The influence of media on elections

I feel that the media definitely has a negative influence on presidential elections. While it is true that these media make it possible for a much larger number of people to be informed on the issues and be more involved in the election process, it has much worse negative impacts. For starters it turns these candidates into celebrities and in fact tends to draw attention away from the core issues. Many people will tell you that when Bill Clinton went on Arsenio Hall before his first election, that that was as big a reason as any that he was able to win the support of many voters, especially young ones. His policies didn't matter, it was just cool that he played the saxophone on a popular TV show, although it wasn't a popular show for very long, but thats a different story all together. Now in this current election we see Sara Palin going on Saturday Night Live and make a fool out of herself and only serve to reinforce all of the negative opinions of hers. Because of the media coverage of elections it is now just important too look like a good president than it is too actually be qualified. Everybody complains about all of the attack ads that are out there but if TV stations wouldn't show them than they wouldn't exist, so they are as much to blame as the candidates. Many people have been particularly critical of the current direction the McCain campaign is taking but all he is doing is working within the system to try and win, and although I don't support him or agree with his tactics, I honestly can't say I blame him.