelle Malkin

[alloysteel]

Here are a few mainstream media rules of thumb: Minority Democrats in public office are inspirational role models. Minority Republicans in public office are embarrassing sellouts.

Minority Democrat politicians are principled. Minority Republican politicians are misguided.

Minority Democrat politicians represent the hopes and dreams of all Americans. Minority Republican politicians are traitors to their "communities." These rules are unwritten, of course, but the minority politician double standard is glaringly obvious in the national media fawning over newly elected U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

After Obama's Democratic National Convention address this summer, the New York Times exulted: "As Quickly as Overnight, a New Democratic Star Is Born." A headline in the Christian Science Monitor echoed: "A Star is Born." USA Today panted: "Rising star brings Democrats to their feet." NBC's Andrea Mitchell enthused: "I think the real breakout tonight is Obama. I mean Teresa is a fascinating story, but Obama is a rock star!" And Newsweek's Howard Fineman proclaimed: "He is the best argument for the American dream that's around in politics."

Obama's personal story is certainly impressive. The biracial Obama is son of a Kenyan immigrant and a rarely mentioned white mother (who raised him after his father ditched the family and returned to Africa when Obama was 2). A civil rights lawyer, Obama skyrocketed in the Democratic ranks from Illinois state senator to U.S. senator in just a few short years. He has been blessed with good looks, good luck, polished speaking skills and prodigious fund-raising abilities. After his historic election victory, he appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press," ABC's "This Week," and a slew of cable and local news shows. His autobiography, "Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance," was a recent best-seller, and he has now signed with D.C. "superagent" Robert Barnett for future lucrative book deals.

Obama isn't the only example of "the American dream that's around in politics," however. At least two other noteworthy minority politicians won unprecedented election victories last week. But you won't hear Andrea Mitchell or Howard Fineman swooning over their success stories – because these invisible American Dream candidates belong to the wrong party and believe all the wrong things.

Republican Van Tran, a Vietnamese-American, is a staunch defender of the Second Amendment, immigration enforcement, traditional marriage, tax cuts, the war in Iraq and the sanctity of life. He is also a self-described "Reagan kid" and an outspoken anti-communist who escaped his native land when he was 10. He has been targeted for his views and carries a concealed weapon to protect himself. Tran was elected to the California State Assembly and is the first Vietnamese-American to serve in the statehouse.

Republican Bobby Jindal, 33-year-old son of Indian immigrants, was elected to Congress with a whopping 78 percent of the vote in his Louisiana district. A pro-life Catholic, Rhodes Scholar, free-market health policy guru, reform-minded college administrator and Bush adviser, Jindal bounced back from a close gubernatorial loss to become the first Indian-American in Congress since 1956. He raised so much money for his campaign that he showered $25,000 of it on the Republican National Committee, $12,500 on the Louisiana Republican Party, and an estimated $125,000 on 45 Republican candidates around the country.

Tran and Jindal are remarkable rising stars, but as New York Times editorial writer Adam Cohen seemed to suggest in a derisive profile of Jindal, minority conservatives are regarded by the mainstream media elite as "freakish" – no matter how impressive their resumes or resounding their electoral victories or moving their personal stories are.

Doubt that such media bias exists? The next time "objective" journalists gush about Democratic Sen.-elect Obama, drop them a note and ask them to name a single minority Republican public official (besides pro-choice, pro-affirmative action, dovish Colin Powell) that they truly admire.

Don't expect a reply.

[alloysteel]

Ms. Malkin goes right to the heart of the "love" for minority politicians by the mainstream media. Democrat good, Republican bad.

[starfish923]

Obama's Nigerian father abandoned the family when Obama was two years old. He was brought up by his white mother in Hawaii. Minority? BARELY.
Sounds like the Hally Berry story: convenient memory about who brought whom.

[rampage8]

"He has been blessed with good looks, good luck, polished speaking skills and prodigious fund-raising abilities."

So has every pretty boy in Hollywood, and I have no interest in them governing me. Democrats need to do some serious soul searching if they intend to be taken seriously and win national elections.

[anniegetyourgun]

Man, she hits it right on.....

[joesnuffy]

Hillary/Obama in '08

[buffyt]

The media sure didn't love JC Watts or Condi Rice or Colin Powell, wrong party..... MSM makes me sick.

Check out Michael Steele Lt. Gov. of Maryland. I think he would make a GREAT candidate in 2008. Of course, the MSM won't like him, he is the WRONG party for them.... He was a keynote speaker at the RNC. He is awesome.

[Dutchgirl]

Man, she hits it right on

I thought she was going to bring up US Senator Elect Martinez (R) FL. After all, same night, same office, bot addressed their respective conventions...where are the Mel stories?

[buffyt]

I would bet a million bucks that you are RIGHT on THAT prediction!

[Non-Sequitur]

You know, I don't remember Fox going ga-ga over Tran, either. So much for 'fair and balanced', huh Michelle? Or maybe it's because he only won a state legislature race?

[alloysteel]

Van Tran won a race as a Republican in California. Statistically insignificant to the MSM.

[Pharlap]

The Democrat Party is so bereft of true leadership that they will tout Obama as a vice presidential candidate in 2008, even though he will be in his first term. Of course, the Democrats did the same with their last Hollywood super star, John Edwards, in 2004. He could not even carry his home state. Obama would, at least, probably be able to carry Illinois; but, not anything else.

[12B]

I think we need to face the fact that Obama is pretty much dripping with charisma and should be expected to be a major political star unless Hillary gets here claws into him or he somehow trips over his own pecker.

Of course if anyone can screw up his chances it's the DEM leadership.

[RayStacy]

Wow! Even in an article demolishing the myth, the mythbuster perpetuates the myth. Barracks Oboomer is "good looking"???!!!

[Non-Sequitur]

Van Tran won a race as a Republican in California. Statistically insignificant to the MSM.

He won a race as a Republican in Orange County. It would have been a bigger story if he had lost.

[moose2004]

A star is born, NOT!

[aruanan]

The media's Barack Obama fever

Remember Julian Bond

[geedee]

Barracks Oboomer is "good looking"???!!!

LOL. That's what I was thinking. We were watching the news the other night and my niece . . . she's eleven . . . said, "He looks like Diddy after being on crack for a month."

For those other old geezers who don't know who or what a Diddy is, I give you . . .

Evidently, although I was too embarrassed to ask, a "Diddy" is the same as a "Daddy" and in today's "with it" shorthand the "Puff" part is supposed to be understood.

Comprende now? Me neither but just nod your head, lower your shoulders, and strut like you've got a corncob up your patoot and an avocado trapped between your knees and eleven year-old nieces think you're cool.

[Dante3]

I would like to see Michelle Malkin as AG. She has, among other qualifications, common sense that is lacking in far too many of our politicians

[RayStacy]

Ah! Good one. And while we're on the subject, I forgot to mention those "polished speaking skills" that Michell references. Now I will admit, I've never heard the man speak, but as I've noted on another thread, the standard msm take on ALL unknown minority stars is that they are GRRRRREAT speakers. Being unknown, they, by definition, have no records to run on, so the great speaker tag is an easy fall back position. His speaking talents are undoubtedly much the same as Jesse Jackson's. Hey, here's a good riddle for you, courtesy of Nat. Review. During the 2000 FLA recount, why was it not good for Jesse to go around whining about disenfranchisement? Answer: nothing rhymes with it!

[zygoat]

I'm not trying to sound stereotypical here, but his very name will be a hinderence to him if he ever vies for national office.