What's News?

Most of the time I respect the news media, especially since I have a brother who is a reporter and I know, first hand, of his high ethical standards and dedication to his business.

Then there are times when I have to ask myself "what the hell are they thinking?"

This usually happens while watching pseudo-news programs such as Today or Good Morning America where the word journalism seems to have a very broad definition.

Right now, in this country, politicians are being scrutinized more than ever, at least it seems that way to me. This is understandable since they, the politicians, seem to be going out of their way these days to commit wanton and blatant acts of stupidity quite frequently.

Haven't they figured out that their behavior is subject to more scrutiny than a lab rat's?

Which brings me to the very issue that started this rant in the first place.

The behavior of our elected officials should be watched keenly. If we, their constituents, don't monitor them, how will we know if our best interests are being served? It doesn't take a rocket surgeon to see that they have gotten away with too much for too long already, so if we need to put them under a microscope, so be it.

However...even the monitoring must be monitored.

If a politician or candidate is caught taking a bribe (it could happen), engaging in inappropriate behavior or breaking a law, it is the duty of the news media to report it to us.

On the other hand, there are things that we don't need to know about because they simply don't matter.

The most recent example happened this morning on The Today Show.

Air time was actually wasted so that we could be informed that California Senate candidate Carly Fiorina made a mocking comment about her opponent's (Barbara Boxer) hair.

That's right, in one of those "didn't know the mic was on" moments Fiorina commented about how Boxer's hairstyle was "so yesterday."

The story even made the New York Daily News' website - and NOT under the "Gossip," "Opinion" or even "Entertainment" headings...it was under the "News" tab.

To me, reporting this as news is an insult to serious journalists, like my brother, everywhere.

So recapping the top news items of the day;

Troops are fighting and dying in the Middle East, oil is killing the Gulf of Mexico and Carly Fiorina doesn't like her opponent's hair.

To quote the Sesame Street song..."One of these things is not like the others. One of these things doesn't belong..."

When did such trivial crap get elevated to the status of "newsworthy?"

In my mind, this doesn't even qualify as good "water cooler" conversation.

Our elected officials should be held to a high standard, no doubt about it, but do we really care about their God-given right to have a personal opinion?

What do we expect of them?

Long before they became politicians, they were people, and people are (brace yourself) imperfect. We have opinions, we say stupid things sometimes and we have been known, on occasion, to dine on our feet.

Not too long ago Vice President Joe Biden was caught using the "F" word while hugging President O'Bama. An exchange he thought nobody else would hear. Thanks to "the news" we all heard it, for about three days.

Big friggin' deal.

The Veep said a dirty word? Holy S*#t - we're all doomed.

In my opinion, this type of reporting is childish, useless and a complete waste of time, paper, ink and air-time. It should fall under the heading of "Throwing Stones in a Glass House."

We've all said stupid things that we wouldn't want the world to hear, what's the big deal?

I like to think that the majority of people side with me in not giving a fat rat's ass, but obviously the news people think differently.

It seems that the people who decide what's newsworthy are operating on the "Field of Dreams" principle...

"If you report it - It is news."