The War of The Two Michelles

Or...What Is It With FOX News?

From Associated Press:

(New York City) Fox News Channel referred to Michelle Obama as "Obama's baby mama" in a graphic on Wednesday, the latest in a trio of references to the Democratic presidential campaign that have given fuel to network critics.

The graphic "Outraged liberals: Stop picking on Obama's baby mama" was flashed during an interview with conservative columnist Michelle Malkin about whether Barack Obama's wife has been the target of unfair criticism.

In the past two weeks, Fox anchor E.D. Hill has apologized for referring to an affectionate onstage fist bump shared by the couple as a "terrorist fist jab," and Fox contributor Liz Trotta said she was sorry for joking about an Obama assassination.

I haven't been a good liberal - I haven't called FOX News a piece of, well, fecal matter...yet. I don't view it, so I can only comment about what I read online in the evenings (sorry, no TV right now since I don't feel I really need it). I've read some of Michelle Malkin's stuff (with a surgical mask to screen the fumes of hatred). I've seen clips of Bill O'Reilly. I've flipped through Hannity & Colmes (Hannity looks like a bully compared to Colmes' intelligent sense). Yes, FOX is definitely right wing and no, it is not "unbiased" reporting. I feel as if we're back in William Randolph Hearst's days: "You provide the pictures, I'll provide the war."

Is FOX journalism really that "yellow"?

The latest piece of "journalism" is an attack on Barack Obama's wife, Michelle by a Michelle: Malkin, that is. Did Malkin know what the graphic said? Of course. Reporters know the context in which their "news" is played. They know their own. They take care of their own, too. And by displaying a graphic as an accompaniment to a news piece, the network (FOX) can support their reporters' bias.

Presidential nominees - and their wives - live on a glass slide under a microscope. That's understood. But when the media breaks the glass so that there will be distortions, that's not "journalism".

So, will Michelle Obama take the bait? Will she mention Michelle Malkin in any comeback? I hope not. I think she's too intelligent to be sidetracked in her husband's campaign to answer to smears. But can she avoid it? Pundits like Malkin and Coulter will flay her alive in the upcoming months. Bet on it.

Michelle Obama will have to come up with a strategy in dealing with harpies.

Until then, we wish her luck.