The Brown & White

As a journalist, I have to say that I am quite appalled at the reaction by many Republicans of the media being "too hard" on their Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Granted, the media in many people's eyes tends to be more liberal, but isn't the job of the media not only to attempt to be neutral but also to uncover and reveal the injustices and corruptions of our government?

As much as we would like news sources to always be neutral, there are going to be those that tend to lean one way or another. I am a fan of CNN because they tend to give the best overall coverage of both sides, even if coverage lately has focused on the lack of coverage of Palin.

As of last week she has done only three network interviews since it was announced she is running as John McCain's VP nominee, whereas Joe Biden has given 89 interviews. And when she does have interviews, like her one last week with the President of Afghanistan, the press is only allowed in for less than a minute.

As college students, we are taught to open our minds and consider different viewpoints and opinions before coming to a conclusion. But how can we be expected to make an educated decision about our vote, a decision that will potentially have a huge impact on our future and the future of our nation, without having access to both sides of the issues?

Campell Brown, of CNN's Election Center has suggested that it is sexist by the Republicans to treat Palin differently because she is a woman. While I agree that she has definitely been treated differently by her own party, I argue that it's not because she is a woman, but because the Republicans are afraid that she will slip up and prove many people's opinions to be true that she is anything but a "heartbeat away" from being able to be president, as the Republican party has described her.

Regardless of if you are a Democrat or a Republican, it is embarrassing that a nominee for Vice President of the United States has been so inaccessible. Each party has a responsibility not to only showcase their candidates, but to make sure the American people know who they are voting for and what their candidates stand for.

It is the media's duty to make sure these interviews and speeches get coverage to relay the information back to the voters who need this valuable information in order to make an informed decision on Election Day.

The media is not being too hard on Palin, rather they are bringing it to the public's attention how unusual it is that Palin has not given more interviews. She already faces challenges being the first woman VP candidate for the Republican party, and she is not making it easier on herself by hiding from the press.

The media can definitely work with or against a candidate, but the media has an obligation to the people to report the truth of both sides and if there is no substance such as interviews or speeches of Palin for them to report, they will focus on the fact that there is nothing to report.

The solution is simple: Palin, show us what you got! As a woman, Palin does not automatically have my vote. Although I consider myself independent, I have already decided who I am voting for and race or gender has not played a role in my decision.

Unfortunately, for many Americans, this is not the case and these two issues of gender and race will affect their decision in the election. I would hope that in the year 2008, we as a country have moved pass the issue of male v. female and black v. white.

The candidate who best shares your views on the future of this country and who has demonstrated this by their past actions, should have your vote. It should not be a popularity contest or a contest based on artificial factors. College students can have a big impact on this election, so we must pay attention to both sides and decide for ourselves on who we want to lead this country.

This being said, Palin needs to speak out to the press and to the public to show she is ready to be the next VP, as the Republicans claim. The days until the election are quickly coming coming to an end, and voters need to know where she stands.

The media needs to continue to pay close attention to both parties and their candidates and make sure the voters are getting the right information. By the time this goes to print, the VP debate will have taken place, so hopefully world will know a little more about Sarah Palin.