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The media's Barack Obama fever
Creators Syndicate, Inc. ^ | 11/10/04 | Michelle Malkin

Posted on 11/10/2004 4:18:46 AM PST by 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.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: barackobama; bobbyjindal; catholiclist; catholicpoliticians; desirous; jindal; michellemalkin; obama; vantran
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To: txradioguy; cardinal4

Do we REALLY think that some guy with a name that sounds like Usama Bin Ladin is going to make a run at the White House during our lifetimes?


41 posted on 11/10/2004 6:41:41 PM PST by Ax (Basking in the glory of President Bush's famous victory...)
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To: Ax

"Do we REALLY think that some guy with a name that sounds like Usama Bin Ladin is going to make a run at the White House during our lifetimes?"

Well judging by the people the RATS have run as their candidate lately...namely a lying...philandering...draft dodger and a faux war hero with trumped up medals and penchant for anything written by Chairman Mao...I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him at least make a run. At the very least his name will grab headlines for a few weeks in 2008 as "the leading candidate to become Hillary's VP choice"


42 posted on 11/10/2004 6:45:04 PM PST by txradioguy (HOOAH!!!...Not Just A Word...A Way Of Life!)
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To: Non-Sequitur

I do not even known who he is so you may be correct.


43 posted on 11/10/2004 6:46:07 PM PST by cyborg
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To: RayStacy

Nope. He's definately charismatic and an excellent speaker. I thought the same thing, knowing how dumbassed libs can be then I heard him myself.


44 posted on 11/10/2004 6:47:21 PM PST by cyborg
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To: cyborg

Well, he's still as ugly as the backside of my ... AND he believes in partial birth infanticide.


45 posted on 11/10/2004 6:49:30 PM PST by RayStacy
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To: txradioguy

Either assimilate into the Clinton Borg or it's ARKANCIDE!


46 posted on 11/10/2004 6:49:39 PM PST by cyborg
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To: RayStacy

He's about as good looking as Clinton. Plus he's a pro-abort ghoul.


47 posted on 11/10/2004 6:50:15 PM PST by cyborg
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To: 12B
No doubt, Obama will be a force to be reckoned with.

The media will see to it.

48 posted on 11/10/2004 6:53:43 PM PST by riri
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To: alloysteel; 2ndMostConservativeBrdMember; afraidfortherepublic; Alas; al_c; american colleen; ...

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.

In high school, he abandoned his parents' Hindu faith and converted to Catholicism.

Jindal for Congress          Power Line: The return of Bobby Jindal

Ramesh Ponnuru on Bobby Jindal & Louisiana on National Review

Michelle Malkin: BOBBY JINDAL: AN AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY

Interesting, I don't recall ever hearing of him.  He Converted to Catholicism in High School, I wonder who or what influenced him. I hope he would let us know about his conversion. . I notice that many Hindu's don't eat meat and are vegetarians because their Hindu belief prevents them from harming any living being where they are expected to respect all life  and yet in India abortion is rampant; selective reduction abortion takes place where females are killed in utero and here in America most Indians vote for pro-abortion democrats.  They will not step on a roach or eat a steak or fried chicken yet they continue to kill Humans made in God's image. Go Figure.

In the 10th volume of the ancient Rig Veda, the 162nd aphorism advocates the safety of pregnancy and strongly protests against abortion: "O! Pregnant women: Whichever monster approaches you with the evil intention to destroy your pregnancy/Whoever approaches your womb/Let fire destroy him ..."  O! Pregnant women: Whichever devil kills the pregnancy that lives in your womb/ Whichever monster kills the fetus that is taking human shape by three months/ Whoever intends to kill the baby that is evolved in 10 months/ I destroy him in the presence of this sacred fire. ... Whoever carries you to a dreamy state of a fool and tries to abort your pregnancy, tries to kill your baby/ I destroy him in the presence of this holy fire."


49 posted on 11/10/2004 8:28:47 PM PST by Coleus (Roe v. Wade and Endangered Species Act both passed in 1973, Murder Babies/save trees, birds, algae)
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To: StarFan; Dutchy; alisasny; BobFromNJ; BUNNY2003; Cacique; Clemenza; Coleus; cyborg; DKNY; ...
ping! (article by Michelle Malkin)

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.

50 posted on 11/10/2004 8:30:23 PM PST by nutmeg (THANK YOU RED STATES!!! -- Bush/Cheney 2004)
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To: alloysteel

I was very impressed with his speech, attitude & presentation at the convention. We need him. We need Zell to convert him.

He has a strong future in national politics.. would love to see this presence as a repuplican..

Thanks for thread/post alloysteel (okay, I am sure there is a "story" with this screen name" !!!)


51 posted on 11/11/2004 2:37:44 AM PST by DollyCali (We can never repay our veterans...NEVER. Thank you all who served our great country.)
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To: Coleus

a bump to your post No. 49 which is very helpful when speaking with Hindus about pro-Life issues.


52 posted on 11/11/2004 10:02:42 AM PST by Siobhan (Pray without ceasing.)
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To: alloysteel

I've seen this guy on TV with Thune last week. He is a jabbering idiot.


53 posted on 11/11/2004 10:03:20 AM PST by Porterville (IT'S GOOD TO BE REPUBLICAN- ASK ME HOW)
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To: alloysteel

Michelle Malkin rocks.

She is to Ann Coulter as a good steak knife is to a razor blade.

I say that to the credit of each.

Dan


54 posted on 11/12/2004 11:42:45 AM PST by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
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To: alloysteel; Fatalis; Klickitat; WhistlingPastTheGraveyard; mickie; lainde; ...
Pinging Michelle's list...


55 posted on 11/12/2004 4:21:04 PM PST by cgk (The Left was beaten by Pres Bush twice & will never have another shot at him... who's dumb?)
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To: alloysteel

Obama is a socialist....so it makes perfect sense.


56 posted on 11/12/2004 4:25:30 PM PST by MaryJaneNC
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To: joesnuffy
Hillary/Obama in '08

Have been telling everyone who will listen the very same thing from that very night of the DNC. count on it. It is a done deal.

57 posted on 11/12/2004 6:29:40 PM PST by montag813
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Comment #58 Removed by Moderator

To: cgk

bttt


59 posted on 11/13/2004 1:45:54 AM PST by lainde
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