Politico's Martin asserted as "fact" that Gore and Kerry "were elitists and were out of touch with average Americans"

Summary: The Politico's Jonathan Martin asserted as "fact" that Al Gore and John Kerry "were elitists and were out of touch with average Americans." But to the extent the public perceived them in that manner, the media played a dominant role in creating and promoting that perception while largely avoiding discussion of whether President Bush was an "elitist."

During the April 11 edition of CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight, Politico senior political writer Jonathan Martin asserted as "fact" that the two most recent Democratic nominees for president, former Vice President Al Gore and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), "were elitists and were out of touch with average Americans." Referring to recent comments by Sen. Barack Obama, Martin said, "But again, this ultimately could be a problem in the fall for Obama in the general election. If you look at the past two cycles, [guest host] Kitty [Pilgrim], Al Gore and John Kerry. What did Republicans use against them more than anything else? The fact that they were elitists and were out of touch with average Americans. This is going to be the same thing all over again, probably."

But in characterizing Gore and Kerry as "elitists," Martin did not note that to the extent the public perceived them in that manner, the media played a dominant role during the 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns in creating and promoting that perception. By contrast, the media largely avoided discussion during those campaigns of whether President Bush -- a graduate of Phillips Academy Andover, Yale University, and Harvard Business School, and the son of a former president and grandson of a former U.S. senator -- was an "elitist."

From the April 11 edition of CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight:

PILGRIM: Jonathan, your thoughts on how close the race is?

MARTIN: Well, it's very, very competitive. Especially in a place like Pennsylvania where Obama had made some progress, this could really hurt him in rural parts of that state. But look beyond that. Also places like Indiana, which is a key state coming up in May, and perhaps some rural parts of North Carolina. But again, this ultimately could be a problem in the fall for Obama in the general election. If you look at the past two cycles, Kitty, Al Gore and John Kerry. What did Republicans use against them more than anything else? The fact that they were elitists and were out of touch with average Americans. This is going to be the same thing all over again, probably.

PILGRIM: All right, Jonathan Martin, Errol Louis, Gloria Borger. We'll be right back in just a moment. We'll have much more on Senator Obama's stunning comments on small town America. We will have extensive coverage. More reaction from the candidates and the very best political analysts. Stay with us.

—M.G.