Bill Clinton & Jeremiah Wright pic - BFD

This picture appeared in The New York Times yesterday, which shows President Clinton shaking hands with Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Evidently, this picture was released by the Obama campaign. (You will need a NYT premium account to view this article after one week.)

My only question about this picture is, "Where's the news?" (My college newspaper adviser used to say this to us when we ran a non-newsy story, or one that hadn't been adequately updated with the latest developments; I'll cop to running more of those than I should, but I was learning.)

Anyway, the fact that this is such a non-story is really the story here; that the media would even devote any time or space to it says a great deal about the levels the media will go to to get a "story" in this hotly contested Democratic primary.

First of all, it's a rather pathetic attempt by the Obama camp to divert attention away from the issue of Wright's relationship with him. I've gone on record as saying I think it's a problem, but not one that should disqualify Obama from becoming president. His speech earlier this week went a long way toward his moving past this pseudo-scandal, as I've called it. But, this is the sort of Clinton-like tactic that Obama has been complaining about since the beginning of the year. Pretty amateurish.

What's even more damning, though, is the absurd coverage the Times gives this picture - it's amazing that they actually found stuff to write about, including going so far as to post copies of the invitation from the president. (Full disclosure - it's on the Times' blog for the '08 race, The Caucus, but I question its newsworthiness.) I'm just disappointed that I didn't find out what the party favors were, or how tasty the food was, or if Rev. Wright put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance (actually, that WOULD be newsworthy, now that I think about it), or if the president put his napkin in his lap and talked with his mouth full or not.

Cripes - I don't know who's more desperate in this campaign - the press to find some sort of scoop, any scoop, or the Clinton & Obama camps, clawing, kicking and screaming to finally come out on top with the nomination.