Posted by
Cindy of TX on Sunday, October 26, 2008 8:52:01 PM
Dear Main Stream Media,
Obama's campaign has now sent you several "Dear John" letters. I am wondering how you are taking it. I mean, it must be heart-breaking to discover that the man you have loved for the past two years (has it been that long?) is suddenly sending these cooling off signals to all of you. First, you hear the warning shot of a local Florida station being cut off from future access to the Obama campaign, a punishment handed down because a reporter on that station asked Joe Biden questions that the campaign considered ridiculous. Then, you received the following price list (extortion demands?) to have high quality access to the inaugeral party or defeat wake in Chicago:
* Main Riser Position - $935 (Includes 4 Main Riser Credentials, 5'x8' Slot on Covered Main Riser and one 20 amp circuit)
* Main Riser Position with Telecommunications - $1870 (Includes Main Riser Position services, PLUS two unlimited long distance/local phone lines and one wired high speed internet connection)
* Cut Riser Position - $880 (Includes 4 Cut Riser Credentials, 5'x8' Slot on Covered Cut Riser, one 20 amp circuit)
* Cut Riser Position with Telecommunications - $1815 (Includes Cut Riser Position services, PLUS two unlimited long distance/local phone lines and one wired high speed internet connection)
* Press File Seat - $935 (includes 1 Press File Credential, seat in heated Press File Tent, Power, Cable Television, High Speed Wired Internet Service, Catering)
* Satellite Truck Position - $900 (includes 35'x20' parking position and 100 amp electrical service)
* Radio Position - $715 (includes table space and chair behind the riser, power and an ISDN BRI line for radio -- comes with two credentials)
Wow. And after all you did for him! At least he sent his price list in a letter, and didn't send it via text message...I just hate guys who break up with you in a text, don't you? Listen, I know it's going to be hard getting over this fast-talker, especially since you threw your other suitor under the bus, but you can make new friends. All you have to do is apologize to the public you have disappointed and failed to serve, show them you are sincere by admitting your mistakes, and make a plan to do much, much better in the future. Then, after a decent amount of time has been given for us to regain our trust in you (and you realize it takes a lot longer to rebuild trust than it does to break it), you may be given a second chance to be great journalists again.
Until then, I guess it would seem mean-spirited to say "what goes around, comes around". It is unfortunate you had to learn the hard way, but I do hope your eyes are open now, and we can count on you to get back in the game and provide us with quality reporting in the future.
Sincerely,
An American Citizen