You mean they really didn't think that Nancy Pelosi is more "fascinating" than (gasp) Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, or Jay-Z, or the Smiling Preacher?

Our friend Kevin sent us a copy of this letter he dashed off to his local TV station in a huff:

December 13, 2006

Dear KTLA Morning News,

In your 8 o’clock hour this morning, December 13, Sam Rubin made reference to Barbara Walters' choice of Nancy Pelosi as the year's most fascinating person from her list of "The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2006." At the mention of Congresswoman Pelosi’s name, Mr. Rubin winced with a look of disbelief.

As if your entertainment reporter’s editorial comment was not enough, Carlos Amezcua felt compelled to weigh in with his own unsolicited opinion. Forgive me, but I’ve always assumed that the measure of a great reporter is to simply impart the news in an objective, unbiased manner. To have an anchorman pontificate to a trusting audience by interjecting “Nancy Pelosi, I don’t get that…” or something to that effect is at the least unprofessional and, in fact, irresponsible journalism.

That kind of loaded message from a member of the Fourth Estate is another example of how biased reporting has deteriorated the public’s respect for the news media. What does either Mr. Rubin or Mr. Amezcua really know about Ms. Pelosi and what right have they to influence the public’s own perception?

This kind of rush to judgment represents a dangerous trend that has turned hard news programs into variety shows and sacrificed career journalists for vain media darlings. At best, it shows a chronic underestimation of how impressionable their audience is, but effectively a complete disdain for their own responsibility to report the facts in favor of selling “papers” and keeping their numbers up for "sweeps" time.

It was that mentality, for instance, that swept us into war by giving the Bush Administration carte blanche to invade Iraq. God forbid a news organization should show enough reserve to look deeply into the facts at hand, consider both sides and walk an objective line between. They would rather pound the most popular drum beat that would have them “Dancing with the Stars” than risk a moment’s drop in ratings.

Given her ostensibly feminist ideals and her penchant for claiming the higher ground when her cohorts get a bit too, shall we say, macho libre, I’m equally disappointed that Michaela Pereira essentially condoned Amezcua’s insult by not calling him on it. After all, if it were a man elected Speaker of the House as tough and smart as Representative Pelosi, would he have elicited such a venal response?

For the benefit of all the KTLA news staff and, perhaps, the Southern California viewership that should be only too proud that California is to be so well represented in the United States House of Representatives, here are a few facts to consider about Nancy Pelosi –

The first woman in U.S. history to be elected the House Minority Whip
The ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee for two years
The first woman to serve as Speaker of the House
The first woman to lead a major political party in either house of Congress
The first Californian or Italian American to hold the post
She opposed the Iraq Resolution authorizing President Bush to invade Iraq
While topping the list of the richest members of Congress, she voted against repealing the Estate Tax
She is second in the presidential line of succession (behind the Vice President)
She's the mother of five children

While Carlos Amezcua fancies himself to be the legitimate alternative as a local anchorman in Los Angeles to the train wreck that is Steve Edwards and the KTTV Fox 11 Morning News, it’s time he begin to act that way. Otherwise, I suggest he pursue another calling such as ramping up his campaign to elect the group Chicago to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Smearing that respected organization’s name by publicly boycotting them is another of his favorite pastimes. Since he is undoubtedly an authority on popular music as well (at least for the years between 1972 and 1982), maybe he should trump the contemptuous rock critics completely by establishing the Soft Rock Hall of Fame, but that’s another subject entirely.

Sincerely,

Kevin Laffey
Los Angeles, CA

SO WHO ARE THE 10 (OR ACTUALLY 12)
"MOST FASCINATING PEOPLE OF 2006"?

We extracted this information from ABC News's "20/20" Web page by laboriously chucking out all but the necessary tiny bit of associated verbiage at the end:

Andre Agassi: A Good Sport

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie: Two for the Price of One

Joel Osteen: The Smiling Preacher

Jay-Z: The King of Rap

Steve and Terri Irwin: Soul Mates

Anna Wintour: Always in Vogue

Sacha Baron Cohen: "Borat"

John Ramsey: The Mystery Continues

Patrick Dempsey: Still McDreamy

Most Fascinating Person of 2006

And the Most Fascinating Person of 2006?

Walters revealed her choice on the special, and taking the top spot was the most fascinating person on election night this past November: Nancy Pelosi. . . .

We asked you to vote for who you thought was most fascinating person this year. We received more than 8,000 votes, and more than 4,000 of you thought it was Barack Obama. Nancy Pelosi came in second, in a virtual tie with Stephen Colbert.

Well, checking over our notes, according to our tally that adds up to two distinctly interesting people (Pelosi and Sacha Baron Cohen), and a bunch of other folks. And say, what about Barack Obama and Stephen Colbert? Did they finish at, like, Nos. 11 and 12?