In an era of instant media and feedback, it becomes harder to discern truth from fiction. None have said it better than Stephen Colbert: “Language has always been important in politics, but language is incredibly important to the present political struggle. Because if you can establish an atmosphere in which information doesn’t mean anything, then there is no objective reality…What you wish to be true is all that matters, regardless of the facts.”
None have felt the effects of instant media’s influence on truth more than President Obama. It’s natural to assume with the election of a perceived liberal, half-black, eloquent, intelligent president on the heels of an administration that some argue has been the most damaging ever in terms of economics and world opinion of America, everything from overwhelming support to outright confrontation will be felt. Consequently, the media will be in lockstep with the President’s every move. But do they report truthfully on said moves?
I would argue that the media represents something of a self-fulfilling prophecy in American politics. With a 24-hour news cycle and thousands of stories to choose from, it’s up to the station to pick and choose what stories to run, and as a result the information they deliver is inherently biased.
Not only that, when they choose to use large blocks of time to report on, say, the recent case of Annie Le’s death, they create the news, and like I asked, do they accomplish this truthfully?
The media’s support for Obama was evidenced beautifully when the administration released their military budget for 2009. Although there was actually a 5.7 percent increase in overall spending, every major media network reported sweeping, drastic cuts. Almost everyone but Fox News, which typically appeals to conservative thinkers, reported that this heralded a new era in America, where peace and rational spending would take precedence over war. Citizens across America pointed to this as the beginning of the end of the Iraq war. Rational spending and the end of the war? Obama increased military spending by 5.7 percent, when America already spends more than the next four countries in line, combined!
This is just one example of the distinction between truth and fiction being blurred when it comes to Obama. Although some may argue he doesn’t get enough respect, as evidenced by a Senator yelling “You lie!” during his address on health care or protestors holding signs of him with a Hitler moustache, those are the cases most people see because it’s better for ratings to focus on people being loud and obnoxious.
How about all the people in Obama’s town halls who treat him like a king? They toss him softball questions, praise his efforts, and giggle nervously as they stare at him like he’s an alien prince from beyond the stars. For every crazed protestor that looks like Yosemite Sam, there are at least five Obama worshippers, so pleased with his eloquence after eight years of incompetent speaking and vapid leadership that they blind themselves to the facts.
As another example, did you know during Obama’s campaign he accepted $213,000 from individuals who work in the oil industry, and that he had two top oil executives who raised over $100,000 for him? All this while claiming “I don’t take oil money,” which supporters blindly believed.
It’s clear that Obama receives enough respect. Certainly, he could receive more, as he hasn’t been in office very long and we haven’t begun to truly see the effect of his policies.
Some may say that all the disrespect with the Hitler moustache and other such things are unprecedented, but obviously Bush faced many of the same criticisms surrounding his decisions in Iraq and at home. All Presidents have to face the mob at some point or another, because no matter what decision they make, they’ll have thousands of upset Americans wielding signs that make little to no sense as they unleash their rage.
But the idea that Obama is receiving more disrespect than support is outright false. His approval rating is holding a steady majority at around 55 percent and he continues to be adored at a level of fanaticism by his supporters. There is no reason to believe he should receive any more respect than he currently does.