A lie too many

After a month of dishonest stories about John Kerry, the organizers of the Republican National Convention must have thought they had free reign to lie about anything and everything and they did their best to live up to that belief.

However they may have gone too far as the media, similar to a sleeping bear, may have woken up. A series of stories examining the accuracies of statements made by the Swift Vets, GOP convention speakers, and even Bush & Cheney's speeches and Vietnam War era actions have made their way in the paper. In addition, a new book about George Bush and his youth by Kitty Kelley will be released soon.

Over the next few days and months, with these stories finding their way into the press, the Right will cry "liberal media." The reason they will cry is that conservatives demand conservative coverage and cry when the coverage is balanced. Liberals expect balanced coverage and complain when the coverage is conservative.

If the media were to wake up and actually ask questions, coverage actually might be balanced. But will the media really do so?

Last week Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, while interviewing Chris Matthews, all but got on his knees and begged him and the media to ask tough questions of politicians.

"Why is so hard in this day and age for people like yourself to question the politicians," Stewart asked. "Can the press maybe take a stronger stand and, what's the word I'm looking for - fact check? Can they do that now?"

While that got laughs, Stewart pressed his main point - "Everyone should be questioned on these stupid, and pardon my french, f#@&ing talking points and we should have a normal conversation."

While all Matthews could respond with was whether Stewart asked John Kerry about his position on Iraq (which Stewart put back in his face saying "No, but here's the thing, I'm a comedian.")

So will the media wake up and do their jobs? The early returns look better but not convincing.