Social Politics and Double Standards

Mitt Romney was on the Today Show this morning after the official announcement of his candidacy for president. Detailed questions about how he would handle the economy or emerging international challenges were non-existent. Instead he endured the same predictable harangue over Mormon faith and his changing position on what the media claims are hot-button social issues to conservatives.

Note how the same jonsing for hypocrisy doesn't exist when the media covers the Democrats. Instead, these candidates are met with near-fawning adoration. Hundreds of reporters covered Obama's announcement while Romney rated a few dozens. And rarely (if ever) do the Matt Lauer's of the world zero in on all of the self-contradictions and feints towards the center that put a candidate like Hillary at odds with her respective base - the anti-war, ant-corporate, and mostly anti-Christian "progressive" Left. There's ample room for embarrassment there - but instead let's talk about Hillary's bravery and courage.

And if Romney's personal faith or Rudy's two divorces are fair game topics, always mentioned by the third paragraph as if by MSM fiat - let's throw out this big, ugly bag of cats in an interview in the interest of fairness: Hey Hillary, has Bill promised to cinch up his pants (this time for sure), or do you expect the burning bright lights of the media to conspire to look the other way for the duration of your time in office? Because it's either one or the other - and we all know you're a two-for-one deal.

(And if this seems like a mean, unfair, Fox News-y question - consider that even the New York Times is treading gingerly towards this fat and nasty problem with coverage that acknowledges "a potential liability because of the questions [Bill Clinton] provokes".)

Frankly, it's a useful sham - having the media so intently focused on issues it thinks will divide the Right - instead of the issues that may really resonate - such as leadership, confidence and vision. Brendan Minter in the Wall Street Journal, recently observed this curious dynamic while writing about a Giuliani campaign event recently:

Mr. Giuliani delivered his South Carolina speech to several dozen conservatives. One woman who attended told me she wonders whether electing a president who successfully took on the mob in New York is what it will take to finally break through the entrenched education political culture. Christian conservatives make up the core of the school-choice movement in the state. If they come to the conclusion that Mr. Giuliani is on their side and has the leadership qualities to achieve lasting and meaningful change, he may prove a surprisingly strong contender.

Sen. McCain will have his own problems winning over Christian conservatives. A man who won media accolades by cutting against the base of his party will be ill-equipped to win the nomination.

Rudy seems to clearly understand how to present his strong points to conservatives, moving past the few issues where some may disagree. He has been campaigning relentlessly for GOP candidates for the past five years, building up his network. And he certainly benefits from John McCain holding down the role of the compromised RINO who can't be trusted. Many conservatives may feel like they've been given clearance to adjust their expectations with regard to a candidate without feeling like they are getting a served an unreliable phony - which to them (fairly or not) is manifest in John McCain.

The dynamics are taking shape, and it gets more intense from here forward. It's only February 2008, but this election is now underway.

Tags: Giuliani, Romney, Hillary, Matt Lauer, Media