The Third-Rate Fourth Estate

I hate buying into conventional American Politics analyses of media, framing and electoral behavior, but it is really tough to accept this ham-handed, curiously-Super-Chesapeake-Tuesday timed lead story in the New York Times in any other way. It resuscitates every Clinton race-baiting storyline from the South Carolina primary--which was, oh, a month ago--and unceremoniously regurgitates it back into their readership's consciousness without provocation.

"Seeking Unity, Obama Feels Pull of Racial Divide."

"...Barack Obama had hoped to be above racial tensions, but he has been pulled into the thick of them."

"...Mr. Obama and his advisers hoped would be the tone of a campaign they were determined not to define by the color of his skin."

"... As he heads into a fresh round of contests Tuesday, the Potomac primaries, in a tight rivalry with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and with an impressive record of victories across the nation in which he drew significant white votes and overwhelming black support, he claims to have accomplished that goal." (Emphasis added)

"...the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton..."

Hey, guess what, jackasses? It took me all of five minutes to determine that Obama won 68% of the vote in a state (Washington) where blacks make up... 3.6% of the population. But please, don't let that disturb the echosphere.