As the intensity surrounding the leadup to next year’s election for President of the United States ramps up, the media spotlight on the major players involved seemingly adjusts.
With all manner of possibilities ranging from policy suggestions like Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 tax policy to sitting President Barack Obama’s current conflict with Congressional leaders, the media makes a conscious decision what to portray as relevant to a candidate’s chances.
Over the past few weeks a disturbing dialogue has been taking place across national media concerning the validity of concerns over a candidate’s religion, namely in this case that Mitt Romney is Mormon.
A candidate’s religion is indeed a valid topic of discussion and a valid part of any criteria that is used by an informed citizen to determine their vote.
The office of president of the United States carries a myriad of moral and ethical decisions that must be made on almost a daily basis and the national media reflects these concerns when covering such topics.
What is unacceptable, however, is allowing discussions that legitimize open religious discrimination as many major media outlets have given air time to the argument that Mormonism is not a Christian religion.
That discussion bears no relevance to the race for the presidency and gives air time to arguments that openly attempt to delegitimize an entire religion in both a theological and legal sense. What makes the situation even worse is just how embedded such an open stance on this topic appears to be in the makeup of our national media.
Just go back to 2008, when a multitude of major media outlets were bearing down with the full weight of their networks, sources and air time on the question of then candidate Obama’s religion.
Not only were open questions being asked concerning Obama’s religion but theoretical arguments were being made that questioned his legitimacy as a candidate if he were Muslim.
This legitimization of religious discrimination was being thinly veiled behind theoretical statements and discussions. Air time was given to an argument that outright rejected the very idea that a member of a specific religion could be trusted as president as the media again stepped into a role it has been all too willing to accept.
It is the same role it took when arguments were levied against John F. Kennedy’s legitimacy as a candidate for president because of his Catholic beliefs. His very citizenship and civic loyalties were questioned as arguments that he would bow down to directives from the Pope were given airtime.
This legitimization of outright religious discrimination goes against the very principle of religious tolerance upon which the United States was founded. The national media must move itself away from fostering such discussions.
To not do so would be a grave violation of the unique role our media has in this society and effectively destroys the trust between the people and the press. A trust that is ingrained in our national makeup right down to our First Amendment protection of a free press.
Now, as always, that trust must be acted upon responsibly.