Journalistic Integrity: Joe the Plumber

In general, the MSM doesn't like Sarah Palin. Why? Because she's one of us -- and not one of them.

Recently, John Roberts of CNN interviewed Joseph Wurzelbacher ("Joe the Plumber"), who has written a book on his recent experiences. The media generally doesn't like "Joe's" book, apparently because he's critical of Sen. McCain (which confuses the media) and supportive of Gov. Palin. Of course, Joe has also been critical of the media, which may resent the fact that Joe revealed more about Obama's tax plan in five minutes than the self-proclaimed journalists did in five months.

In the interview, Joe criticized the media for coming after HIM rather than enquiring into Obama's positions. Basically, he suggested the media was a horde out to get anyone who might be critical of The Chosen One.

John Roberts was taken aback. In a major huff, he indicated that Joe, in this comments on the media, had "impugned [his] journalistic integrity."

I laughed when I heard that. John Roberts, a standard Washington/New York liberal, is to journalistic integrity as Hugh Hefner is to marital fidelity. In the campaign, he never resisted the opportunities either to fire zingers at McCain and Palin or to defend Obama and the hapless Biden. Apparently, that kind of political water-carrying is what Roberts regards as "integrity."

Joe the Plumber had penetrated the media sanctum, one reserved for human talking-points like Paul Begala, James Carville, and Donna Brazille. They all respect Robert's "journalistic integrity," although in truth they have no idea what the term means.

Joe the Plumber had seized an opportunity denied to most (of us) who would be critical of the press and their coverage of any political issue. In general, the media only wants people present who are one of them. That way they never need to answer any embarrassing questions.


When Katie Couric ("the little rodent," as Don Imus called her) asked Sarah Palin what newspapers and magazines she read, we all know the "correct" answer: "Well, Katie, I read the NY Times and the Wash Post regularly, along of course with Newsweek and Time and, from time to time, the London Economist and The Wall Street Journal."

In my case, the answer, a truthful one, I would have given Katie was: "I don't read any of them. Why should I? What would they have to tell me that I can't find out from the Internet and other sources?"

Katie Couric probably regards CBS News the way John Roberts does CNN, as an indispensable news source. However, very few people watch CBS News, they having detected that Edward R. Murrow is long gone.

But if CBS and CNN are really indispensable (like the auto industry and AIG), we might soon expect a government bailout to keep them afloat in a world that increasingly wishes they would sink to the bottom of the sea.

(Tomorrow: Should Republicans in the era of Obama really seek out Black votes?)

McCain: Time to Strike Back

Thanks to the many visitors today from "overseas," including Mexico, Egypt, Finland, Sweden, Great Britain, Scotland, Spain, Israel, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina, and Brazil. I hope you keep returning. You're always welcome here.

Okay, I'm supposed to be the guy that's good at predictions -- ever since I hit the PA Primary just about right. Indiana: Clinton 54% - Obama 46%. North Carolina: Obama 52% - Clinton 48%. I would not be amazed if Hillary won both. This week I'll post more pictures of the "rock," the one you see below.


Ray "Bubba" Sorensen and the magnificent "Rock of American Ages" that he painted. More about Bubba and more pictures of the rock in future columns. Please pass them on to friends and fellow McCain supporters. My dear friend Rhodann Elliott of Corpus Christi, Texas, sent me this picture and several others. I told Rhodann, a fellow flag-waver and with a son-in-law in Iraq, that individuals like Barack and Michelle cannot understand what America and the flag mean to people like us. As a poet said in another context, "It means not less than everything." As you see on the rock, "All give some, some give all."

IF YOU WD LIKE E-MAILED COPIES OF SORENSEN'S PICTURES, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT: TALKTOP65@AOL.COM. (THERE ARE 10)

Note: On my Pennsylvania for John McCain blog today (Monday) I have a list of "100 Ways to Help John McCain Get Elected." It deals with practical steps you can take to help your favorite candidate. The list can be adapted to apply to ther candidates. I urge you to take a look at it (by clicking on the word "blog" above.) Thanks!


I heard Sunday on CBS that their new national poll shows McCain significantly behind Clinton and Obama. I know: polls are not written in stone but rather in the wind, but the CBS revelation sounded like a chill breeze to me.

There are several reasons Sen. McCain might have hit a bump in the road, including the fact the Democratic candidates get about 10 times as much media coverage as our favorite Senator from Arizona. Basically, CNN, MSNBC, and even (sob!) FOX run 24/7 commercials for Hillary and Barack. Would anybody expect a discouraging word from Candy Crowley or Suzanne Malveaux, who serve basically as cheerleaders for Obama?

But Senator McCain bears some of the blame. He's much too nice to Senator Clinton and, especially, Senator Obama. On Chris Mathews show, he said Obama's "bitter" comment was elitist, but he didn't think the Senator himself was "an elitist." Good grief! It's like someone refusing to say Donald Trump has more than his share of "bad hair days."..

Let's see: Obama said we small town Pennsylvanians (of which I'm one) are "clinging" to our religion, guns, racism, and xenophobia. Elitist? It goes far beyond that. It's despicable . . . reprehensible. Also, since Obama was referring exclusively to "white folks" (I'm also one of THEM), it had a strong racist tinge.

Obama a racist? Well, yeah. After all, he's the guy who called his grandmother (from all evidence a saint) "a typical white person." In his famous Philadelphia speech on "race" (of which no one can remember a single word), he compared grandma to Rev. Wright -- and not favorably.

Obama not an elitist? Please, John. When he says he "respects Senator McCain for his service to the country," the Illinois Senator has to choke the words out. Nothing in Obama's background suggests he understands -- or respects -- people who commit their lives to serving their country. In his days at an exclusive Hawaiian prep school, at Columbia, and at "Hahvad Law School," I dont think he ran into a lot of military types. The notion of Obama actually in the military is something like imagining Rosie O'Donnell as Miss America.

We've seen the new Democrat National Committee ad that shows how much they "respect" McCain. It portrays him as guy who presumably would like to continue the Iraq War for "100" years. Their other ad shows McCain as a guy who thinks a lousy economy is just peachy. Trust me, come next October Barack Obama will be saying basically the same thing. I predicted awhile back that Moveon.org would be calling McCain a "warmonger." About a day after my prediction, they did just that.

Since Obama receives most of his mega-millions from Moveon, perhaps he'll tell them to desist? Fat chance. Pigs will qualify as Rockettes before that happens.I do not believe Barack Obama is a good man. I would have to see some evidence.

In fact, I believe he's a taller, more polished, more calculating version of his "spiritual advisor," Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Chucking Obama under the chin when he makes outrageous and false statements only encourages him.

Frankly, when it comes to the Democrats' frontrunner, it's time for McCain's famous temper to make a reappearance. For instance, when Obama makes "elitist" (and worse) comments, the moment has arrived for some straight talk about the nature and character of the man.

Obama is the guy who sat in Rev. Wright's church for 20 years. So, I'm sure that hearing some strong language from McCain will not cause him to dry up and blow away. More's the pity. Fire when ready, Senator McCain.

OBAMA SHOULD END HIS CAMPAIGN

If you want to know the reason for tonight's (Friday's) headline, just scroll down slowly through the columns below to read the kind of "spiritual" advice Barack Obama and his wife have been receiving from Jeremiah A. Wright.

On my blog tonight, I'm calling for Barack Obama to end his campaign. Because of the Wright situation, he is no longer a viable candidate for President. I also believe he should resign from the U.S. Senate.

For Obama to pretend, as he is tonight on FOX and CNN, that the national revulsion over Wright all came as a surprise to him is ridiculous. His Church gave Louis Farrakhan a "Lifetime Achievement Award." You will hear in response that is was Trumpet Magazine, which is no longer associated with the Church that gave it. In fact, Wright's daughter is the editor of Trumpet, a pro-Black, anti-White publication Wright started. Obama's reaction to the "Achievement" award was to ignore it.

The real issue is this: who exactly is Barack Obama? Is he just perhaps not this individual who wants to transcend race (except, of course, when he sops up 90%-plus of the Black vote in the South)? Or is he perhaps someone who looks at the world much like his "spiritual advisor," Jeremiah Wright? I have paid a lot more attention in the past few years to Obama than he deserved, but I have no idea what the correct answer is to that question.

His wife, Michelle, only became "proud" of American when it became clear her husband was (key word) a viable candidate for the Presidency. In that regard, Michelle Obama apparently learned a lot from Jeremiah Wright, who hates his native land.

Perhaps the most sickening thing on the video tapes of Wright ranting away is to look the audience, a bunch of Yahoos. When Wright blames America for 9/11, the congregants are standing, whooping, and ecstatic. Were Obama and Michelle perhaps there on that day? And did they perhaps join the applause? That is the "church community" Obama speaks so lovingly about in his fine baritone.

This is the man who would be President. He and his Pastor are disgraces to their race -- the human race.

Barack, go. Go in peace or go in anger, but just go. "Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, shame on us."

Bill Clinton and the Culture of Death

The following is a column I wrote for my friends at the Black Conservatives Group on Yahoo.


Steubenville, OH (LifeNews.com) -- Former president Bill Clinton made a campaign stop for Hillary in Steubenville, Ohio on Sundayand found himself greeted by more than 100 pro-life students from nearby Steubenville University. According to eye witnessesaccounts, Clinton lost his temper and lashed out at the pro-life students during the speech.

Full story: http://www.lifenews.com/state2908.html


The students from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, who confronted President Clinton on the issue of abortion are some of the best young people in our area -- I live not too far from Steubenville. Bill Clinton accused them -- falsely -- of wanting to "criminalize abortion, etc."

The students in fact were making the point that a society which has a high level of abortion such as ours diminishes the overall respect for life, leading to abuse, crimes against people, and the like. It's an issue that any decent human being -- a category that doesn't include the philandering, cynical President Clinton -- must grapple with. The students have an concern that Clinton should have dealt with respectfully and thoughtfully. He didn't.


In the period of the Great Society and after, many bad things have happened in America, particularly in the Black community. Two generations ago, the rate of abortion among Black teens was LOWER than in the white community. Now, it is much, much higher -- four times the rate with white teens. Essentially, we have a community that is "doing away with" its future. We need to love children, not discard them as if they were human garbage.


Bill Clinton probably knows this, but he doesn't care about it. For him, it's all about his wife getting elected -- period.


By the way, Barack Obama voted in the Illinois Senate for what's called "live birth abortions." His vote meant that physicians didn't have to care for children who were born alive as a result of "botched" abortions. Essentially, it was a vote for infanticide. He should be ashamed of himself, but unfortunately shame is not his strong suit.

Of course, Obama doesn't debate the pros-and-cons of such procedures. Instead, he relies on windy rhetoric ("Yes we can"). However, for infants in need of care and basically asking if they can live, his slogan is "No, you can't." So much for "universal health care."

As a society, we can't fall into the trap of saying, "Well, we respect life some of the time but not all of the time." What that leads to is what we have now, where the "Angel of Death" is a constant presence in Black communities. People like Bill Clinton aggravate that situation.