Once again we discover what the media does most effectively, that is to try to shape public opinion rather than report public opinion. The press continues to try to manipulate the public by daily trading on the current field of Republican candidates. Their 24/7 obsession with the Iowa caucus reminds many of ESPN’s coverage of the NFL.
Iowa is hardly a bellwether in determining the ultimate Republican nominee to face Obama in next year’s presidential election. In fact the Iowa caucuses have only correctly predicted the eventual Republican candidate on two occasions. In 1996 Iowa went for Bob Dole and in 2000 it was George W Bush. Being correct twice certainly doesn’t make Iowa a bellwether state, after all a broken clock is right twice each day.
One would never expect that the nearly continuous election coverage of cable news would amount to much ado about nothing. Don’t get me wrong I personally am a Ron Paul supporter, however the fact that he leads the polling in Iowa is no big deal. The entire primary process, and its many debates seeks to eliminate the weakest candidates. It’s quite possible that Bachmann, Santorum and Jon Huntsman will virtually end their campaigns as a result of their poor showing in the Hawkeye state.
It seems silly to me that these candidates futures can rise and fall on the state of Iowa. But after the caucus we will in all probability be left with Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry. So one might conclude that if Mitt Romney carries New Hampshire then he would look to be the leading candidate. But the fact is Mitt Romney should carry New Hampshire since he was governor of neighboring Massachusetts. So with Ron Paul likely carrying Iowa and Romney carrying New Hampshire, the media will convince us that all is lost for Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry.
The national media put Barack Obama into the White House, we need to be especially wary of the media promoting one candidate over another. Elections are a a gathering of supporters around their candidate as their campaigns unfold. The media tries to reduce this to something akin to a horserace or a ballgame. If polls are an indication of anything, they have consistently shown Obama’s falling numbers. For many who voted for Obama seeking what he called “hope and change” many now find they have little hope in her left monetarily with only change. After three years of a growing and crippling national debt, continued falling housing prices, high unemployment and a war on energy too expensive for America to wage.
The failure of president Obama and our Congress has mobilized both the Tea Party the Occupy movements. In the rejection of Obama care and other failed policies the president sits as an easy target for the right Republican. No the 2012 elections will not be decided by Iowa or perhaps even New Hampshire, South Carolina or even Florida. This time the people want to get it right and hopefully they can stop being manipulated by the media and the various political pundits.
We need more faith in the U.S. Constitution and continue to demand that it be obeyed.America continues to be a work in progress. Pay no mind to the arrogance of the media wedded to failed socialist programs. We the people will win by restoring America.
