Thank heavens. Pope Benedict XVI has finally stepped off of Shepherd One onto American soil to begin a six day visit that is sure to be everything the American left hopes to make it out to be. The media is working overtime to resurrect old wounds, create some new controversies and repeat liberal talking points that so perfectly judges a man as only the selective memory of liberal hypocrisy has the ability to do.
And just in time too. What better way to take the pressure off of Barack Obama’s Rev. JeremiahWright controversy than to reignite the flames of the Catholic Church priest sex scandal? Finally, a target has appeared that is worthy of the left’s criticism and utter disdain. If only he had visited 2 or 3 weeks back.
I had at one time thought that the mainstream media had been pretty well represented by articles filled with your typical leftist anti-Christian/anti-Pope Benedict slant. To see examples of such bias we need only stop by the magnifying glass of Wikipedia. Their archive and discussion pages are unique in the way in which they channel common themes that circulate in the public realm of the left; a sort of lib-cyclopedia if you will.
For instance, the rocket scientists that contributed to Pope Benedict’s Wikipedia page were truly conflicted about how to characterize the controversial machinations of the left concerning Pope Benedict’s past. Thus the discussion page devolved into the typical sort of Pope bashing that resulted in some stunningly stupid statements on a broad range of topics including "his time fighting for Hitler," how "he stole food from Ethiopian shipments" and a statement about how the Pope is the most hated man nowadays along with President Bush (of course). Thus there is a precedent. How much worse could it get?
Now we know. It’s not like the American left has ever held Pope Benedict in high regard. But the latest coverage is like liberalism on steroids. You needn’t go any further than the home page of today’s NewsBusters to see this in action. Brent Bozell discussed the critical media coverage in today’s Media Messengers article. Matthew Balan noted that ABC is highlighting the Catholic priest sex abuse scandal, and Tim Graham reported that the left’s media darling, Katie Couric, insists that the Pope is ‘Extremely Conservative,’ ‘Very Conservative’.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Do a simple google search on “Pope Benedict ashamed” and you come away with over 230,000 hits documenting how deeply ashamed Pope Benedict is concerning the sex scandal, the cost it has had on the church and various statements from victims that are upset over how his shame isn’t enough. But it doesn’t stop there.
The big push nowadays is to get the Pope to go on an apology-palooza tour making amends that will no doubt be unsatisfactory to all for everything from the Catholic Church sex scandal to the holocaust. If we use the press coverage as a barometer then we must imagine that everybody wants the Pope to apologize for something. Of course that is the premise being used as a platform to bash the church; a sort of protective cushion.
If there is a victim, real or imagined, there is an audience willing to participate in the attack. For the American left this is a requirement before making a stand. Find the victim and use that person or group as the tool to further your agenda.
The emphasis on making Pope Benedict’s visit to America some sort of reconciliation tour for the exclusive denunciation of pedophile priests is a bit confusing to me. The mainstream media is making a big deal of this as is expected. But this outrage is selective of course.
For example, there was no such outrage when Hillary Clinton stood on stage with Elton John to accept $2.5 million in donations for her presidential bid. Yet six short months ago Elton John stood defending himself from charges of child pornography. Yes, Sir Elton was eventually released from the charges but there is no doubt that the controversial picture in his gallery depicts two girls, a toddler in her underwear straddling a naked infant who is laying on her back, legs open and apart. Don’t believe me? You can view the celebrated picture yourself on Radar online, a Web magazine that just happens to be run by Yusef Jackson (son of Jesse Jackson) and big time Clinton friend, supporter and contributor to Democrat causes and both Clinton campaigns, Ron Burkle.
Where’s the outage on that one?
One wonders how the media is so selective; unless of course you are a media observer. Isn’t it strange that not one person in the mainstream media asked Hillary Clinton how a woman running for president can appear all huggy and smiles on stage along side a person that celebrates the sexualization of infants yet that same media holds Pope Benedict hostage to a scandal that emerged big time almost six years ago before he was even elected to the papacy.
Six months versus six years. Hmmm. Could it be that one side of the equation is also pro-gay by inclusion, thus making him a protected entity while the other person in question is a Christian leader that has serious moral reservations about gays?
Nah, not in this media.
In my opinion the ramped up criticism of Pope Benedict is a product of a liberal media that seeks to protect their own (Obama, Clinton) at a time when Democrats are frantically practicing damage control in a primary season that has been less than favorable for the once inevitable heirs to the reins of power. Don’t worry though, there are many more days to go. I have faith that the MSM will outdo themselves on this one.
Terry Trippany is the editor and publisher of Webloggin.
