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Yes, but it's nothing new. Newspapers have been doing it since our nation's inception. The problem is that with the addition of the internet and 24 hour news networks there's more of it than ever. If a network, newspaper, or website wants you to elect a particular candidate they don't have to do much. All they have to do is display certain things and drown the voter in them:

1. Opinion polls. If you ever get the chance take a marketing class (or just audit one - it's cheaper and you'll feel better about your soul). You can learn how carefully worded questions can get the answers you want and you can convince people that they enjoy burning lava over water. Using said polls you can encourage people to endorse a particular candidate. If the poll doesn't come out in favor of the candidate you like all you have to do is bury it and never let anyone see the results.

2. When reporting on candidates speeches, show only the good parts. With careful editing it's possible to show the right words and phrases to make the most diabolical politician (is there any other kind?) look like a saint. Show them saying how they care about the environment, but leave out the part where they talk about how many SUVs they own. Show how they care about illegal immigration, but leave out the part where they talk about how many illegals work in their mansion.

3. Report on candidates doing stops at places that make them look nice. If a candidate is going to a town where the people are out of work due to factory shut-downs, show them shaking hands with union workers. If they're in a town with underprivileged children, show them at a school handing out supplies to the little tykes. It's almost like the old "kissing babies" thing.

4. Never show the candidate for more than 15 seconds at a time. If they're shown any longer the average voter might go online and look up how they really stand on the issues and it might (gasp!) contradict your reporting. Cater to the short attention spans of our voters and you should get a winner every time!

It's that simple. You might think what I'm saying sounds extreme, but I've seen it in the last four elections (well, minus the internet for the 1992 election). It's a tried and true formula that will probably still be working as long as the average American refuses to get involved in politics.

Sell Your Own Truth

-Ferret

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