Barack Obama's Toughest Media Critics

Major media outlets have taken a beating for alleged bias regarding President Barack Obama. Many TV networks and newspapers are holding back on tough questions and critical analysis of the new president. Likewise, they may not have investigated Barack Obama enough during the election campaign.

However, not all coverage of Barack Obama and his administration has been as positive or one-sided as the New York Times or NBC. The most liberal media has offered some of the most insightful analysis and critiques of Barack Obama.

Of course, Rush Limbaugh famously hopes Barack Obama fails. Fox News also broadcast fierce attacks on Barack Obama, calling him a socialist, offering doomsday scenarios about closing the Guantanamo Bay prison and even questioning whether he is president, based on his swearing-in error. But most of these stories are hyperbolic conservative doctrine (we saw plenty of the same from the left during the Bush years), rather than constructive analysis.

I urge conservatives to add the following radio shows, magazines and Web sites to their media menu for some new perspective. Barack Obama fans could also check out these outlets for a more balanced perspective.

Democracy Now! - The show has an excellent daily news summary, and focuses on issues of peace, justice, the environment, equality, labor rights and other traditional lefty concerns. When anyone, including Barack Obama, falls on the wrong side of these issues, host Amy Goodman asks the hard questions and takes a firm stance. For example, two days after Barack Obama's inauguration, she interviewed Noam Chomsky about the crisis in the Gaza Strip. Chomsky accuses Barack Obama of continuing Bush's policies regarding Israel and Palestine, and he is one of few critics presenting this view. Democracy Now! is available in a wide variety of formats online, including streaming video, podcasts and transcripts. The show is also broadcast on radio and TV stations around the world. I recommend the radio show. The TV version has plenty of static images and long interviews, so it can seem slow and dry for those of us raised on MTV and CNN.

Mother Jones Magazine - The venerable leftist journal is clearly on Barack Obama's side, but the reporters also don't shy away from thoughtful criticism of his administration. The Mother Jones Web site had a lengthy critique of the new secretary of education, Arne Duncan, before he was confirmed.

Z Magazine - Again, this magazine and its extensive Web site lean pretty far left, but a conservative can find some interesting arguments about Barack Obama. For example, William Greider of the Nation magazine thoughtfully argues against Obama's stimulus package. Ardent fiscal conservatives won't agree with his solutions, but they might find common ground in his arguments.

It is sometimes said the political spectrum is a circle, and the left and right will eventually meet again. Perhaps some conservatives can find thoughtful criticism of Obama beyond the reactionary rage of their most famous commentators.

www.democracynow.org

motherjones.com

www.zmag.org