Worst Article of the Day

"Obama Wins Big," says the Black Star News headline. That's one of the few items in the article that is not misspelled or otherwise defective. Now, granted, we bloggers have our share of misspellings and errors. But we are solo, without benefit of proof readers and editors. Presumably, the Black Star News has all of those in its offices. The Black Star News bills itself as "New York's Leading Investigative Newspaper." Somehow I doubt that. Let's look at, and dissect, the article in question. Dealing a decisive blow against the so-called Clinton mystic, Senator Barack Obama today ran away with the Democratic primary elections in South Carolina. Uhm, I believe the writer probably meant "mystique." Unless the Clinton have some kind of Svengali on their staff. Obama will boost his electoral delegates count significantly. Ooh, wrong tense. Obama has boosted his delegate count significantly. The next big test will be February 5th on so-called “super Tuesday” when 24 states will hold either primary elections or caucuses. Oy vay. "Super Tuesday" should be capitalized - both words. Exit polls today in South Carolina showed that Obama won 81% of the African American vote while still scoring a remarkably strong 24% of the white vote, following weeks of ugly anti-Obama tactics by the Clinton campaign, including the use of race-baiting tactics. Okay, this is just a pet peeve of mine. Why do newspapers of color - or most papers, for that matter - refer to black citizens of the United States as "African Americans" but refer to white citizens as "whites?" Is that not inconsistent? Sure it is. Either also refer to whites as "European Americans" or to blacks as "blacks." Why the unequal treatment? Exit polls still can’t tell who the second place winner is between Senator Hillary Clinton and former senator John Edwards, who is originally from South Carolina. Dis paragraph be heinous! Exit polls cannot "tell" anything. They can indicate, however. Here's an editorial rewrite suggestion: "Exit polling data are still inconclusive as to who..." Another problem is with the phrase "second place winner is between...Clinton and....Edwards." There would be no second place winner "between" them. One or the other would be in second place. There would not be a third person (the second place winner) standing between them. Editorial rewrite suggestion: "Exit polling data are still inconclusive as to whether the second place winner is Senator Hillary Clinton or former senator John Edwards, who is originally from South Carolina." Obama throughout has said he wanted to create a multi-racial coalition to help transform the United States. He has also reached out to Republicans and independents. Yipes. Should be, "Obama has said throughout that he wanted..." As recently as October 2007, Clinton had led senator Obama by as much as 20%. After stunning Hillary Clinton by winning the Iowa caucuses, Obama weathered narrow losses to Clinton in the New Hampshire primary and the Nevada caucuses. Ouch. Improper usage of past perfect. Should read, "...Clinton was leading..." Uhm, and please capitalize "Senator Obama," both words. Obama has an opportunity to return to his campaign's original themes: change, inclusiveness, and diversity. Factual error: Should read, "...change, inconclusiveness, and adversity."