President Obama today mentioned that he was open to the possibility of a media bailout. The amazing conflict of interest inherent in the government bailing out the media should be apparent without analysis. But seven months ago I mentioned the possibility in jest.

Back on February 4th I wrote:

First it was the financial industry. Then realtors were pushing for a $100 billion bailout. Then the automobile industry requested a bailout. Now we're being told that the automobile bailout was actually the tip of the iceberg because unless we bailout the automobile parts suppliers with $25.5 billion, then the whole industry collapses anyway. Next we'll have to bailout the suppliers of the suppliers. And God forbid anyone ever talks seriously about the government bailing out the media.

Today, Obama did just that:

Several bills have been introduced in Congress to aid the newspaper industry, including a Senate measure that would allow newspaper companies to restructure as nonprofits with a variety of tax breaks. The President was noncommittal about the legislation but said: "I haven't seen detailed proposals yet, but I'll be happy to look at them."

Say what? He shouldn't have to see detailed proposals--he should be able to reject the proposition as a matter of principle.

Regardless of whether or not bailouts are a good idea, there is an absolute conflict of interest in the government bailing out the media which is tasked with monitoring and reporting the government. It's comments like this that make a lot of Americans very nervous about this president.

Granted, it could be argued that the media is so in-the-pocket of Obama and the Democrats that, at this point, the media couldn't possibly get any more biased. But in that case there's certainly no reason for taxpayer money to be used to support it.

Combined with Obama's epic ACORN fail today, his weekend media publicity tour is turning into an unmitigated disaster. Especially considering about the only thing that I heard come out of this media circus regarding health care was a discussion as to whether a tax is a tax or not.

If Obama was hoping the media appearances would refocus the nation on health care, it would seem to be a failure. Once again, the focus is on "distractions." These are things that are important but were only uttered by the president accidentally--yet they become the news.