The Road to the White House is Paved by a Distorted Media
By Daphna Ziman

She stood there in front of a pack of wolves, members of the U.S. media. Her face told a story of a family torn apart by the torment of being touched by evil. As the first lady of New York stepped off the podium accepting the ultimate humiliation, a voice of a media vulture was heard, “Are you going to leave him now?” My stomach turned as I heard those merciless words chase Mrs. Spitzer, a mother, and a wife, out of the press room.
The first thought in my mind was, “Has the media, (so caught up in the eternal chase for eyeballs), lost every essence of decency?” The answer was clear, “Guilty”. “Shame on you!” I thought and then “Shame on us!” came right behind. Not only have we allowed the media to influence the news instead of report the news, we have allowed the media to try and elect the next President of the United States.
I watched Tony Harris on CNN compare Eliot Spitzer to President Clinton. Not only was that an obvious and pathetic attempt to influence the public away from Hillary and towards Obama, but an indecent shot at demeaning the personal crisis of a mother and a wife that took the vow, “for better or worse.”
But then again, what would a “mouth piece” understand about “being a mother” and the enormous strength it takes to protect and support your family. “Shame on you Tony Harris, and every pundit on television who has taken it upon themselves to intentionally hurt families that are already pained.”
Why doesn’t the media focus on the real questions that need to be answered? For example, “Are we supposed to be Blind, Deaf, and Dumb in the 2008 Presidential Election?”
Never in any political race before this presidential “War of the media”, have I witnessed such a censorship of questions that ordinarily would be welcomed. The phenomenon of Barack H. Obama is not just that of a youth movement marching towards the most powerful job on the planet. Or the fact that an African American presidential candidate is inspiring the crowds of college graduates. But the fact that NO QUESTIONS ARE ALLOWED, or if a direct question is posed that there is an inevitable sigh of “How dare you ask?”
Well, I have many questions that I dare ask Barack (must not mention middle name or else) Obama.
Were you born Barry Dunham or Barack Hussein Obama?
Did you change your name? When? Where? And Why?
Was there a naming ceremony? Where? Under what circumstances?
Why are we not allowed to mention your middle name?
It occurred to me that the identity of a potential Commander and Chief is rather important, but in this campaign these kinds of questions pertaining to experience, identity, and character are considered negative. How did Senator Obama spin this illogical protective shield, when transparency is what he is preaching?
There are certain facts that can’t be denied. Obama has admitted to being a member of “The Trinity United Church of Christ” for the past twenty years. This church is headed by Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who was backstage, as an honored guest when the senator declared his run for the presidency. Rev. Wright and his congregation have honored Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, who has referred to Jews as ‘dogs’ and ‘pigs’. Farrakhan has called Obama “The hope of the entire world”. To which the Senator responded when pushed during the last debate that he denounces Farrakhan. My question is:
Why didn’t Obama denounce Farrakhan before the debate?
Why did he wait twenty years to admonish members of the African American community for Anti-Semitism?
He made a provocative speech against the war. Yet, he waited until the race for the White House, before making any statements about such African American resentment towards the Jews.
The response from Obama’s campaign is that his beliefs are contrary at times to those of his spiritual leader. If that is the case, then please Senator Obama, identify such “times” and explain your close association with Bill Ayers. Ayers, now a Chicago University professor, boasted that he participated in the bombing of New York Police head quarters in 1970, of the Capital Building in 1971 and the Pentagon in 1972. He spent ten years on the run and surrendered in 1980. Charges were dropped because of “improper surveillance”. Yet, in his book “Fugitive Days” Ayers reflects on whether he might have used bombs against the U.S. and concludes “I can’t imagine entirely dismissing the possibility”.
Barack Obama is Ayers friend and served as a board member with Ayers on a Chicago nonprofit Woods fund-founded by university professor Rashid Khalidi, a harsh critic of Israel. Obama served as a director from 1999 to December 11, 2002. The fund describes itself as a group helping the disadvantaged. It provided a grant of $40000.00 to the Arab American Action Network, Rashid’s wife Mona Khalidi was president of the AAAN. A second grant in the amount of $35000.00 was made to the Arab American Action Network in 2002.