http://www.cdobs.com/archive/our-columns/wheres-the-scrutiny,817/
Where's the Scrutiny?By Daniel J. Kelley
Posted in Our Columns on February 27, 2008 with 17 comments.
tags: Media Obama Roeper
In the waning days of his unsuccessful presidential campaign, former Bob Dole asked a rhetorical question: “Where’s the outrage?” This was a challenge to the media and the public concerning serious allegations, many of which were subsequently proven, that the Clinton/Gore campaign has engaged in illegal fund raising practices which had included accepting contributions from foreign nationals. Dole correctly pointed out that the press had been ignoring the story. Although the issue failed to produce dividends for Dole, the press belatedly took up the issue. Vice President Gore’s visit to a Buddhist temple fund raising event, where some illegal contributions were collected, tarnished his reputation and may have cost him a few precious votes in 2000.
The perpetual adolescent columnist, Richard Roeper, of the incredible shrinking Chicago Sun-Times raised a question today concerning criticisms of Barack Obama. Roeper cannot fathom why his opponents have ratcheted up their criticism of the Democratic front runner. Much of the recent criticisms may be expressed in the form of another rhetorical question: “Where’s the scrutiny?”
Other campaigns have begun to openly question Obama’s lack of accomplishments and to criticize the media for giving him a free pass in terms of his experience and qualifications. When former President Clinton disparaged Obama’s record by calling it “a fairy tale,” Obama’s spin doctors suggested that it was a divisive comment and a form of veiled racism.
Roeper trotted out Obama’s standard campaign biography and pronounced him qualified. Once again, Obama’s resume was not subjected to a critical examination. His position as the first African American to serve as the leader of the Harvard Law Review was singled out. Significantly, Roeper failed to mention that the standards for selecting law students for this prestigious position have been altered. I spoke to a former classmate, who is now a judge in New England, and was informed that grades alone are no longer the sole criterion in being selected for the law review. A new formula was created to promote greater diversity and inclusion. According to my source, Obama was a direct beneficiary of this rules change.
Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, constantly point to their academic credentials, but seldom refer to the affirmative action policies that enabled them to attend elite universities. Is it purely coincidental that Michelle Obama received a promotion and a substantial salary increase immediately after her husband was elected to the U.S. Senate? What about the curious real estate transaction that put the happy couple into a $1.6 dollar mansion? Of course, to Roeper, that is all so much old news. Obama is ethical. He told us so.
Similarly, Obama’s law school faculty position at the University of Chicago is often cited, but rarely do the accounts mention the fact that Obama was in a fact an adjunct professor (i.e. a part-time instructor). This is not necessarily a bad thing. Many working professionals teach on a part-time basis, but it does seem as if the Obama campaign has gone out of its way to exaggerate his meager resume.
Roeper also lauds Obama for having written two best selling books. This is factual, but what type of books were they? Two autobiographies. How many normal persons write two autobiographies before their fortieth birthday? It is a time honored practice for politicos to publish books, so I am not overly excited about Obama’s being an author. Many produce books as a means of self promotion and increasing their personal incomes quickly, but how many people actually bother to read such vanity publications? A few of the more celebrated books have been ghost written. I would not go so far as to compare “Dreams of My Father” or “The Audacity of Hope” to Kennedy’s “Profiles in Courage” (which is actually readable) or Goldwater’s “Conscience of a Conservative.” Obama’s books contain composite characters and fictionalized events. How much credit can one give to an autobiography that is partly imaginary? If you are looking for autobiographical fiction, why don’t you read “A Million Little Pieces.”
Apparently, Roeper missed the damning exchange that occurred on the MSNBC cable program “Hardball.” Host Chris Matthews, a former top aide to the late House Speaker Thomas P. (Tip) O’Neill, asked an Obama surrogate from Texas to name a single accomplishment from Obama’s career in public office. The guest was unable to respond. It was painful to watch. This was not a case of forgetfulness. There simply was not any solid achievement to refer to despite the fact that Obama had been an elected official for more than a decade. The video clip is available online, Richie. Do take a look at it sometime soon.
Illinois gambled upon its future when it elected Rod Blagojevich to serve as its governor. After a decade as a full-time legislator, Blagojevich had not passed a single piece of important legislation. His sole accomplishment as a legislator was to rename a neighborhood post office branch after a slain police officer. Experience counts. The hallmarks of Blagojevich’s gubernatorial tenure has been a lax work ethic and a refusal to work with the state legislature.
On paper, Blagojevich’s credentials compare favorably with Obama‘s. He also attended law school and briefly served as a prosecutor. He served two terms in Springfield as a representative and three terms in Congress. Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that Blagojevich was an absolute backbencher who did little more than collect paychecks and campaign for reelection. As a state senator, Obama distinguished himself by voting present on more than one hundred and twenty-five bills.
Can we afford to repeat the mistake made in Illinois by endorsing the candidacy of an unproven quantity? As for Roeper, opposing political campaigns would not have to find fault with Obama if the press bothered to do its job rather than act as cheerleader for vague peddler of hope and hype.
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Daniel J. Kelley is a contributor to the Chicago Daily Observer
