Sometimes, Brian, I wonder if you want to carry the mantle of journalist raised by people like Mike Wallace, or just be a talking head, simplifying the news into 30 second bits. Tonight, for instance, in your discussion today about President Obama’s evolution on the topic of marriage equality, you, along with the rest of the news media, implied he was left with little choice but to come out of that closet because his very verbose vice president, Joe Biden, had the temerity to say he had no problem with adults choosing who they want to marry.

There are a couple issues I have with this that make me think your ability to analyze and question is wanting. First, Joe Biden is allowed to have a different opinion than the president. This is America. Even our leaders get freedom of speech. Indeed, I believe Dick Cheney is a marriage equality supporter, and was open about his difference of opinion with George W. Bush. It never caused anyone to question his loyalty to the administration, and although many think Cheney led Bush to many policy decisions, he didn’t change the one related to same sex marriage.

Why is it that just because Joe Biden says something that wasn’t said first by his boss, you and your peers all gasp in horror and turn it into a kerfuffle? Because I really don’t think the average American had much doubt about Biden’s general attitude towards same sex marriage. He might not have been ready to lead the local gay pride march, but he’s a Democrat of the more liberal kind. It would have been more surprising if he came out against it. It’s as much news as if John Boehner called for a tax cut. While crying.

Given that, why is it a story that he said it? Why is it a story that he said it before President Obama? And if you believe it is valid to make more of it than a small side note below the fold on an inside page, why not do the whole story? Why not note that this isn’t the first time a vice president and president disagreed on some issue?

I know that I have a less than objective view of this issue and if you’re doing your job right, you should be pissing off people on both sides. But I’m pretty sure that a good journalist isn’t supposed to blow up stories beyond all proportion. In a way, I think John Boehner got this one right: most Americans have other concerns right now. Those on the more conservative side don’t feel as strongly about this issue now as they did 10 years ago, even 5 years ago. The concern of most Americans is having the opportunity to achieve their goals. While for a portion of our population the goal is to be treated equally and enjoy the same opportunities to marry as others, for most people, the immediate goal is be be  financially secure.

It’s great that this is becoming a non-issue, just like interracial marriage. It means we’re progressing. But if it’s a non-issue, it’s a non-story. Don’t make one where it doesn’t exist.

Best regards,

Lisa