Yes, we have freedom of the press in these United States. It is an unalienable Constitutional right embodied in the First Amendment, as is freedom of speech.

But what are We The People to think and/or do when/if the press aka "the media" evolves into an entity that doesn't or won't give us the facts, i.e., the media is biased. (see article below). WHO WILL GIVE US THE INFORMATION WE NEED IN ORDER TO COME TO FACTS-BASED CONCLUSIONS THIS ELECTION YEAR?

Given that We The People can no longer trust our media to do so, it appears that we will have to find the facts for ourselves.

Since intelligent, rational and want-to-be-factually-informed Colorado voters (and other registered voters nationwide) appear to have decided not to trust the word of "the press" anymore -- mostly because they have figured out that "the press" REALLY has become very biased -- how are We The People going to get the facts that We want and need about Barack Obama, John McCain, various state and federal Senate and House members, and local public officials?

Here's how. We will do/are doing our own research in order to arrive at rational voting decisions about all things political that are so important to us today.

Yes, the facts are really "out there" in various places. But when looking in those places for those facts, the intelligent and rational searcher/researcher must try their very best not to be influenced by his or her own emotions and/or personal prejudices -- as many members of our biased media appear to be doing.

That's very hard for the average person to do. But it can be done if one is really a seeker of the truth (facts), not fiction (emotion- and prejudice-driven viewpoints that are arrived at only after listening to/reading information that supports their own subjective, preconceived notions). We The People must -- MUST -- be skilled in separating fact from fiction in order to objectively evaluate what we're reading and/or hearing. The internet, for example, holds a wealth of facts. But a factual searcher on the internet must be intelligent and rational enough to be able to realistically evaluate what they're finding and reading.

Campaign statements of all those who are on the ballot this year must be factually researched. Anyone who is on the ballot who suggests or guilefully advocates socialistic policies which will ultimately lead us into a fascist (dictatorial) state must be removed from our considerations. Research the social and political histories of everyone who is on the ballot for yourselves, and do it verrrrry thoroughly, before you vote. Whether or not our freedoms and liberties continue depends on you to be intelligent, rational, and informed voters -- especially at this point in our history.

Good luck and God speed in your research endeavors. I've already done mine and discussed my findings/conclusions with some informed and trusted others. Then I voted (during the early voting period). I did not vote for Barack Obama or for anyone else on the ballot who advocated a bigger, more intrusive government in our lives, had talked about or demonstrated fiscal irresponsibility (tax-and-spend types), or who believed that the redistribution of hard-working Coloradans' money ("spreading the wealth around") to undeserving others (Socialism) should replace our Constitutional Federal Republic form of government.

Jan

http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?p=812

The Loft - On Top Of Today's Issues

Fighting the Media as well as Obama

Posted by Bobby Eberle
October 23, 2008 at 6:15 am

It's hard enough when our Republican nominee, John McCain, has to run against a smooth talker who gets by with spouting off quips about "hope" and "change" and never has to get specific about his programs for the country. But, when that candidate, Barack Obama, is given a free pass by the media, it's as if McCain were running against two opponents at once.

The media has always tilted more to the left. A poll taken shortly after the 2000 election showed reporters overwhelmingly favored Al Gore. However, things are much worse, and the media have become a blatant advocacy group and, in the process, have thrown their integrity and professionalism in the garbage.

In a story on Fox News, the Project for Excellence in Journalism issued a report comparing the news coverage of Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama. The findings of the report are simple: coverage of John McCain during the campaign "has been overwhelmingly negative since the conventions ended."

According to the report, 57 percent of the news stories about McCain were deemed to be negative. Only 14 percent were considered positive, and the remainder was judged to be neutral. Obama's coverage was a completely different story. Obama's news stories have been 36 percent positive, 29 percent negative, and 35 percent neutral.

So, McCain gets painted in a negative light 57 percent of the time compared to only 29 percent for Obama. McCain gets portrayed positively a meager 14 percent of the time compared to 36 percent for Obama. The media are ignoring the background, associations, and policy proposals of Obama. If they aren't going to do the digging, then who will?

A perfect example of this bias comes with the relentless negative coverage of Gov. Sarah Palin. Portrayed as a bumpkin from the sticks, the media continue to make her a story even when she's not making news. On the other hand, Sen. Joe Biden issues gaffe after gaffe, and it goes unreported. As I wrote in Joe Biden: The McCain Campaign's Best Friend, Biden basically admitted that Obama's lack of foreign policy experience was going to be trouble for the United States.

Biden issues very serious words, and the media turn a deaf ear. As noted in another Fox News story, the McCain campaign is taking NBC News to task for their blatant favoritism. On Tuesday, the McCain campaign issued a statement "decrying NBC News for its 'apparent refusal' to air Joe Biden's controversial remarks that Barack Obama would face a 'generated crisis' early on if he is elected."

The ideal way for us to combat the media blackout is for our candidate to take his message directly to the American people. He has to clearly state where he stands on the issues, and if the media won't press Obama, then McCain must also let America know where Obama stands. It's not being "negative." It is simply doing the job the media should be doing.

If McCain won't do it, then we all need to do our part to spread the word. Obama's socialist policies must be taken to task. America must learn what it's in for under an Obama presidency. Let's get the word out, and hopefully, McCain will jump on board too!

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