I think you’ve summed it up. They’re scared.
It's an interesting question.
Does the Onion (and for that matter all entertainment and "news" media) want to criticize Marxist Obama, and are they simply too cowardly and terrorized?
Or could be they fellow travelers who want to see uber change from our free and open government and to separate us from our traditions and American culture?
Or both?
I hold out hope that some from among the media will recognize Obama's falsehoods, shortcomings, and abuses, then realize that they miss that First Amendment thingie, and break ranks.
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