Star Headline writers: Obama is all about politics

by David Safier

I'm seeing a trend in the Star. Republicans push legislation and listen to their base. Obama plays politics.

Last Wednesday, the Star's Creative Headline Writing Team decided Obama's Ohio speech on his jobs bill was "campaignlike." None of the headlines on the same AP article in other papers thought that was what should be emphasized.

Today, the Star gave front page coverage of Obama's Monday taxes/jobs/deficit speech, which was nice. But here's the headline:

Obama, with eye on election, seeks tax hike on rich

Ah, that Obama. It's all about politics. Forget about the fact he's returning to his original principles rather than staking out a compromise position as he has before. No need to take this guy seriously. He's just looking at the election. The Republican responses to Obama's ideas? I guess they're coming from the heart. After all, Republicans would never simply try to make Obama fail so he won't be reelected, even though they've said that's their plan many, many times.

Other news outlets chose different headlines.

Tax the rich, Obama says; class warfare, says foes (Tribune, Ohio)

Obama's deficit reduction plan: Tax the wealthy (Fayetteville Observer)

Obama demands tax increases along with spending cuts (Statesman, Austin, Texas)

I remember how George Bush would field any question he didn't like: "Look, I know there's an election coming up, I understand how politics work." That was considered an acceptable answer — dismiss anything you don't like by saying it's nothing but politics. The Star seems to agree.

STAR WEB NOTE: By the way, good luck finding this article on the Star website. It may be front page news in the paper, but it's nowhere on the Star's home page. Go to the National News page, and you'll find it way at the bottom, buried under Politics. Here are some stories that apparently aren't politics, since they're in the main National News section:

FACT CHECK: Are rich taxed less than secretaries?

GOP candidates assail Obama on Israel

Obama's deficit plan tightens squeeze on Medicare

Perry to slam Obama on Israel

Former adviser defends Obama's decision-making

According to the Star, all those stories are apparently more important, and less political, than Obama's complex and detailed jobs plan.