More importantly, the media would go 24/7 coverage on it, the public would get enraged, and that would put a stop to it.

Everything is the result of controlling the public narrative. If the left wants something to become an issue, the media makes it an issue that is forced into the public discussion. If the left doesn't want something to become an issue, the media doesn't its absolute best to make sure that it flies under the public radar, if at all possible.