Syria as Scandal

Something that isn't often talked about when discussing media biases is the presence of bias regarding foreign policy. Foreign policy isn't as much of a hot-button, contentious debate in the US as is the horse-race of party politics and meager gains in public opinion against the current administration. By and large, the bureaucratic inertia of American foreign policy prevents American citizens from scandalizing foreign policy initiatives and the status quo of American hegemonic force. American citizens can rarely concern themselves with the global community, as well, often being touted as among the least-informed Western industrialized populaces in the world. The whole, "war is America's way of teaching geography," expression, while hyperbolic, isn't too far off and is rooted in some degree of reality.

So, it's interesting when the American media picks up a narrative and sticks to it fervently in the realm of foreign policy. The fact that President Obama decided to consult with Congress (a president that respects the War Powers Resolution-- you'd think he'd be the Tea Party's best friend, but alas...) rather than unilaterally inflict punishment on the Syrian regime should be a breath of fresh air to a war-weary America. A president who, even just this once, decided to act multilaterally and slide into his Constitutional role as Commander-in-Chief (but not unless commissioned by the US Congress) is refreshing no matter what side of the political continuum you fall on.

However, it's become a huge talking-point in American media to paint this as a loss of presidential power and sovereignty-- a weakening of a once-proud office. I don't think I'm alone in my disturbed reaction to the universal reaction that, "If Congress doesn't approve of Obama's Syria plan, it'll be a massive humiliation!" This is a wonderful example of, as we've discussed in this class, external pressures on the media's narrative. They have a financial interest in sensationalizing this Syria story-- and developing a deep-rooted, contentious party-line battle between President Obama and Congress is music to their ears. The story is never, "Well, we're certainly glad that this President actually respects his Constitutional role as it relates to the Congress and however this works out will be a win for democratic and constitutional idealism!" Of course not.

The blood lust for political injury is never sated in the media.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/09/the-press-and-the-syria-debate-neither-neutral-nor-balanced/279256/