Reporters v. Commentators

There has been a war of words between President Obama and his administration and Fox News. Each side enjoying the drama. The administration relieved that the focus has been taken off the lack of an actual written health care bill and the Afghanistan debacle. Fox News honored for being the singled out media organization by the evil empire.

David Axelrod asserts that Fox News is "not really a news organization", and "other news organizations like [George Stephanopolus, who was Clinton's White House communications' director] ought not to treat them that way". Rahm Emmanuel expressed President Obama's worries that Fox is corrupting other networks, and is concerned that "the CNNs and the others in the world [to] basically be led in following Fox." Anita Dunn, Obama's communication director labeled the entire Fox News network as "opinion journalism masquerading as news".

What is considered "news"? What separates journalists and commentators?

Is the White House suggesting that MSNBC is a news organization and Fox News isn't? That Keith Olbermann is a reporter and not a commentator like Bill O'Reilly? Is President Obama labeling Fox News as a talk radio because Glenn Beck has been in both media outlets, and somehow that comparison doesn't apply to Rachel Maddow, a former liberal radio host on Air America? The only difference I see between MSNBC and Fox News is which side of the political spectrum they fall. And where would MSNBC be without Fox News?

But the war of words escalated into the White House's attempt to exclude Fox News from the live feed of an interview with the pay advisor, Kenneth Feinberg. Thankfully the real media outlets protested, and the White House caved. Was the President and his advisers attempting to punish Fox News for having differing opinions? When pressed by ABC's Jake Tapper about the appropriateness of President Obama's opinion regarding Fox News, or "sweeping declarations", Robert Gibbs responded "That's our opinion." Yes, Robert Gibbs, that is all it is, opinion. And in my opinion, if you exclude Fox News because of their format and who they include in their programs, MSNBC should also be excluded. Do we need to remind you, you are the President of both MSNBC viewers and Fox viewers?

Publicity Stunt?

Is being on t.v. the new American dream? There is only speculation that this family faked the emergency that their young son had climbed into a helium balloon and needed to be rescued. It does seem a little orchestrated. You be the judge! Crazy!

A Preemptive Peace Prize?

I woke up to a shocker this morning. President Obama has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize! The nominations were February 1st, only 12 days after he was sworn into office. Other nominees were President Sarkozy of France, who proposed the cease fire plan for the Gaza Strip, and as the EU President proposed a progressive energy package to reduce carbon emissions. Or Ingrid Betancourt, a French-Columbian senate candidate, who was kidnapped and held captive by Marxist nationals for 6 1/2 years. Or Dr. Denis Mukwege, the only Congo gynecological doctor who has treated 21,000 women suffering from devastating gynecological injuries as a result of rape in Congo's brutal war.

Geir Lundestad, Director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, said today that President Obama was awarded the prize because "he has emphasized multilateral diplomacy, he has addressed international institutions, dialogue negotiations. He has inspired the world with his vision of a world without nuclear arms. He has changed the U.S. policy dramatically. There's a whole list."

Previous winners are recognizable symbols of peace, Martin Luther King, Jr, Nelson Mandela, and Mother Theresa. Muhammad Yunus was the 2006 winner, for their establishing of the Grameen Bank, which instituted the micro credit loans to help women pull their families out of poverty. Other winners have been awarded the prize because of their efforts in the green peace movement. Al Gore in 2007 and Wangari Maathai in 2004 for her Green Belt Movement in Kenya.

My take: In reading several statements by the Norwegian Nobel Institute, and others who are giving their congratulations across the world including former winners, used the words like "anticipates an even greater contribution" or "Nobel committee hopes the award will enhance his moral authority" or "he gave hope". I didn't read any actual policies enacted, treaties written, or international actions taken, which validate this award. Lech Walesa, who won the prize in 1983, spoke for many with his reaction. "Obama? So fast? Too fast - he hasn’t had the time to do anything yet," the former Polish president told reporters in Warsaw. Michael Cox, a North America expert at the Chatham House thinktank, said: "It is difficult to see why it would be awarded to him at this stage in his presidency. There are problems in the Middle East and an ongoing war in Afghanistan. You could say it is a little bit premature." Why did President Obama win the Nobel Peace Prize? Hope. Hope for peace. Let's see how far this "hope" takes us. How will this affect his policies in Afghanistan and Iraq? Is the world setting the US up for great accomplishments or tragic failure? In reading over several of the other nominees, I believe they were far more deserving. They are doing the day-to-day grind, hard work, in actually being the change. President Obama may be the spokesman for change, but I have not seen anything more than words. Now the question may be, will he follow Al Gore's footsteps and this be the first of future awards? Oscars? Grammys? World's Best Dad?