news-record.com

Media bias has long hounded conservative candidates, who must defeat not only their opponents but also the partisan mainstream press. For instance, an allegedly objective, straight news article from The Associated Press two weeks ago reported that Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama and Bill Ayers "had a fleeting political connection" and that it is "simply wrong" for Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin "to suggest that they were associated while Ayers was committing terrorist acts." Because the article is not identified as an "analysis," the reporter's personal opinions are irrelevant and inappropriate. But mainstream media "journalists" routinely inject their biases into news stories. Their disdain for conservatives is so overwhelming, they can't help themselves.

Alas, Palin never claimed Obama and Ayers were palling around while the latter committed terrorist acts. Furthermore, Obama's political career was launched in Bill Ayers' living room in the mid-'90s, and the two served on a board together for three years beginning in 1999. This is hardly a fleeting connection. Ayers, in a 2001 interview with The New York Times, said, "I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough." Isn't it fair -- in fact, prudent -- to ask Sen. Obama to explain the nature of his alliance with an unrepentant terrorist?

The Associated Press can always be relied upon to enrage those who believe in border control. An article that appeared Oct. 8 fits the AP's pro-illegal mind-set. A raid that took place at a chicken processing plant in South Carolina, reports the AP, sent "panicked workers running and screaming through the hallways." The obligatory emotional appeal is presented by Maria Juan, who laments that "families are going to be broken apart," and "there will be kids and babies left behind." Predictably, a photo that accompanies the article depicts mothers and children -- innocents victimized by heartless immigration agents -- embracing and weeping. As an afterthought, deep into the article, the AP informs us of a pre-raid investigation that determined "the immigration paperwork for more than 775 of 825 workers contained false information."

By the way, why is there no presidential debate on matters of character and culture? It is arguably in regard to these issues -- affirmative action, the Second and Tenth Amendments, gay marriage, education reform, official English and assimilation -- that the contrast between the two tickets is most striking. Sen. Obama's radical position on abortion, for instance, is not common knowledge.

Speaking of education reform, USA Today ran a thoughtful, courageous editorial last month about the mediocrity of public schools, which it called "a national scandal." The editorial was inspired by a report called "Diploma to Nowhere," issued by Strong American Schools, which is an organization "trying (mostly without success) to get education issues addressed in the presidential election." Among the report's findings is the fact that almost 80 percent of students placed in remedial classes in college had a GPA of "B" or better in high school. Evidently, K-12 grading is a bit soft. But student self-esteem is soaring, and that's the important thing.

Although the presidential race gets the lion's share of ink and airtime, there are also state and local matters worthy of our attention. The governor's race, for instance, reminds us that the Libertarian Party is a fringe organization not likely to have a significant impact any time soon. Although the libertarian desire to maximize individual freedom is commendable, there is no liberty without order, and preserving order -- by, say, patrolling the border -- is a legitimate role of government. Traditionalists interested in an alternative would be better served by the Constitution Party.

The Guilford County Schools board candidate most likely to oppose the status quo and initiate effective reforms is Mike Stone, who is running for a seat in District 3. Stone, a manufacturing manager, embraces fiscal responsibility, opposes taxing authority for the school board and rejects the establishment line that insufficient funding is the cause of public education's woes. Stone acknowledges that not every student will be attending college and believes the system needs to create more alternatives for them. He also favors school accountability and traditional methods of discipline (after-school detention and out-of-school suspensions).

Perhaps the most annoying aspect of elections is those "get-out-the-vote" drives. Democrats and Republicans alike seem to buy into the theory that every citizen should vote and that a 100 percent turnout would be ideal. But the reality is, many of our neighbors are ignorant of politics and culture. Wouldn't we be better off if only well-informed citizens went to the polls?

Charles Davenport Jr. (daisha99@msn.com) is a freelance columnist who appears alternate Sundays in the News & Record.