Wordsmith

Maybe I’m alone here, but I’m appalled at the lack of serious interest by journalists following Barack Obama’s speech that distanced the Democrat presidential candidate from his obviously racist pastor, Jeremiah Wright.

Wright, for those who don’t know, advances conspiracy theories from his pulpit. Example: Aids is a government conspiracy against blacks.

About 90 percent of the mainstream media have said that Obama “hit a home run” in his speech. But there are significant questions — especially when it comes to the candidate’s judgment. If Obama disagrees so much with Wright’s views, why does he refer to the United Church of Christ pastor as his spiritual leader? If Obama disagrees with Wright’s views, why was he an active member in the church for so long? If Obama disagrees with Wright, why use a title from one of the pastor’s sermons as the title of his book?

One of the few dissenting voices in mainstream media came from CBS political correspondent Jeff Greenfield:

 How do you sit in church for 20 years, become aware of some of these comments, and not say “I’m sorry, this isn’t for me”? Disowning your grandmother’s a little different from disowning your pastor. So while the talk about race was I thought exemplary, the lingering problems left by the Wright comments I think will remain, as a low-level fever at least.

From what I can tell, few reporters contacted Republicans for their reaction to Obama’s speech. To me, that’s step No. 2 in reporting on Obama’s speech. Step No. 1 is obviously to get an accurate portrayal of the Dems’ views, since that’s the only really undecided race left. But reporters aren’t doing due diligence with Obama, and that’s a fact. He’s the “rock star” candidate among the front-runners. There seems to be a tendency for journalists around Obama to back off of tough questions or soft-pedal criticism.

While I think it’s obvious to everyone not named Clinton that Barack Obama will be the Democrats’ nominee (unless of course the “superdelegates” intervene), journalists have got to stop treating him with kid gloves. It’s not fair to our readers or viewers. Hold him to the same standards as every other viable candidate.

If we don’t do that, we’re doing a disservice to our readers and viewers — and to our country.

As for me, I’ve got no dog in this hunt. I’m voting Libertarian come November.