( CNN ) -- I ca n't fully understand why a bigoted rancher in Nevada warrants as much media coverage asâ€ ” or more coverage thanâ€ ” a presidential trip to Asia , the delay of a major job-creating infrastructure project or the ongoing crisis in Ukraine . But apparently it does . And like nearly all stories that involve race and politics , the media has covered rancher Cliven Bundy in a way that makes an honest conversation about race in America even more difficult . Take , for instance , a conversation CNN anchor Carol Costello had with my colleague , Republican National Committee Communications Director Sean Spicer , on Friday morning . Somehow Costello made the illogical conclusion that a racist rancher 's rant has implications for the Republican National Committee 's minority engagement efforts . Republicans `` do n't really invite minorities in , '' she insisted without evidence . Spicer explained that the RNC is working to help the entire party listen and connect with the black community and with Americans of all backgrounds . He noted that not only is the RNC building long-term relationships and a permanent presence in black communities , but also that the RNC has hired a number of black staff members , both those focused on engaging with the black community and those who are not . That was n't good enough for Costello . She did n't believe the RNC actually hired black staff members , especially senior level staff . So she demanded that Spicer name names of black people working at the Republican National Committee . She wanted a list of black staffers . That crosses a line . Is Costello hosting a news program or a dog and pony show ? Carol Costello : GOP 's problem wooing African-American voters . As a senior-level staff member at the RNC who happens to be black , my job is to help the committee by developing communications and media strategy . My job is not to be put on display every time a news anchor wants to determine whether a political organization has the right number of people of color . How does that advance the discourse on race and politics in America ? That would be pandering . It 's wrong . Costello , and others in the media who do the same thing , are perpetuating a double standard . When black Republicans appear in the media , they suggest that Republicans are just checking a box by putting a black person on screen . When we do n't put ourselves on display , they assume we do n't exist . That 's pretty revealing of their personal biases . That 's also a dangerous double standard . Which brings us to the even bigger issue at hand . When someone who is n't even a Republican elected official or candidate says something disgusting and offensive , the media goes into overdrive to discuss how this is terrible for the Republican Party . But when Democrat elected officials , including a sitting governor and sitting vice president , say something racist or offensive , you do n't hear a peep . They get a free pass . The latest example comes from President Obama 's home state . Last week , the campaign of Democrat Gov . Pat Quinn promoted an article on Twitter that labeled black Republicans as race traitors and said they were akin to Jewish Nazi sympathizers . Yes , a sitting Democrat governor 's campaign was publicizing racist material . If you did n't hear about it , that proves my point . It was abhorrent , but national coverage was almost nonexistent until CNN.com finally posted an article late Thursday . But did the media demand Democrats apologize and ask the Democratic National Committee for comment ? Did they consider asking DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz , a prominent Jewish leader , to denounce the governor ? Absolutely not . It was reminiscent of their ambivalent coverage when Vice President Joe Biden , during the 2012 campaign , told a group of black voters that his political opponents would `` put y'all back in chains . '' That was disgusting rhetoric , but the vice president is a Democrat , so it was n't breaking news . It was just Joe being Joe , as his fans in the media like to say . Again , it 's a double standard . Racist language has no place in our political discourse . It 's unacceptable whenever and wherever it 's used . And yes , journalists , that includes the Democratic Party . Americans are n't hearing the full story when you 're only covering one side of it . If we 're going to defeat the racism that persists in America , we have to have intelligent conversations about it . The media should neither elevate it nor reduce it to some petty partisan game . But more often than not , media outlets are failing to meet that standard . That was the case on Friday . Let 's hope next time it 's different . Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion .
Judith Wall says CNN and the media have been unfair in its criticism of Democrats and race . Republican National Committee , she says , has stepped up outreach to the black community . Wall : The media practices a double standard by not going after Democrats who have issues with race .