Is Barack Obama getting a free pass?

It's not everyday when the following people agree on something:

Hillary Clinton, Rush Limbaugh, and the cast of Saturday Night Live.

But in watching this week's Democratic Debate, listening to talk radio, and tuning in last Saturday night, I've come to that conclusion.

All of them believe Barack Obama is getting a free pass to the White House, courtesy of the national media.

On Saturday Night Live last weekend, the cast poked fun at the media being "in the bag” for Obama. Hillary Clinton tried to pick up on it when she and Obama squared off Tuesday night in Cleveland, wondering if the Illinois Senator was comfortable enough as he sat beside her, or "needed an extra pillow," as the SNL skit had joked about. Unfortunately for Clinton, she came across as shrill and paranoid in her delivery.

The conservative talk show hosts are chiming in as well, accusing what they call the "drive-by media" of being so caught up in the frenzy over Obama, that they aren't willing to perform their role in the political process of putting Obama's record and relationships under the microscope.

Rush Limbaugh says he's seen it before, and it will make beating the Illinois Senator that much more difficult for the Republicans. Limbaugh points to the early campaign of Ross Perot in 1992 as an example of the public and the pundits being so caught up in the "idea" of a certain candidate that they weren't willing to really examine who they were and what they stood for.

In Perot's case, that changed, after he suddenly dropped out of the race, before re-entering. Perot's home-spun humor and tell-it-to-you like it is approach eventually wore thin with voters and he finished third on Election Night.

Obama is riding high right now. He's struck a chord with voters who are desperate for major changes in Washington, and willing to back a candidate who embodies that spirit.

The enthusiasm they feel for Obama and their disgust with years of dirty politics and "gotcha" news coverage is only deepening their resolve and support.

But will those feelings translate into a Teflon coating around their candidate?

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