Publisher in Iowa asks why the media - and money- are picking our candidates for us? [View All]

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Those moments were important - important because our nation needs to find the best possible leader for the future.

Most people - Republicans as well as Democrats - are ready for Bush to go home to Texas. Unlike the end of Ronald Reagan's eight years in the White House, I don't hear anyone wishing George W. Bush could have a third term.

The question is, or at least should be, who's the best person to take his place as the leader of this country and, hopefully, become, once again, the leader of the free world?

If the national media is correct, the Democratic race is down to three people - Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards. Yet, it may be the national media, not the voters, that has made Clinton, Obama and Edwards the top three contenders.

And I'm wondering - why?

Is it because of the national media overwhelmingly focuses on the top three Democrats - Clinton, Obama and Edwards?

Is it because the top two contenders have such a financial advantage?

Or, is it because no other Democrat is qualified?

I am not sure I have the answer, but I, for one, don't think it's because there's a lack of other qualified candidates.

Although post-debate news coverage said that Sen. Joe Biden's "down-to-earth, tell-it-straight style helped him turn out a good performance," and that "Sen. Chris Dodd and Gov. Bill Richardson made sure they were not forgotten in a race," the post-debate coverage continued to focus predominately on the top three contenders.

If the talking media heads are correct, Thursday night belonged to Clinton. Clinton, they all agreed, had stumbled in recent weeks but clearly regained her footing Thursday night by successfully fighting off Obama and Edwards' direct attacks.

In making such an analogy, the national media is continuing its efforts to convince people that only Clinton, Obama or Edwards - mainly Clinton - have a real shot at the Democratic nomination.

And, unfortunately, it appears that Democrats are buying what the national media is selling; and it's hard for me to understand why.

Many people say they want the next president to be truthful and willing to tell it like it is.

Yet, if straight answers are what the American people really want, why is it that Sen. Joe Biden is so low in the polls?

No other candidate on either side of the political fence has been more straightforward with his answers than Joe Biden. And Biden is one of the two most qualified candidates when it comes to foreign policy experience.

Other people say they want the most well-rounded and experienced person to be the next president.

If that's the case, why is it that New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson isn't doing better?

With his impressive and successful track record in world affairs and executive leadership experience as a very successful governor, Richardson is perhaps the most well-rounded and experienced candidate the Democrats have.

Yet, although he's doing better in the polls than Biden, Richardson still can only muster about 12 percent in any poll taken.

It seems to me that both Biden and Richardson could bring far more experience to the oval office than the former First Lady turned senatorm, the Midwest's first term senator or the one term Southern senator. Yet, neither Biden nor Richardson has caught on with the voters. But then, the national media hasn't covered Biden and Richardson nearly as much as they have the other three. Nor do Biden or Richardson have access to the dollars Clinton and Obama have.

Perhaps for the Democrats it really will be about the money and the media coverage. But with two months remaining before the Iowa caucuses take place, it doesn't have to be.

Iowans still have the chance to look at all the candidates and make sound decisions on their own and not allow themselves to be simply led by the media and the money.

Iowans have produced a number of surprises in prior presidential campaigns, and Iowa Republicans may be about to do so again. And, it's not too late for the Democrats to the do the same, if such action is justified. But, the clock is quickly running down.

Democrats and Republicans alike need to send the rest of the nation candidates that will be the best possible leaders for tomorrow, not just the media's favorites.

I'm hoping Iowa Democrats take another hard look at all their choices before January. Who knows, if they do, there just might be another surprise.
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