No more classic example of media bias can be seen than in the recent frenzy over John McCain’s alleged infidelity. Certainly McCain has had a history of infidelity, by his own admission. His ex-wife, who had waited for him while he was held captive in Vietnam, chalks it up to McCain turning 40 and wanting to be 25 again.
When McCain was 42, he met a sweet, young thing at a soiree in Hawaii. McCain was smitten. There was only one problem, that pesky wife of his. After months of carrying on, McCain finally mustered the courage to ask for a divorce, which his wife granted. One month later, that young socialite became his second wife. He followed Cindy McCain back to Phoenix, ran for Congress and the rest is history.
“Obviously, I’m very disappointed in The New York Times,” Cindy McCain said, reacting to the latest allegations against her husband’s alleged affair with a lobbyist. “My children and I not only trust my husband, but know that he would never do anything to not only disappoint our family, but more importantly, disappoint the people of America.” Oh, really, Mrs. McCain? Have you forgotten how you two met?
The question is really not should The New York Times have run with the McCain story. The question is would The New York Times be so quick to jump on an allegation against, say, Barack Obama? Apparently not. A self-described Democrat from Minnesota alleged a little homosexual tryst with the Illinois senator that involved Mr. Obama smoking crack in the accuser’s limousine in 1999 while he was serving as a state legislator. Larry Sinclair scheduled a polygraph test to prove whether or not he was telling the truth. Funny how an eyewitness to an alleged misconduct was ignored by The New York Times as well as the rest of the mainstream press when it concerned Obama, but innuendo passed for front page news when it was McCain.
As it turned out, Mr. Sinclair failed not just one polygraph test but two. You might say that exonerates The New York Times. Far from it. Not one of the reporters from The Times nor any former McCain campaign workers who alleged misconduct on the senator’s part were ever subjected to a polygraph test. No one making the allegations of infidelity against McCain had even a shred of evidence to support them. It was all “office gossip” that managed to make its way to the front page.
Am I calling for every nutcase with an ax to grind to be heard? No. I’m just asking for a little consistency.
Phil Valentine is an author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host with Westwood One. For more of his commentary and articles, visit philvalentine.com.
