Thursday, June 25, 2009

A governor's indiscretion met with the media's scorn and bias by the American news media

South Carolina Republican governor Mark Sanford admitted to having an extramarital affair with a woman named Maria from Argentina. Governor Sanford was chairman of the Republican Governors Association. While the Governor was in Argentina, his staff thought he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Such extramarital affairs are not exclusive to either Democrats or Republicans. What is exclusive is the treatment received in the news media based upon the political party. The bias and slanted news media soft pedals if they even report it, when it comes to Democrats. While when Republicans are caught, it makes headlines throughout the nation.

When President Clinton had his affair, the news media said it was private and no ones business. When John Edwards had his affair the news media refused to report it because he had a chance to become the Democratic Partys nominee for president. However when the National Enquirer reported it, the news media had not choice to report it kicking and screaming.

After 9/11 when the Patriot Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush, the news media and the left complained the privacy of Americans where being compromised and moaned about it for eight yeas or so. A newspaper in South Carolina called "The State," ("The State of Columbia") managed to get into its possession the emails between Governor Sanford and Maria from Argentina.

Where were the concerns about privacy when the news media printed private email? The fact is when it comes to conservatives and / or Republicans, it is open season and anything is fair game.

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution reads in part:

"Congress shall make no law......abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;"

Meaning the citizens of the USA are guaranteed a free press. When will that free press happen?

No comments: