By Brent Bozell
Editors note: Tim Graham coauthored this piece.
Some might insist Barack Obama is a lame duck but our national media elite still think of him as a very graceful swan. When this man comes under criticism journalists are incapable of any sense of objectivity balance or fairness. The accuser must be forced to withdraw the criticism or be punished.
First Rudy Giuliani said at an event for Gov. Scott Walker that the president doesnt love America like previous presidents did. That might be a little unfair. Jimmy Carter also loved to get up in front of a podium and lecture about all of Americas flaws.
The media erupted. Outraged that anyone dared to question Obamas love of country they pounded the table and demanded that Walker denounce Giuliani.
The New York Times ran a defensive story headlined President Obama Has in Fact Expressed Love for His Country.
Perhaps the most ridiculous lecture came from
MSNBC star Chris Matthews: Mr. Mayor you should never go after someones love of his country. It breaks the rules we live by. It divides us when we should be united. I urge you to take it back.
This is the same guardian of civility that asked the day after Obama was inaugurated the first time Does Rush Limbaugh hate this country? Wait till you hear what he said about the new president.
Mika Brzezinski spoke for too many Obama-loving journalists when she kvetched: I question the patriotism of someone who questions the presidents patriotism.
Its apparently not always outrageous to denounce a presidents patriotism ... if youre Saint Barack. On the campaign trail on July 3 2008 Obama said President Bush took out a credit card from the Bank of China in the name of our children driving up our national debt and said Thats irresponsible. Its unpatriotic.
Try to find
The New York Times story defending Bush for expressing love for his country. You wont find one. Shouldnt Mika now publicly question this presidents patriotism?
By Obamas own national-debt measurement hes now far more unpatriotic than Bush ever was.
In the wake of this brouhaha two
Washington Post reporters tried to open another wound. They pestered Gov. Walker at a governors conference about whether he felt Obama was a Christian. Walker replied I dont know. ... Ive actually never talked about it or I havent read about that. He added: To me this is a classic example of why people hate Washington and increasingly they dislike the press. The things they care about dont even remotely come close to what youre asking about.
You know how that was reported by the non-partisan press: Walker Questions Presidents Faith.
All this caused a second outburst of wailing and gnashing of teeth against the Republicans. The Walker team later issued to the Post an obligatory of course hes a Christian explanation but to no avail. Columnist Dana Milbank suggested that Walkers I dont know was comparable to calling someone a ... Nazi. The political analysts at the Post attempted to explain How Scott Walkers confidence led him to an unnecessary error on President Obamas Christianity.
Once again its not outrage to denounce a politicians Christianity ... if youre a Democrat. Take for example Hillary Clinton in 2004 saying I wonder if its possible to be a Republican and a Christian at the same time. Reporters agree with that so whats the controversy?
Its like journalists are still fighting the battle over Reverend Wright insisting despite the video clips that Obamas membership in that church showed he was devoutly Christian and patriotic. The media demand everyone say Of course Obama is a patriot. Of course Obama is a Christian.
This should be followed by Of course the media will never stop bowing and scraping before this president. Woe to him who thinks they are ever impartial.
Founder and President of the Media Research Center Brent Bozell runs the largest media watchdog organization in America.
