Black Reporters on the Beat of Michelle Obama

Howard Kurtz wonders (in the Washington Post which is selling access to friendly politicians, lobbyists and editors for up to $250,000) whether assigning black female reporters to cover Michelle Obama is either racist or sexist or might lead to favorable coverage.

Does Race Play a Role in Coverage? ...

Perhaps this gives them a richer cultural understanding of Obama as a trailblazer. Indeed, most write with enthusiasm, in some cases even admiration, about the first lady as a long-awaited role model for black women.

"Without a doubt, I identify with her as a brown-skinned African American woman," Samuels says. "Now we have Michelle and see her as a mother, a lawyer, a wife, and she's doing it fabulously." Samuels got to interview Obama during the campaign and "we had a girlfriend-to-girlfriend moment. We did connect."

Oh yeah, these babes are going to cover "Michelle My Belle" objectively.

Ya think?

At Glenn Reynolds Instapundit a reader writes:

“Imagine the reporting on Sarah Palin if she were covered by only pro-life, church-going, mothers who live in small towns. I guess that’s why she didn’t have many ‘girlfriend to girlfriend’ moments with the press.”