Being keenly aware of how it would look if journalists were hooting and hollering for Obama, I looked around the room as he came on the stage. What I saw was journalists politely applauding. It was much more subdued that the reception of Kerry in 2004. The few people who were screaming and shouting this time were not journalists, they were associate members, sponsors and others who do not cover news.

On the whole, it’s no different than the way the White House correspondents — and there are precious few people of color in that elite group — cheer and fawn at the annual correspondents dinner. Nor is it different than newspaper editors and publishers cheering for President Bush at the American Society of Newspaper Editors convention.

I find it interesting that you think Unity is simply a mouthpiece for the Democratic Party. By the same logic would you say that Fox News is a mouthpiece for the GOP and the White House?

If you’re saying that African American, Hispanic American, Asian American or Native American journalists can’t be unbiased in their coverage of Obama, do you question whether White American journalists can be unbiased in their coverage of John McCain?

And who is Barry?

Bob Butler
Region VI Director
National Association of Black Journalists