Local Newspaper Gushes Over Obama With Gusto of National Press

When it comes to fawning over Barack Obama, it seems that no media outlet is too obscure for bias. The Old Bridge Observer, a small, weekly newspaper published in Northern Virginia, printed a gushing account of Barack Obama's recent swing through Virginia and the candidate's desire to "bring his message of change to the voters in the traditionally red state."

The article, which appeared in the June 14 edition and read like it was pasted from an Obama press release, dutifully touted Obama's message of "change." Observer staff writer Gretchen L.H. O'Brien recounted on page one of the paper: "In his speech, [Obama] spoke of change. Change to make everyday people's lives better included making it easier for middle-class people to make ends meet, caring for the environment, improving schools and bringing troops home from Iraq."

Summarizing Obama talking points, Ms. O'Brien spun, "Now is the time, Obama said, for Virginians to vote for change and unite to elect him with Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'fierce urgency of now.'"

The piece also featured Warrington, Virginia resident Barbara Riddle, who, according to O'Brien "remembered drinking out of blacks' only water fountains and going in a side door at a local shop to get ice cream. She said it's 'still unbelievable' that she gets to see Obama run for president."

If this continues, look for Obama rhapsodizing to start appearing in your local supermarket fliers.

Excerpts from the June 14 Old Bridge Observer article can be found below (The Observer has no website to link to):

Thousands Cheer Barack Obama at Nissan Pavilion June 5

By: Gretchen L.H. O'Brien

Observer Staff

June 14, 2008

Barack Obama came to Prince William County June 5 to bring his message of change to the voters in the traditionally red state.

Although Prince William County estimated between 25,000 and 50,000 people would attend the rally at Nissan Pavilion, there were hundreds of empty seats in the pavilion during the senator's 6 p.m. speech.

In his speech, he spoke of change. Change to make everyday people's lives better included making it easier for middle-class people to make ends meet, caring for the environment, improving schools and bringing troops home from Iraq.

...

Obama tipped his proverbial hat to N.Y. Sen. Hillary Clinton, his competition for the Democratic nomination. The presumptive nominee will face Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, in the presidential race.

...

The issues are what brought people to the rally. Jasmine Washington, 17, of Manassas came to the rally to be part of history in the making. She will be old enough to vote in November, by absentee ballot from Virginia State University; she wants Obama to be president because of the change he said he will bring. She wants the troops home from Iraq and would love it if gas prices came down as well.

...

For Warrenton's Barbara Riddle, 61, the war is only one reason she supports Obama. Riddle brought two sons and a grandson with her to see Obama because "it's so historic."

Riddle remembered drinking out of blacks' only water fountains and going in a side door at a local shop to get ice cream. She said it's "still unbelievable" that she gets to see Obama run for president.

Riddle has been involved in politics since she was 13 and helped people register to vote. Many people, she learned, couldn't sign their names, only an "X' for their signatures.

Now is the time, Obama said, for Virginians to vote for change and unite to elect him with Martin Luther King Jr.'s "fierce urgency of now."