Over at the opinion page of Investor's Business Daily, the editors noticed an all-too-common trend in American journalism: blaming Republicans for "negative" campaigns and not Democrats.
If you've ever wondered why you don't see Republicans punch as hard as Democrats in their rhetoric or in their advertising, this is why:
For months, the Obama campaign has offered the public nothing but lies and distortions about Romney's record and his position on the issues.
In a series of ads, statements and comments to the press, Obama and his backers labeled Romney an outsourcer, a felon and a tax cheat. They said he wants to "gut Medicare," outlaw all abortions, even in the case of rape and incest, and put people "back in chains."
And then an Obama super-PAC ad blamed Romney for causing a woman's cancer death.
There's no evidence to back up any of these claims, and most have been thoroughly debunked. But they just keep rolling them out.
So on Tuesday, Romney forcefully hit back at Obama for "wild and reckless accusations that disgrace the office of the presidency . .. President Obama knows better, promised better and America deserves better."
So which candidate is the press complaining about?
In a front page story on Wednesday, the Washington Post attacked Romney, not Obama, for adding "an even uglier tone" to the campaign.
It's a great editorial, definitely worth the read.
This tremendous double-standard is so pervasive it's actually altered the thinking of many on the right, even some who are conservative. The John McCain 2008 campaign was a perfect illustration of this trend as the candidate repeatedly told staff members to soft-pedal their criticism of Barack Obama.
With the emergence of the Tea Party movement, the center-right has become invigorated and far more willing to stand up for itself. Mitt Romney choosing Paul Ryan as his running-mate is perhaps another indicator that the days of Battered Republican Syndrome may be coming to an end.
