The mainstream media suffers from short-term memory loss, demonstrated in its latest efforts to tag Ben Carson as someone who fraternizes with fraudsters and felons. Except in the process of reporting on Carson's tie to exactly one convicted felon, the MSM has utterly ignored Hillary Clinton's umpteen ties to criminals.

It's either convenience, willful ignorance, or they haven't actually investigated Clinton at all. You decide.

The Associated Press joined Mother Jones, at the very least, in gleefully exposing the fact that Carson's best friend, wealthy dentist and businessman Alfonso Costa, was convicted in 2008 for defrauding insurance companies of over $40,000 by charging them for procedures he never performed. 

Costa was convicted in the fraud case alongside fellow oral surgeon and business mate Roberto Michienzi. Costa's attorneys argued that Michienzi was responsible for most of the $40,000 while Costa could only be tied to $180. Carson came to his friend's defense, along with 40 others as character witnesses, and helped Costa avoid a 10-year federal prison sentence by sending a letter to the judge requesting leniency. He ended up paying close to $300,000 in fines, was put on two years probation, one year house arrest, and 100 hours of community service. 

But since Carson and Costa are besties, and continue to have real estate investments together, Carson is guilty by association. And to the MSM he looks especially hypocritical since he wrote in his 2013 book, America the Beautiful, that people who commit health care fraud should receive stiff penalties of no less than 10 years in prison, lose their medical license for life and all of their personal possessions. It is something Carson dubbed the "Saudi Arabian Solution" -- an eye-for-an-eye type of thing -- but of course without the advocating of chopping people's fingers off for stealing.

So, it's not only hyperbole that is lost on the media, but it's the fact that Hillary Clinton has Carson beat by a long shot in the associates-with-felons department. Just look at the small list that The Washington Free Beacon published earlier this year, reduced to bullet points below:

• Jon Corzine — former NJ governor sued by the feds for fraud, still raises money for Hillary
• Jeffrey Epstein — Clinton Foundation donor AND convicted sex offender, flew with Bill on private jet on the "Lolita Express" to his own "orgy island"
• Marc Rich — FBI's most wanted next to bin Laden for tax evasion and dealings with Iran. Made generous donations to Clinton Library, subsequently pardoned by President Bill Clinton.
• Webb Hubbel — Hillary's former law partner, served two years in prison on federal corruption charges
• Hassan Nemazee — Major Clinton donor and now in prison serving 12 years for defrauding banks of $300 million. (with an 'M')
• Sant Chatwal — Hillary campaign bundler, pled guilty in 2014 for illegal campaign contributions
• Sheldon Silver — helped Hillary win Senate, arrested on federal corruption charges

And this list is neither exhaustive nor hard to find. Unless you're not looking.