In assessing our fourth estate, one will hear conservative commentators saying that the media in this country has a liberal bias. I know this is somewhat true first hand. One of my sisters-in-law has a multi-million dollar trust fund because her grandmother founded the Washington Post. It was abundantly clear when meeting my family's new in-laws at the wedding, that they were indeed, quite liberal. There was a lot of teasing across the aisle. We were characterized as die-hard Republicans, while they held themselves up to being vanguard Democrats. In fact, my immediate family and I have been registered Democrats for some time. It's Uncle Ron who comes across as an arch Republican (If more of the Bass clan from Eureka had been there, then it would have been a fairly accurate appraisal).
The media's liberal bias has become blatantly apparent, once again, in the Sotomayor nomination. CNN has been running a non-stop banner at the bottom of their screen with nothing but reasons why Sotomayor would make a good and impartial judge. What about missile launchings from North Korea? Murder trials? Bombings in Iraq, Iran, and other Middle Eastern hot spots? Silences. CNN has decided to devote its ticker tape banner to Sotomayer's support 24/7.
This is not to dispute the validity of any of CNN's claims -- they all seem quite reasonable and positive -- but I question the appropriateness of devoting this banner, which has long been used to flash news headlines, solely for the endorsement of what is supposed to be a Presidential appointment to be confirmed by Congress. Just as I pointed out in (A Constitutionally Inappropriate Campaign) there seems to be an inappropriate abuse of power afoot, as well as a serious interference with the constitutional process of appointing a Supreme Court Justice. This is not a popularity contest. While understated (quick, name all the Justices -- anyone?) these are very powerful people and their appointments are a matter of serious deliberation, not popular vote. The overall effort of appealing to the public at large seems bent on overwhelming the balances of power established in our constitution, on browbeating the Senate into submission. The legislature should be left to do its job thoroughly and in good conscience. CNN should do its job of focusing on the news, and not making such a brazen political endorsement, particularly over a public figure whose appointment, given their role as head jurist, should not be politicized in the first place.
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