When it comes to covering politics in the media, as well all know the goal should always be to remain fair and balanced. It's also crucial for the media to serve as a watchdog for those in positions of power who determine how the rest of us live. With that in mind, each presidential candidate running in this year's election deserves the same amount of scrutiny and healthy skepticism. But how exactly do we remain fair and balanced when discussing the credentials of vice presidential nominees Senator Joseph Biden and Governor Sarah Palin?
For one thing, it would not be unfair to say Palin has less experience than Biden. That is a fact when we compare their times in government offices (all information taken from Wikipedia.com, which has no doubt been scrutinized by the candidates themselves by now):
Joe Biden became a senator in 1973 at the minimum age of 30, and in his time has served as a member on the Foreign Relations Committee and worked on resolutions regarding the Yugoslav wars and Iraq War. Over thirty years in government has allowed him to serve time as the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as well help lead the creation of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, along with the Violence Against Women Act.
Sarah Palin served two terms on the Wasilla, Alaska city council from 1992 to 1996, and then won two terms as mayor of Wasilla from 1996 to 2002. She also chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004. Elected governor of Alaska in 2006, she was then chosen as the Republican vice presidential candidate two years later.
Based on this information, a journalist would not be unfair to say Biden has more experience than Palin working within both local and federal levels of government. The Republicans may denounce a journalist for doing so right now, claiming "liberal bias" towards such a statement, but as the record shows this would be the truth.
Truth is going to be the hardest thing we find as the election intensifies this fall, and it would be a shame for us to lose clarity of our sight under some guise of being "fair and balanced." We cannot merely put all faults between the candidates on the same level when they don't deserve to be. Our goal is to find the truth. I'm not saying, "Don't route for Palin because she has less experience," nor do I believe in supporting Biden merely because he has more experience. But when debating these two VP nominees, strengthen your arguments in acknowledging the facts and realizing the truth.
Read More Articles At WeEarth.com
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
NJ DV Law Overturned Amid Epidemic of False Allegations
New Jersey's domestic violence statute has recently been found unconstitutional.
The New Jersey Attorney General is taking this case to the state's Supreme Court. The New Jersey Law Journal reports that Judge Richard Russell of Ocean City made the following remarks on tape during a judicial training session regarding the issuance of restraining orders.
source: Scan of NJ Law Journal Article
“If I had one message to give you today, it is that your job is not to weigh the parties’ rights as you might be inclined to do as having been private practitioners. Your job is not to become concerned about all the constitutional rights of the man that you’re violating as you grant a restraining order. Throw him out on the street, give him the clothes on his back and tell him, ‘See ya’ around.’ “
A new municipal judge attending the training session stated “The statute says we should apply just cause in issuing the order.” “You seem to be saying to grant every order.” Russell quickly replied, “Yeah, that’s what I seem to be saying.”
The article is full of comments from Russell and his colleagues that are equally inflammatory.
Perhaps you think Russell should have been disbarred for instructing judges to ignore the constitution. In doing so, he violated his greatest responsibility as a judge in the most blatant way possible. Perhaps you think he should have gone to prison.
Russell now serves on the New Jersey Supreme Court's State Domestic Violence Working Group, the Executive Committee of the State Bar's Family Law Section, and the New Jersey Supreme Court's Family Practice Committee. He currently is the chair of the court's Child Support Subcommittee.
Given a recent ruling declaring New Jersey’s domestic violence statute unconstitutional and given the imminent Supreme Court challenge, the truth regarding the real practices that are being used to separate men from their children and their homes must be heard.
Post a Comment