OPINION:
Notwithstanding his approval of the killing of Osama bin Laden, President Obama has leaped over the campaign line by politicizing the first anniversary of that heroic event against terrorism, conducted by Navy SEAL Team 6.
He did this by questioning the patriotism of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in a campaign ad narrated by former President Bill Clinton. Indeed, Mr. Clinton’s repeated failure to capture bin Laden, which could have prevented the atrocities of Sept. 11, 2001, should make him the last person to chime in on the issue.
Worse, it’s disturbing enough that the news media, along with what seems like all of Hollywood, openly supports Mr. Obama and the Democratic Party. However, when they assist the president’s re-election campaign by demonizing his likely opponent and Republicans in Congress, and then blatantly endorse the president on the publicly owned airwaves, it becomes unconscionable.
Case in point: NBC News anchor Brian Williams’ hourlong special with Mr. Obama on “Inside the Situation Room,” in which Mr. Obama discussed approving the killing of bin Laden in Pakistan. That is clearly a campaign ad for the president.
Surely, pressure by the Federal Election Commission and the Federal Communications Commission ought to be brought to bear against NBC and Mr. Obama. The broadcast airwaves are owned by the people - they are not to be exploited by the president or used by the biased news media for partisan campaigns leading up to the election.
DANIEL B. JEFFS
Apple Valley, Calif.
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