Today, my friend Strand and I got into a disagreement about whether or not President Barack Obama would throw a strike for his first pitch during MLB All Star Game tonight.  He was adamant that Barack would do it, as I was adamant that throwing a strike is very difficult and he wouldn’t be able to.  Silly argument, but it made me realize something about myself that I had not previously realized.  I think the media has a very large effect on my subconscious.

Back in January, during the inauguration, the media didn’t have a negative thing to say about Obama.  He might as well have been the next incarnation of Jesus/Allah/Buddha because the guy was portrayed as a golden god.  Around the same time, I started reading “Dreams from My Father”, Obama’s autobiography.  At the time, I thought Barack Obama had written the GREATEST autobiography in the history of mankind.  Like most books I read, however, I didn’t quite finish it before it got put on the back burner.

Fast forward seven months.  President Obama has faced a lot of challenges.  He and his administration have done well on some and done poorly on others.  He no longer is the pristine messiah that some, maybe including myself, thought he would be.  It is really unfair for the public to think of any one as being this way, especially the leader of the free world.  Regardless, the media has occasionally covered his decisions in a negative light.  I think this has effected my subconscious in the sense that I am somewhat less of a blind follower than I was before.  In a small sense, I have once again tried to finish his Obama’s book and have been less than excited about what I’m reading.  Today, I argued tirelessly that he probably won’t throw a strike to Albert Pujols.  Certainly these are stupid, trivial subjects that have no reflection on his ability to lead, but I can’t help but think that these opinions have been somewhat influenced by the media and the general feeling of the country.  Had I tried to finish Obama’s book in January I probably would have proclaimed it as the next Holy Bible or had he thrown out the first pitch on election night I would have bet my life it went over the center of the plate.  My point is this: I think I am easily influenced by the general media coverage of the world.  Maybe not on the grand scale, but subconsciously.  This isn’t some new revelation or life changing idea.  Just as I supported former President Bush during his term, I support President Obama during his, regardless of what my feelings at the moment may seem.  Just some food for thought.

For what it’s worth, President Bush’s first pitch during the 2001 World Series was not only the greatest first pitch ever thrown, but arguably one of George W. Bush’s finest moments.  He threw a strike right down the middle of the plate during a time that Americans needed every small moment like that one in their favor, all while wearing a bullet proof vest!  Amazing!  It makes me a bit sad that now, eight years later, his public opinion is that of pariah.  Oh well.