My column today compares the MSM’s love affair with Democrat Barack Obama with its apathy (at best) and bias against (at worst) minority Republican politicians. An excerpt:

Here are a few mainstream media rules of thumb:

Minority Democrats in public office are inspirational role models. Minority Republicans in public office are embarrassing sellouts.

Minority Democrat politicians are principled. Minority Republican politicians are misguided.

Minority Democrat politicians represent the hopes and dreams of all Americans. Minority Republican politicians are traitors to their “communities.” These rules are unwritten, of course, but the minority politician double standard is glaringly obvious in the national media fawning over newly elected U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

After Obama’s Democratic National Convention address this summer, the New York Times exulted: “As Quickly as Overnight, a New Democratic Star Is Born.” A headline in the Christian Science Monitor echoed: “A Star is Born.” USA Today panted: “Rising star brings Democrats to their feet.” NBC’s Andrea Mitchell enthused: “I think the real breakout tonight is Obama. I mean Teresa is a fascinating story, but Obama is a rock star!” And Newsweek’s Howard Fineman proclaimed: “He is the best argument for the American dream that’s around in politics.”

…Obama isn’t the only example of “the American dream that’s around in politics,” however. At least two other noteworthy minority politicians won unprecedented election victories last week. But you won’t hear Andrea Mitchell or Howard Fineman swooning over their success stories — because these invisible American Dream candidates belong to the wrong party and believe all the wrong things…

…Doubt that such media bias exists? The next time “objective” journalists gush about Democratic Sen.-elect Obama, drop them a note and ask them to name a single minority Republican public official (besides pro-choice, pro-affirmative action, dovish Colin Powell) that they truly admire.

Don’t expect a reply.

The whole thing’s here.

And LaShawn Barber has much more.