In 2008, the national news media swooned over the prospect of an African American President of the United States. The Democratic Party’s presidential nominee was freshman U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL). He was treated to kid glove treatment by the media. There were no hard questions and no real examination of his background. He was carried into the Oval Office on the shoulders of an adoring press. He spouted the slogan “Hope and Change” and the media, Hollywood and millions of poorly informed American voters swooned.