How Will Mainstream Media Cover Cardinal Dolan's Benediction at the DNC?

When the DNC caved and invited Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan to deliver their convention’s closing benediction tonight, it presented the mainstream media with a problem. Would they cover his DNC benediction any differently than they covered his RNC benediction last week in Tampa?

There it was a mixed bag.

Fox News covered it as the last featured event of the convention, which it was. CNN merely played the audio of the benediction in the background, while MSNBC ignored it entirely.

The curiosity surrounding Cardinal Dolan’s treatment at the DNC tonight was heightened by yesterday’s disastrous Democratic platform “put God and Israel back in” ram-down. Los Angeles mayor Villaraigoso, chairing the convention, was forced to endure the humiliation of conducting three voice votes of the full convention, all of which to most observers sounded like a rejection of the ram down by the majority of the delegates.

Viewers of the convention could see with their own eyes and ears that the majority of the delegates to the DNC actively booed putting God back in the platform.

Villaraigoso had to pretend that the “yeas” won, when anyone paying attention could hear clearly that the “nays” won the voice vote.

The juxtaposition of these bullying tactics by the DNC leadership with erstwhile pro-life Democrat Bart Stupak’s admission that the “deal” he made with Obama to pass Obamacare has been violated by subsequent regulations enacted by th Department of Health and Human Services did little to enhance the image of the Democratic Party’s integrity.

The bad feelings this power play left with the disgruntled majority of DNC delegates could backfire when Cardinal Dolan rises to deliver his benediction to close the convention tonight.

Cardinal Dolan’s measured, faith oriented non-partisan benediction at the RNC contained eight references to God. How will the majority of delegates to the DNC react to a similar benediction from Cardinal Dolan after they reacted so vocally in opposition to the inclusion of one reference to God in the 40 page Democratic platform?

The idea that our liberties in the United States of America derive from God rather than government featured as prominently in Cardinal Dolan’s prayer at the RNC as it did in the prayers offered by George Washington and Benjamin Franklin at the founding of the republic:

“With firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, let us pray. Almighty God, Father of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jesus, we beg your continued blessings on this sanctuary of freedom, and on all of those who proudly call America home,” he began. “We ask your benediction upon those yet to be born, and on those who are about to see you at the end of this life. Bless those families whose ancestors arrived on these shores generations ago, as well as those families that have come recently, to build a better future while weaving their lives into the rich tapestry of America.” …

Almighty God, who gives us the sacred and inalienable gift of life, we thank you as well for the singular gift of liberty. Renew in all of our people a respect for religious freedom in full, that first most cherished freedom. Make us truly free by tethering freedom to truth and ordering freedom to goodness. Help us live our freedom in faith, hope and love, prudently and with justice, courageously and in a spirit of moderation. Enkindle in our hearts a new sense of responsibility for freedom’s cause and make us ever grateful for all those who for more than two centuries have given their lives in freedom’s defense. We commend their noble souls to your eternal care as even now we beg your mighty hand upon our beloved men and women in uniform. May we know the truth of your creation, respecting the laws of nature and nature’s God and not seek to replace it with idols of our own making.

Dolan’s references to the “inalienable gift of life” resonated with the delegates at the RNC. It remains to be seen if he will make similar references in tonight’s benediction, especially given prominence given to the Democratic Party’s  pro-abortion policies at the DNC.

The most compelling drama of this evening may not be President Obama’s acceptance speech. It may be found when we learn the answers to these questions surrounding Cardinal Dolan’s benediction:

What will the networks do if the delegates start booing when Cardinal Dolan delivers a benediction filled with references to God and the “inalienable gift of life”?

Will NBC, CBS, and ABC chance camera shots of the delegates as Cardinal Dolan speaks? Will they focus on Sandra Fluke’s reaction ?

Given the track record of the mainstream media, it’s a good bet they will do everything they can to ignore any potential controversies that develop around Cardinal Dolan’s benediction this evening.