What the Hell?

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador- the leftist candidate for Mexican President who is slightly ahead in the latest polls.










Today is Mexican election day. I just looked at the web pages of the New York Times, LA Times, CNN and Washington Post. I can only say one word: pathetic. How can it me after months and months of covering this country's "immigration crisis" the editors of the papers decided that a hugely important election in the country that supplies 80% of our immigrants is not important?

Lets see what they did decide was important today:

The New York Times' liberal, America hating team choose "A Dreary Day for Shuttle Launch". So while the Mexican people will have to wait six more years before having a chance to vote for President again the American people may have to wait another day before watching the shuttle launch.
The LA Times, which used to have very good coverage of Mexican politics, decided to investigate the mystery of dying sea lions at the Aquarium of the Pacific. (Yes, dying sea lions are sad- but top of the page on Sunday? Please.)
CNN has story about "The New Science of Siblings" basically a story pimping the new cover story of their sister publication Time.
Last but not least the Washington Post breaks new ground in a Pulitzer Prize worthy piece about how people just don't get married the same way they used to. Some people even ride on elephants in Hindu ceremonies!
I didn't have any expectation that our own San Diego Union Tribune would be any better and they didn't disappoint. They do have a story about the election- but well below a story about goats in Scripps Ranch. (no I am not joking)

The American people are famous around the world as being terribly ignorant about the rest of the world. How could we be anything different when our most prestigious newspapers care so little about an election going on right across the border which could have huge implications for not only our relationship with Mexico, but for all of Latin America? Many people may not know that one after another Latin American country is electing leftist, populist governments who are running campaigns partly based on their opposition to the United States.
Nah, I guess that is not important. Who cares about an election 15 minutes away from much of San Diego when there are goats eating flammable materials in the suburbs!?

UPDATE: After reading James Wolcott's latest piece I realize the Mexican election is not the only important story the American press should be paying more attention to. The suffering of the people of Gaza is shocking. I follow the news pretty closely and even I did not know how bad it is. Wolcott quotes Virginia Tilley from Counterpunch:

"But this time, the situation is worse than that. As food in the refrigerators spoils, the only remaining food is grains. Most people cook with gas, but with the borders sealed, soon there will be no gas. When family-kitchen propane tanks run out, there will be no cooking. No cooked lentils or beans, no humus, no bread ­ the staples Palestinian foods, the only food for the poor. (And there is no firewood or coal in dry, overcrowded Gaza.)

"And yet, even all this misery is overshadowed by a grimmer fact: no water. Gaza's public water supply is pumped by electricity. The taps, too, are dry. No sewage system. And again, word is that the electricity is out for at least six months."

Jesus.

UPDATE II: The LA Times now has a photo from the Mexican election on the top of their web page- good for them. I guess they read my blog...