http://www.michaelfauntroy.com/2008/01/lambasted-for-n.html"I find myself increasingly agitated at the response to Barack Obama’s win in the Iowa caucuses. I have concluded that far too many people – from the news media to Obama supporters around the country – are reading too much into what it means for the presidential campaign and race relations. Yes, it was impressive. Yes, it was historic. Yes, it caught many people by surprise. Yes, it begins to give people reason to believe that America might be ready to elect a Black president. However, I feel compelled to make two points in my effort to warn people not to overreact to Obama’s win.
First, beware the fawning media. Virtually all of the coverage of Obama’s win has been over-the-top, almost as if he won the nomination. This isn’t a surprise with Obama, as the national news media have treated him as if he were the Second Coming from the moment he rocketed to national prominence following his speech at the 2004 Democratic national convention. His personal story and charisma have charmed the media into doing almost no critical analysis of his political positions. Most of the coverage I saw tried to suggest that his win was proof that White voters have overcome their aversion to Black presidential candidates. His chief opponent, Hilary Clinton, on the other hand, has been bashed by the media consistently since she hit the nation’s consciousness in 1992. If Clinton’s coverage were half as positive as Obama’s since her rise to national prominence, then she might have the nomination locked up by now".
Michael K. Fauntroy is an assistant professor of public policy at George Mason University, where he teaches courses in urban policy and American government and specializes in race and American politics
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