Elite News Vs. Local News

The New York Times

In what appears to be a blog chronicling Barack Obama’s activities in the lead up to his inauguration, this article (http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/10/another-lincoln-moment-for-obama/?scp=1&sq=obama%20lincoln&st=cse) is featured. “Another Lincoln Moment for Obama” draws parallels between the two men. The way in which the story is framed is both peculiar and interesting. It paints the picture that Obama has purposefully imitated Lincoln in several ways because of his affinity for him. Also worth nothing is how the journalist makes presumptions about the purpose of Obama’s family visit to the Lincoln Memorial.

Henry Gates Jr. flips the script with his opinion piece entitled “A Pragmatic Precedent,” which can be found here (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/19/opinion/19gates.html?pagewanted=2&sq=obama%20lincoln&st=cse&scp=5). In it, the author ponders and postulates how Abraham Lincoln may have felt about Obama becoming president. It seems Gates seeks to dispel comparisons and question the validity of the myths concerning the links between Obama and Lincoln.

Washington Post

In the “On Faith” section of what appears to be a collaborative effort between The Washington Post and Newsweek, a columnist draws parallels between Obama, Dr. King, and the biblical figure Moses. The article, which is entitled Moses, Martin, and Obama) can be found here (http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/01/what_obama_can_learn_from_mose.html). Heavily used is prophetic language consistent of biblical references, mentions of destiny, and a sense of divine purpose.

In an article which also appears in the “On Faith” section of The Washington Post’s website, several writers report on “King Sunday,” the day before MLK Jr. Day this year. The article can be found here at (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/18/AR2009011801671.html). Obama and King are discussed as though they are a unit, tangibly intertwined. Obama’s presidency is seen as a manifestation of Dr. King’s “dream.” Also pointed out and analyzed was this year’s close proximity of MLK Jr. Day and inauguration day. The journalists seem to be the ones drawing these parallels. However, at the end, someone is quoted who is not consistent with the narrative and the tone of the rest of the article. “Warnock cautioned the diverse congregation of more than 1,000 that Obama's victory was not the realization of King's dream of racial equality, but a stop on the journey to freedom. ‘We celebrate on Tuesday, but there's a day after Tuesday,’ he said. ‘There will be difficult days ahead ... we are on the brink of transition, at the threshold of a movement.’”

NPR

Found here (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99457225) is an interesting poem by Suzan-Lori Parks. There are a number of intriguing and relevant lines from the poem, which is featured in the “Opinion” section of the NPR website. Some of the words directly relate to the subject we’re addressing for this assignment. “You being you, Mr. President-Elect / Makes me want to . . . work to see my Brother / In the Other.” “The Other” is one concept discussed in accordance with this assignment, and so is the concept of creating or weaving a country: “And my love helps us weave a United States. / Mr. President, / Heaven sent / Since heaven is just a place where possibility / becomes possible.”

The Dallas Morning News

There appeared to be no spin in an article featured in a local newspaper in Dallas, which can be found here at (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/washington/stories/DN-kirk_21nat.ART.State.Edition1.4ec4257.html). The piece simply quoted former mayor of Dallas Ron Kirk. He talked about the significance of Barack Obama’s election and presidency, and what it all means to him.

Two articles compare Obama to MLK Jr. and Lincoln. The first can be found here (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-mlkawards_19nat.ART.State.Edition1.4ea792d.html) and is about Dr. King. The other, about the 16th president, can be found here (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-inaugobamalincoln_18nat.ART.State.Edition1.4e9a109.html). Both stories bluntly make comparisons between the leaders and Obama.