...or not

By Jennifer J. Foster

Politico’s Jonathan Martin writes that John McCain is “likely to hold off” announcing his VP pick this week, according to “sources close to the campaign.“

Martin writes that the McCain campaign did discuss “the prospect of stepping on Barack Obama’s much-anticipated overseas trip” by announcing the pick this week. So while “this person” wouldn’t rule out an announcement this week, “other plugged-in sources” said McCain will likely wait.

SIDEBAR: Anonymous sources irritate me. COME ON, REPORTERS!! If they won’t give it to you on the record, then they don’t have any news to report. Don’t indulge them by running with their whispers. At some point, they’ll realize that if they aren’t going to be able to get their message out without putting a name on it, they’ll put a name on it. END SIDEBAR

Read the rest of Martin’s amazing, incredible no-named-source-in-the-whole-thing post here.

McCain VP pick this week?

By Jennifer J. Foster

Conservative columnist Bob Novak reports that “sources close to Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign are suggesting he will reveal the name of his vice presidential selection this week.“

Well, that’s one way for McCain to try to grab headlines away from Barack Obama’s trip to Europe—or, at least, remind everyone that he is still in the race.

Of course, the down side, the risk, of doing it while everyone else in the mainstream media is fawning over Obama’s European Vacation is that the announcement will be buried, won’t be given the attention it otherwise would and therefore won’t convert into the traditional bounce for McCain that VP selection announcements usually bring.

As for McCain’s pick, Novak says McCain’s former (bitter) rival Mitt Romney “has led the speculation recently,“ but others on the right—especially evangelical leaders—have made no bones about their preference for Mike Huckabee, and he’s rumored to have topped the list. But don’t count out Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, especially now that he’s rounded out his candidate profile with a lady friend.

The Media Hearts Obama

By Jennifer J. Foster

John McCain’s campaign sent out this e-mail this morning:

It’s pretty obvious that the media has a bizarre fascination with Barack Obama. Some may even say it’s a love affair. We want you to be the judge. We’ve compiled two videos of the more outrageous moments of this not so secret love affair. Follow this link to watch the two videos and vote on which one you think is better. Your vote will determine which video we put on the air.

The media is in love with Barack Obama. If it wasn’t so serious, it would be funny.

Regards,

The McCain Campaign

Actually, it’s just one video, set to two different songs. Check them out here.

I suppose those in McCain’s camp have determined that since there’s nothing they can do about the media’s “love affair” with Barack Obama, they might as well have some fun with it. And it’s not a bad strategy. By treating this serious issue—media bias and the death of objectivity—with lighthearted humor rather than heavyhanded condemnation, McCain doesn’t risk taking himself too seriously. But he’s still able to make the point, and that has the effect of undermining whatever the media hopes to accomplish with its pro-Obama coverage.

Of course, on the other hand, you have to consider that these journalists are human beings. They are Americans, too, and they have just as much right and responsibility to be engaged with their government. Regardless of how jaded they may be (and almost assuredly are), there exists the possibility that, just like anyone else, they may be inspired by a candidate.

While this explains their swoon, it certainly doesn’t excuse it. As I wrote last year when MSNBC’s investigation of political contributions revealed that journalists give in larger measure to Democrats than Republicans:

The bottom line is that journalists are called to a higher standard when they assume the public trust of their posts.

It’s always been part of our job, humbly accepted by those who assume these duties and rightfully expected by those who read and watch us. If journalists can’t help themselves from being more activist than reporter, they’re in the wrong line of work.

Journalists need not check their personal opinions at the doors of their jobs. Indeed, no one is without bias; that’s a simple fact of humanity. What sets journalists apart is their ability—and commitment—to recognize their personal leanings and account for them when telling a story, so that the story is as fair and accurate as it can be.

One doesn’t meet that lofty measure by writing checks for political purposes. That’s always been the case. The difference now is that a disturbing number of reporters don’t seem to understand that basic principle of fairness—or care.

(Need an example of that last line? Watch Chris Matthews on that McCain clip.)

You can read the rest of my column here.