Indy media should be independent of both parties

During the '08 presidential campaign, liberal bloggers acted in the fine tradition of journalistic watchdogs when they exposed dishonesty in many Republican ads attacking candidate Obama, like this one and this one.

But they didn't blow the whistle on indefensible Obama campaign ads -- like this one in Spanish aimed at Latino voters smearing McCain as anti-immigrant with comments made by Rush Limbaugh, who was not in any way part of the McCain campaign. When translated, the ad says, "They want us to forget the insults we've put up with, the intolerance" -- as a picture of Limbaugh appears onscreen with quotes OF LIMBAUGH saying, "Mexicans are stupid and unqualified" and "Shut your mouth or get out." The ad continues: "They made us feel marginalized in a country we love so much. John McCain and his Republican friends have two faces. One that says lies just to get our vote and another, even worse, that continues the failed policies of George Bush."

Here was a McCain Campaign ad and another aimed at Latinos and immigrants that probably got less play than the Obama ad attacking McCain.