Journalistic Coverage of Politics

Let me just preface these 300 words by saying this: I am not qualified to write 300 words on journalistic coverage of politics. I do not care for politics, nor do I wish to ever study it or write about it.

That being said, I commence with my required 300 words.

I think journalists "hype-up" politics, especially when concerned with the presidential campaign race. It's the biggest thing right now, seeing as the elections are less than a year away.
But the media frenzy didn't start this year, no, it started about a year and a half ago. And since it's start, there's been "Barack on Broadway" articles, articles about John Edwards eating food at some campaign stop, and about how Hillary Clinton is a woman in a man's game. I've wrote blogs about some of these issues, so I don't think there is a need for links.
Really? Is this what political journalism has come to? We celebritize these people, watch their every move, because when they slip, we'll be there, notepad, tape recorder and all.
Most recently, the NYTimes.com's front picture today is of Hillary Clinton. And guess what the article is on? Not about her hopes for America's future, but how she has a tough skin.
The lead isn't about her recent campaign, it starts with a painting of Hillary giving a eulogy at a friend's funeral.
Don't get me wrong, the lead got me wrapped up into the story, but is the story really important? Is it news that she has a tough skin?
No.
If you choose politics as a career, you damn well better have a thick skin. And you damn well better not splatter your private life to anyone and everyone.
That's nice, I have a tough skin too, but just because she's had a bad life, doesn't mean it's news. She's kept her private life private, and rightly so.

We're not objective when it comes to politics, mainly I think because there's nothing that politics doesn't touch. This past week, journalists from CBS to MSNBC have resurfaced the issue of religion and politics, this time harping on Mr. Romney, a presidential hopeful who just happens to be a Mormon.
Good God, I say.
Granted, journalists are writing about Romney's religious views because poll results are in saying that other Republican Presidential hopeful Mr. Huckabee is doing better in the polls, with more evangelical support.
Yes, his being a Mormon affects his political views because Romney may draw on his religious views for his moral ones. And that's all right.
What is wrong with a country where being a Mormon or a Muslim or a Christian is a big deal? I don't care, really, as long as you have a good idea of where you want the country to go.

Journalists tend to pick on political figures, rather than state the news. Or perhaps because I consume way too much news, I have made my own malformed opinions of politics, and have decided that because I don't appreciate the way politics is shown in the media, it must be the fault of the journalist.