Every election season, the corporate media runs a host of stories that avoid a substantive discussion of the issues and focus on the more trivial aspect of campaigns--where candidates are speaking, who is ahead in what poll, how much money the candidates have, and even what the candidates are wearing.

Earlier this year, The Grand Rapids Press published a hard hitting wire story on who pet owners prefer for president and why. Now, the West Michigan television station WZZM 13 has produced a story about a bakery in Muskegon that is producing election themed cookies. The story is entirely devoid of any information about the views of the two major party presidential candidates, and instead talks about how customers can choose between cookies with "a blue 'O' for Obama" and "a red 'M' for McCain." The story quotes the bakery's owner who says that "People don't just come and buy the cookie... There are people that are actually having a conversation, which is good." However, from the article there is no evidence that it is generating any kind of debate and it just quotes people who say what cookie they bought without asking why.

How does this story help inform voters? Is this the type of election coverage that will create an informed electorate?

Transcript of the WZZM 13 Story:

MUSKEGON, MICH. (WZZM) -A bakery in Muskegon is offering customers a way to support their candidate for president and satisfy their sweet tooth.

"It's been a blast," say Rykes Bakery owner Renee Rouwhorst.

Rykes bakery has whipped up two batches of sugar cookies, one frosted with a blue "O" for Obama, one with a red "M" for McCain.

The bakery is keeping track of sales to determine how many customers are sweet on Obama or hungry for McCain.

"I bought a blue cookie," says customer Taisheena Chambers.

"I bought a McCain cookie," says customer Stephany Town.

"I bought a McCain and Obama, one of each," says customer Hollie Harrison.

The cookies sell for $.99 apiece.

The bakery says they wanted to make them affordable so more people would participate and add to the political debate.

"People don't just come and buy the cookie," says bakery owner Rouwhorst. "There are people that are actually having a conversation, which is good."

Not many customers at Rykes Bakery are able to resist buying one of the cookies.

"I think it's great," says customer Anne Sheppard. "You have to have some fun in it. Everything is so serious."

The bakery says both cookies taste the same. The only difference is the color of sugar on the icing.

But some customers are hoping the cookie will help them at the polls in November.

"I'm going to see which one tastes the best and the one that tastes the best I'm going to vote for," says Hollie Harrison.

Rykes is posting sales totals from their bakery and others participating around the country on their web site, www.rykes.com.

The cookies will be on sale through election day, November 4.