By Ray Cardello for November 14, 2021 Season 7 / Post 5

The case of Kyle Rittenhouse has gripped the media for the last week. The case has national ramifications for its cultural implications. I do not want to focus on the trial and any opinion I might have for the outcome but rather on the impact the case has had on media and politicians. This case is a microcosm of the divide in America. Depending on which network you rely on for your national news, you will get a different take than another source. When talking about reporting the facts on a given event, you should not get diametrically opposed stories. That is the unfortunate state of our news media.

No surprise, I get most of my news from FOX, and they have been relying on the content of the video from the night of the shooting. There has been no condemnation of anyone involved. They let the viewer form their own opinion from the tape. The coverage on CNN, MSNBC, or the networks has been dramatically different. The consensus of the MSM is that this is a slam dunk murder case and that Rittenhouse needs to receive the full extent of the law.

In addition to their quick, hasty verdict, they have also attacked Kyle’s character. He has been called a White Supremacist, a Trump Lover, MAGA Lover, and a cold-blooded killer. They questioned his motives before he even testified, and they contend he was there to look for trouble, and he found what he was looking for. Every left-leaning outlet sang from the same book, but they were all singing off-key.

Joe Biden made a horrific mistake and showed poor judgment when he called the defendant a white supremacist before the first shred of testimony was heard. Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and Ayanna Pressley followed the President’s lead and labeled the young man. These people should know better, but they do not care. To these politicians, it is all about the sound bites and the web clicks. They want to be at the forefront, on people’s minds, regardless of the content.

The problem with Biden chiming in is twofold. Being the President, even a senile incompetent President, his words carry weight. His ardent followers will believe it without question. They will not formulate their own opinion based on facts as that takes too much work. The other is the fodder it supplies for the Mainstream Media. They will use the President’s comments as the talking points for the “news” cycle. They will repeat, bob, and repeat until the next hot topic takes its place.

This reckless use of the microphone is a dangerous game when you are playing with people’s lives. In this case, Kyle Rittenhouse is in the middle of a court case that will decide his future. He has been in the court of public opinion since that night in Kenosha. The trial should be a seeking of the truth, but it is personal for the lawyers. For them, it is about the win. The prosecutor knows he has a weak case and has put on a poor effort. He is losing and is now looking for a way to save face. He has asked for consideration by the jury of lesser charges. He may not get the homicide conviction that he and the media desperately wanted, but manslaughter will do. At least he won’t have to live with an “L .”

This article first appeared on The Liberty Loft and can be seen at thelibertyloft.com