To the editor:

The media’s relentless obsession with the remarks of Obama’s pastor make me wonder how they decide whose remarks to fixate on.

There were Bush’s alleged remarks made in the Oval Office in November 2005, “Stop throwing the Constitution in my face, it’s just a goddamned piece of paper.” These remarks were leaked to the press by three GOP politicos in attendance, who didn’t want to be identified. Had the media pursued this as they do some things, the remarks probably would have been verified, or discredited. They have been neither verified nor discredited.

Alberto Gonzales, while still White House counsel, referred to the Constitution as an outdated document.

Barbara Bush, on “Good Morning America,” March 18, 2003, while defending her son’s administration’s censorship of images of flag-draped coffins returning from Iraq, said, “Why should we hear about body bags and death : or, I mean, it’s not relevant, so why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?”

Barbara Bush on Larry King, Oct. 22, 2003, “You can criticize me, but don’t criticize my daughters-in-law, and don’t criticize my husband, or you’re dead.”

The media chooses who and what to deify and who and what to damn, thus deeply influencing our society.

Own your mind.

Julie Matchett,

Lawrence