Bias, with a side of mud.

Item #1: A few years ago, Rolling Stone magazine ran a series of brilliant ads in other trade publications, to educate potential advertisers as to who really reads Rolling Stone. They were two-page spreads – on the left showed someone dressed as a classic, 1960’s-era hippie. The headline read “Perception.” On the following page the same guy was dressed in a Brooks Brothers 3-piece suit, with a briefcase. The headline on that page read “Reality.” The body copy stated some demographics for the magazine, pointing out that a majority of their readers were affluent and held real jobs.

Item #2: My daddy used to impart a number of pearls of wisdom to me, two of which were “you can’t throw mud without getting some on you,” and “the guilty dog barks first.”

Keep these items in mind as I share with you some bon mots from the campaign trail…

1. Obama claims that the financial crisis (AIG, Morgan Stanley, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, et all) is all the Republicans fault. McCain claims it’s the fault of both Republicans and Democrats.
2. Obama claims that McCain is clueless and never did anything to stop the problems with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. McCain authored legislation back in 2003 or so, that attempted to regulate the two mortgage institutions. The Democrats were able to block the bill.
3. Obama claimed he would run a “different kind of campaign…a campaign about issues, not mudslinging. All of Obama’s ads A.P. (after Palin) have gone negative.
4. Obama claims to be a citizen of the world, a man of the people. Tonight, Obama attended an exclusive fund-raiser in Hollywood. Attendees had to pony up thousands to attend, and an extra $2,800 to stay for dinner. Striesand performed. Obama raked in $9 million from his liberal friends in Hollywood.
5. Gov. Palin’s email was hacked today, and her personal information, emails, addresses, and other data was posted online. This is clearly illegal, but neither the sites nor news organizations such as the Associated Press would reveal their sources.
6. On The View TV show weeks ago, Barack and Michelle Obama were fawned over by Baba Wawa, Whoopie and the rest. Baba remarked that the girls all thought that Obama was very handsome. Obama blushed. When John and Cindy McCain guested on The View, most of the regulars, led by Baba Wawa ambushed the McCains, and badgered them without mercy, demanding specifica answers, without pausing long enough to hear the replies.
7. Obama’s only executive experience to date is “running” his campaign. (Candidates typically have little to do with the day-to-day operation of a campaign – that’s what campaign managers are for.) He’s running for President. Palin’s got four years of CEO-level experience, first as mayor of Wasilla, and then as the Governor of Alaska.
8. Obama is uncomfortable speaking without a telePromptR. McCain is uncomfortable speaking with one, prefering to answer questions from the crowd in a Town Hall format.
9. Governor Palin speaks from the heart, with honest, thoughtful answers. Senator Biden speaks…and speaks…and speaks…and speaks…
10. The attacks on Biden have been limited to observations that he likes the sound of his own voice and has a tendency to shoot himself in the foot when speaking to reporters off-script. Few have remarked on the exposure as a plaigiarist. The attacks on Palin are reminiscent of the Salem Witch Trials or perhaps the Spanish Inquisition. And every bit as unfair.
11. In 2006, McCain was universally cited as most Democrats “favorite Republican.” Many in the GOP wondered if McCain would switch parties. It was rumored that Kerry had offered the VP slot to McCain. Fast forward to today, and you’d think that McCain masterminded the Hollicaust, routinely evicts the poor from slums, steals candy from babies, and sacrifices babies on Satanic altars. And that’s from the MODERATE Democrats.
12. Hillary was to attend a protest in NYC over Ahkmadinijhad’s appearance at the U.N. She was supposed to attend, but decided to skip it, when she learned that Gov. Palin was also to attend.

You get my drift. I’m really weary of the Left wrapping themselves in sanctimonious, supercillious talk about how they are the party of “change” and don’t throw mud – only to watch them mudsling with the best of ’em, and propose the same old, tired “solutions” (Tax ‘n Spend sound familiar?) as all the old Democrats.

In my experience, Republicans want to see McCain win, but aren’t out there demonizing Obama or Biden. Democrats want to win at any cost. They don’t just want to win – they want to throw out all the Republicans, and pass laws preventing them from ever representing anyone, anywhere.

Here’s my thought on that kind of behavior. GROW UP. This is an election. Not a vivisection. And I hope the voters are actually paying attention this time around.