One of the few things both Republicans and Democrats agree on is that our government has become so partisan that it is virtually paralyzed; unable to solve any of the major problems we face. In poll after poll the American people voice their frustration with the constant bickering and grandstanding. The animosity and political "gotcha games" between the parties have risen to new levels of ridiculous in large part because those in the media refuse to do their job.

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The media, and by extension the American people, used to get their "gotcha moments" by confronting those in power directly; asking the tough questions, shining the bright lights, digging for the truth and reporting on what they found. Now most in the media make do with prepared speeches, press releases, presidential surrogates and the White House blog. They take the prepackaged information and simply regurgitate the one-sided propaganda occasionally getting a sound byte of general comment from the opposition to give the illusion of objectivity in their reporting.

The politicians themselves have now stepped into the role that the media has abdicated. Next week President Obama is holding a televised health care summit. Under the guise of transparency and bipartisanship, he is putting on a show in an attempt to expose alleged Republican obstructionism and tout supposed Democratic leadership on the issue. How much truth will the American people learn by this brief display of political theater? When did the free press our founders held so dear get replaced by infomercials?

And don't think it's only the Democrats who are trying to fill the void. Not to be outdone by the president's health care summit, Republicans are challenging Democrats to a televised debate about job creation. In a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland), Republican leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and party Whip Eric Cantor(R-Virginia) wrote, "Clearly, we need a different approach to developing legislation that will get Americans back to work. Therefore, in the interest of complete transparency on the single most important issue of the day for most Americans, we ask that you join us for an open discussion so that we can begin to change a process that has not only polarized this Capitol building but this country as well." (source)

I have as much hope for positive results from President Obama's health care show as I do from the suggested job show and the sad part is I doubt the producers of these shows expect any real results either. They are desperate to expose what they believe is their political opposition's shortcomings. But isn't that the job of the media in this country? Isn't it the media's obligation to, without bias, show the good, the bad and the ugly of each side so the people can make informed decisions?

One could blame the administration for denying the media substantive access to the president. For all the speeches and magazine interviews Mr. Obama gives, he rarely holds traditional press conferences opting instead for the occasional drive-by appearance at briefings. But if the media were doing its job, they'd at least be reporting on that - showing the American people that a lack of access is leaving them with a lack of information and forcing the administration to change their ways. Instead they continue regurgitating the propoganda and short changing the American people.

And so we are left with circuses like the health care summit and the proposed jobs summit; each party trying desperately to expose the weakness of the other with clear and obviously self-serving motives. When government officials perform poorly, we have the option of voting them out of office. What option do we have when those in the media are either too lazy, too intimidated or too politically biased to do their job?