Today I shed a tear for every political newcomer, who like myself felt inspired to participate in what promised to be a historic and refreshing moment in our country’s history.  Three months in, I find myself completely exhausted and disillusioned with the entire process.   Let me began by professing my soon to be obvious allegiance to Senator Barack Obama.  I am inspired by not only his message of hope, but his consistent disapproval of the war in Iraq.  I, like many of my fellow Americans, watched in dismay as the Bush Administration marched in an uneasy hurriedness toward  the invasion of Iraq.  Hurriedness in the wake of what, even at that time, seemed to be questionable evidence.  I personally believed that many politicians questioned the motives of the Bush Administration, but given the post 9/11 atmosphere of the country, feared political suicide.  At this unsettling moment in our history it was Barack Obama who voiced words of dissent at a time when dissent was equated with being unpatriotic.  And so, with candidate in tow, I enthusiastically tuned into the political arena  believing that either democratic candidate would be a substantial improvement over the current administration. It would not be very long before I was to learn several disheartening lessons about the power and persuasion of the media, the art of misconstruing words,  and last but not least the old adage, all is fair in love, war, and politics.  Even with the aforementioned lessons in hand, I could not help feeling equally disheartened today upon watching MSNBC (which I’ve made a conscious decision to watch because of my belief that they at least attempt to present their audience with unbiased news).  After being bombarded over the past two weeks by footage of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright (the controversial former pastor of Barack Obama), and being recently relieved by the slowly subsiding tide of media coverage, today, I find myself once again sludging through the muck of the man who is most likely an honorable man who unfortunately carries the heavy weight of America’s deep dark past.  Thanks to recent media coverage I believe that I know Jeremiah Wright almost as well as I know myself.  In a two week period his face has graced my television screen more than the faces of the three remaining presidential candidates combined.   Today, when I’d finally gotten his image out of my head, he resurfaces.  Not because he has made some new outrageous comment, but because we are now analyzing old church bulletins and the writings of his family members and friends.  The media has accused Barack Obama of promising hope and change but not supplying voters with substance and detail.  Is it possible that the media is so distracted by what might be deemed political shock and awe that they have missed the very story that they have been searching for?