The Middle East trip of Barack Obama

So, here’s the quick background on the big Obama trip to the Middle East.

1. John McCain makes several trips to the Middle East.
2. Barack Obama is criticized for not visiting the Middle East for almost three years.
3. John McCain invites Obama to visit the Middle East with him
4. Obama refuses the invite, and then sets up a trip on his own, which McCain praises.
5. Because it is Senator Obama’s first real* trip to the Middle East, the press fawns over him and his trip.

Now, it’s hard to blame the press. Had Obama been to the Middle East many times to scope out what would define his potential presidential foreign policy, it probably would not be news. However, because this was Obama’s first real trip to the made to the Middle East, he had the benefit of CBS, NBC, and ABC’s major anchors traveling with him.

Imagine! Your own personal media entourage!

The left side of political spectrum will constantly pout about the media and its bias. But at this point, I think it’s clear where the bias is. When a Presidential candidate takes an important trip abroad, and it gets the sheer amount of attention that Senator Obama is receiving now, there can be no question about where media bias lies.

A running joke on Saturday Night Live has been the media’s huge crush on Obama. Now we see how far it has come. Now we have the most prominent members of news organizations (Katie Couric, Brian Williams, and Charles Gibson) who actually insist on vacationing** to Europe and Asia with Barack.

Clearly the media’s love for Obama has become a whole lot more than just a crush.

*By real, I mean a trip where he, as a presidential candidate, would get a real look as to what struggles the United States faces, and what successes the United States has achieved.

**Of course it’s not a vacation. Actually, I’m very pleased that Senator Obama has chosen to heed the advice of Senator McCain. Any information he receives while over there can only help him gain much needed experience. I do wish him Godspeed on his trip.