no doubt, mr. obama has been elevated to global status of a rock star, akin to the level that bono can only wish for.

so no reading about the selling of exclusive rights to broadcast the inauguration on HBO raises some issues.

first, HBO has obtained the exclusive rights for today's concert for a cost of 2.5 million. the disney channel jumped on the train shelling out another $2 million to broadcast two programs monday night. and on tuesday, obama will attend the 'youth ball' broadcast via mtv for a cushy 600 000 the network paid to the presidential committee.

in that sense, the obama inauguration is becoming a tv event; much like the superbowl where millions of dollars change hands.

sporting event is one thing, but this is the american president, elected by the people for the people. getting corporate media interest tangled with the barack presidency raises the issue of fairness, access and above all, basic democratic principles. sure, it's just a concert likely to include bono on another trite about his latest cause. as an side, a new u2 album is coming out in the next few months; once reinforcing the theory that bono only becomes political parallel to his music career side. it's not a knock against him by any means, however.

although, many networks that have obtained the rights are part of basic cable and there is no television shortage in the united states, the technical issue of digital-cable receivers will leave a considerable amount of viewers in the dark.

more so, c-span itself has been pushed out from the coverage given hbo's exclusivity to the events.

this news itself speaks of the different approach to this presidency since the night of election back in november. within hours of it becoming official, everyone was out to make a buck with shirts, stamps, plates, coins, etc etc. the press coverage more over has been similar to tmz covering on the latest happenings of lohan; fluffy, void of content--in other words, pointless. like we really need to know what is on the lunch menu of the school that barack's kids will be going to??

at first itself, the news was rather humourous. barack who used the media so well, developed a great relationship and used it to springboard to the top of the democratic ticket when it seemed virtually impossible. the days after the tense of election, the daily coverage seemed a welcoming change to frame obama of the ideal anyone in the united states still can become the president.

however, the approach has not changed, only intensified as major news networks continue coverage ala the celebrity prism of what barack does on vacation, what's he wearing, what phone he has, etc etc etc.

yes, obama himself is a celebrity but treating him the same way as celebrities that make the pages of people magazine blurs the lines between what matters and what does not. for barack is to be the political leader of the united states, to guide the nation and give it direction. people magazine is the anti-thesis of that, to sometimes escape the harsh reality that confronts celebrities like obama.

maybe that is ultimately the intent; slow realization that obama is just a man and regardless of his policies, change will not come around in the coming months. jobs losses will continue to mount, the middle east conflict continue to escalate, and the burdening debt of the american public will be carried by several generations long after obama is out of politics. in that case, it's better to treat this administration lightly, do not hold it to fire, because utimately, the change mantra of obama will leave millions disappointed.

i guess that's the issues that are coming about thus far; the privitization of the access to the president and devoiding him of any substantial coverage in the news media. it'll be interesting how this plays out because no doubt obama has no fear of going in front of the camera and presenting ideas, debating, and having an intellectual conversation with country. perhaps, for the past eight years, the media has become lazy as there was little of such activity between the white house and the media.