A Halloween media nightmare story

There was pompous old Bill O'Reilly again this week attacking one of his favorite targets – "birthers."

He had two guests on with him – neither one cognizant of the facts surrounding the Barack Obama eligibility questions. Both of them happily nodded in agreement to most of the tripe emanating from O'Reilly's big, ill-informed mouth.

Night after night, show after show, network after network this goes on.

This is journalism?

Whatever happened to "fair and balanced"?

Whatever happened to getting other points of view?

Whatever happened to the idea of interviewing those with whom you disagree?

Whatever happened to the notion of representing honestly the opinions of others?

I'm getting flat-out sick of it.

It's not just the Obama flacks at MSNBC and CNN. It's Fox, too. Let's be honest about it. And it's not just the issue of eligibility where minimal journalism standards go right out the window. But it is a perfect illustration of my point.

Now watch the red-hot eligibility story on DVD: "A Question of Eligibility: Is Obama's presidency constitutionally legitimate?"

Not one of these cable networks, let alone the Associated Press, New York Times, Los Angeles Times or the major networks, has reported the significance of the fact that Michelle Obama admitted her mother-in-law gave birth out of wedlock.

Nevertheless, these ignorant talking heads continue to treat this subject like it's a big joke that only smart people like them understand.

I'm not going to make this about me – because it's not. But let me tell you just how biased ALL of these shows and networks are when it comes to this eligibility issue. Up until May of this year, I would regularly, at least once a week, get an invitation to be on these shows – especially Fox News.

Do you know that since I launched the "Where's the birth certificate?" billboard campaign out of total frustration with the rest of the media I have not been invited on any cable news show? Do you think that's a coincidence?

I was interviewed by CNN a couple weeks ago in what I can only characterize as an effort to ambush me. But, as far as I know, the program – or whatever it was – has never aired.

Also, I am now hearing reports that some producers of these shows are asking potential guests questions like these:

Do you work for WorldNetDaily?
Have you ever worked for WorldNetDaily?

If the answer to one of those questions is "yes," then the interest in the interview suddenly fades.

Is this the new blacklisting?

If it is, I'll tell you whom it's going to hurt – those doing the blacklisting. I don't think anyone realizes just how many people read WND. I know exactly how big this audience is. It is 8 million strong. I'd like to see it bigger – and it's growing all the time. But you can't pretend an audience of 8 million doesn't exist. You can't pretend that a news agency reaching that many people doesn't exist. At least you can't pretend and get away with it indefinitely.

I believe I have been far too kind to my colleagues in the rest of the media.

I have been playing Mr. Nice Guy.

Well, Mr. Nice Guy has been around this business for 30 years and knows where a lot of bodies are buried.

And if I have to redirect some of my attention toward reporting on the media, I will do it.

Consider that a warning.

Consider this a shot across the bow.

I'm going to be watching and listening and reading what's being reported out there with more attention. I assumed for too long that at least some of my colleagues would respect good journalism by others – credit it appropriately, acknowledge it, play fair, play by the rules and live and let live.

But I'm not seeing that.

I'm seeing something detestable out there – jealousy, ignorance, spiking of major stories, theft of others.

It's going to end. I promise. A new day is dawning.