Once again the double standard in politics I have discussed so many times during my political career has reared its ugly head. While currently private citizen (until she announces her Presidential run of course) Sarah Palin is beaten over the head consistently for writing items of her speech on her hand for a Tea Party Opening Speech, we come to find out a Democrat did the exact same thing ILLEGALLY at a political debate and the feedback…is no news and a Senatorial nomination for the culprit.
During a crucial debate when she unsuccessfully ran for governor against Pete Wilson in 1990, now Senator Diane Feinstein did the exact same thing, placing what she later said were the major points of her campaign on her left palm. Obviously, this affected her election however the fact that the news coverage was, in a word lacking, when placed beside the coverage of Palin despite: 1. Her being a private citizen and 2. Not participating in a debate nor, may I add, breaking any regulations.
This is not the only newest realization of what we as Republicans are facing from the media.
In 2002, after a certain comment about deceased legislator Strom Thurmond, Senator Trent Lott was forced to resign his post quickly. However, just recently when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is quoted stating Obama was a “light-skinned’ African American with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.” the aftermath has been less than impacting on his career…if anything according to this strategist just above zero reaction has occurred showing that there is not only a double standard but an incredible risk alert as to the level we are placing our leaders at.
The biggest negative that affects this result: The Media. The Media Research Center reported that 71 percent of the media coverage was positive and only 29 percent was negative. In fact, “Reporter” George Stephanopoulos called it a comment during “A private conversation.” PBS Host Gwen Ifill, during the third day of coverage, stated “I don’t understand what’s demeaning” when discussing the racially horrid description of our President.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said that if Senator and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had been the one to utter Reid’s racially insensitive quote about President Obama, Democrats would be calling for McConnell’s head and I fully agree.
Why isn’t Senator McConnell asking for Senator Reid’s head on a silver platter…CNN Reported:
Republican leadership aides, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to speak freely about McConnell’s thinking, suggested McConnell knows it’s very unlikely Reid will step down as leader, and the two have a good working relationship he needs to maintain. The two leading Republicans who have called for Reid to step down as Majority Leader have highly political positions: RNC Chairman Michael Steele and Sen. John Cornyn, who is chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee in charge of electing Republicans to the Senate.
This means it’s well known that the letter at the end of your name equals to the level of integrity and respect you should be withheld to…even if the person you are negatively discussing is on your side of the aisle. However, no matter what the side they are on there is an equal level of responsibility, and tact to which these men and women need to be held up to…however we are seeing that it is the letter in front of their name which states to what level of responsibility and more importantly integrity they are being held to. While I believe most Democrats have little to no integrity, the words that come out of their mouths should be as respectful as the words of the Republicans. If they are not, there should be equal circumstances. These are our leaders; if they cannot be followed…what are they there for?
