(Jake Turcotte)
Postpone Thursday’s debate because of moderator? Not yet…
By Jimmy Orr | 10.01.08
Could we see another call to postpone the debate? This time it wouldn’t be over a need to fly back to Washington to save the nation’s financial sector; rather, it would be over the host of Thursday’s vice presidential debate.
It’s not like the Commission on Presidential Debates got all wacky and asked Jerry Springer to host it. It’s PBS correspondent Gwen Ifill.
So what’s the controversy? Like everyone, she’s got a book to sell. And although it hasn’t been released yet, it’s the subject of the book that has some conservatives pretty upset. The subject? Only the Democratic nominee for President: Barack Obama.
The book, titled “The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama,” is set for release on - drumroll, please - Inauguration Day.
Details
What’s the book about? The publisher says, “In ‘The Breakthrough,’ veteran journalist Gwen Ifill surveys the American political landscape, shedding new light on the impact of Barack Obama’s stunning presidential campaign and introducing the emerging young African-American politicians forging a bold new path to political power.”
Upset
Are conservatives howling? Some are. Hot Air’s Michelle Malkin for example blew off some steam today.
“My dictionary defines ‘moderator’ as ‘the nonpartisan presiding officer of a town meeting,’ ” Malkin writes. “On Thursday, PBS anchor Gwen Ifill will serve as moderator for the first and only vice-presidential debate. The stakes are high. The Commission on Presidential Debates, with the assent of the two campaigns, decided not to impose any guidelines on her duties or questions.
“But there is nothing ‘moderate’ about where Ifill stands on Barack Obama,” she adds. “She’s so far in the tank for the Democratic presidential candidate, her oxygen delivery line is running out.”
“It is not by any standard…”
So is McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt on the phone with reporters shredding PBS like he did to the New York Times two weeks ago? Nope.
In fact, the campaign doesn’t seem to care. At least, Senator McCain didn’t seemed concern this morning while speaking to Fox News correspondent Carl Cameron.
“I think that Gwen Ifill is a professional, and I think that she will do a totally objective job because she is a highly respected professional,” McCain said. “Does this help…if she has written a book that’s favorable to Senator Obama? Probably not. But I have confidence that Gwen Ifill will do a professional job, and I have that confidence.”
But, think of it this way: If the McCain campaign says anything that suggests a concern, they’ll be attacked as trying to weasel out of the debate somehow. That doesn’t mean others can’t say what they think though.
Ari Fleischer wonders…
In an email exchange with The Vote, former Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer asks:
“Will her upcoming book, which is due for release on 1/20/09, sell more copies under President Obama or President McCain?”
Re-do
Fox News host Greta Van Susteren says game-over.
“I am stunned….the campaign (actually both) should have been told before the campaign agreed to have her moderate. It simply is not fair - in law, this would create a mistrial.”
Nah, she’s OK
Dan Schnur, former McCain staffer and current head of the USC’s Institute of Politics, tells The Vote it’s not a worry.
“She’s a good journalist,” Schnur said. “She’ll play it straight.”
Not bad
Regardless, this thing’s going to happen. And although the bar has been set very low for Palin, you can bet the folks prepping Biden for the debate have watched the 2006 Alaska gubernatorial debate. In this video she doesn’t look anything like her appearance on Couric’s show.
In fact, she looks pretty formidable.
<< Couric strikes again - asks Palin impossible question | MainComments
2. Howard Wing | 10.01.08
Come on, she is a women, Biden is at a disadvantage. I am sure if Sean Insanity was the moderator you would be pleased.
3. Truth | 10.01.08
She was approved by the GOP’s CPD rep Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
People should shut up.
4. caj | 10.01.08
Big Big mistake for PBS. If I am not mistaken PBS relies on public support. For me and lots and lots of my friends PBS will be losing public contributions if she does not recuse herself.
5. David | 10.01.08
Gwen Ifill should recuse herself. It is an outrage that the moderator of the VP debate is an Obama partisan. America’s freedom is under siege.
6. John | 10.01.08
Wow, what part of unbiased don’t they get. I mean really? Time to find another moderator.
7. Redneck Liberal | 10.01.08
It’s going to be fine. I suspect that Governor Palin is more intelligent than we have seen in her brief appearances of late; in fact, I’ll bet she’s anxious to get out from under her handlers to show us what she’s got. As for the moderator, she’s been a model of reasoned reporting, from my experience watching her, and even if she’s not tomorrow, we are quite capable of recognizing bias.
8. George | 10.01.08
Aha! So did Katie Couric also write a book on Barak Obama? How about Gibson? I guess the moderator should be Billy the O’Reilly.
9. PBS Defender | 10.01.08
I think you are lying that you support public television. Conservatives want to reduce funding for it, not to increase it. They view it as liberal already. This whole thing is something they knew about and is manufactured horse….stuff.
11. Sebastian | 10.01.08
When it comes down to the actual vote, the majority of Americans will realize that Obama is a media creation cast in the image of American Idol or Dance with the Stars. Gwen Ifill is simply a part of that media, corrupt, dishonest and dare I say, evil.
12. jeremiah | 10.01.08
Yeah, Palin rambled in a couple of her answers to Couric. But Obama claimed to have “visited 57 states so far.” Isn’t that far worse than anything Palin has said? Also, if you go to youtube, you can see two minutes of Obama’s uhs and ahs while trying to answer a question.
13. Ferris | 10.01.08
The obvious course of action is for Ifill to donate the proceeds of the book to a [black] charity
14. Adom | 10.01.08
This is the best reporting I’ve seen to date. Fair and opinionated. And I LOVE the fake Palin question. It’s not sort of hard, it’s really hard. Good job!
15. State or Oregon | 10.01.08
It’s time for McCain / Palin to follow the example of the Oregon ‘Death with Dignity Act’.
This is a dying campaign. The misdirections, showmanship and desperation is really starting to stink up the house.
At least they could exit with dignity and self medicate.
16. Mario Tedde | 10.01.08
Get a new moderator What’s up with this PBS It looks like my remaining years will be to clean house.
17. MC from WV | 10.01.08
Just about anyone who follows politics closely is going to have a personal opinion. And who follows the news more than those who report it? Of all news programs on TV the Newshour is the least biased. Gwen Ifill and her PBS colleagues are highly professional and have plenty of practice keeping their private opinions out of their public responsibility ( so unlike many politicians) Gwen Ifill is no Bill O’Reilly or Keith Olberman. I feel a lot better with her moderating than many others. So calm down. Sit back and watch the debate.
18. C Nelson | 10.01.08
It’s no wonder that the McCain campaign hasn’t registered any strident objections to Ifill’s presence as moderator. The GOP candidates have been struggling with a severely biased mainstream media since the beginning of the primaries. They are probably numb to it all by now.
19. Patti | 10.01.08
Okay, here’s the thing. This woman’s book, judging by the title, is less about Obama himself and more about race and culture. The mere fact of Obama’s candidacy is historic and will have far-reaching impact, win or lose. Ifill knows that, of course. She also knows she will sell books regardless of the outcome (her choice of release dates is all about timing…the election will still be fresh in everyone’s mind no matter the outcome). To be fair, she may garner a bit more publicity if Obama is the one taking the oath of office that day, but then again since she’s a well-known reporter she will get a lot of publicity anyway. This is not a question of conflict of interest. Conflict of interest would be someone who has worked for one campaign or the other moderating. It’s a non-issue.
20. KC | 10.01.08
What? Wait a minute. Brokaw moderated a debate, and he’s for McCain, and that isn’t a secret. Wait, so is Anderson Cooper, and he moderated a debate, too. Where was your outrage then? Man, I didn’t hear from one of you. She, ike the others, will ask lots of “gotcha” questions to both, as what I can see, is that the journalists aren’t really interested in getting real answers, or they wouldn’t ask such ridiculous questions. The “gotcha,” and better than that, the “Hypothetical, what if” questions are all we see, yet they do nothing to answer questions that we really have. When you tube does one “by the people,” they waste my time with flag pin quesitons.
Nope, it seems the journalists ask questions that only make THEM look smart, and the candidates be darned.
21. dsgarvin@gmail.com | 10.01.08
Gwen Ifill is a fair and respected journalist for those who want real news analysis, and watch something other than Fox News . For those of you that exude your biases, this election is about Americanism, not WP liberalism/conservatism. It sounds like her book is on the subject of an African American running for president and the new movement of young black pols, which in an analyzed mind has nothing to do with Obama personally. Until the book comes out, the bias sprays through posts, reports all only confirming what many never knew about people they thought held no bias due to diversity. As this becomes evident, the world will change.
22. LeRoy | 10.01.08
The Obama campaign has effectively managed the media, which is an indication of Barack’s leadership ability. Charles Gibson, Katie Couric and now Gwen Ifill have been carefully wooed to support Barack Obama who will be the next President of the United States. Ifill is a skilled journalist and will see to it that Palin is shown in the worst possible light while Biden will be presented as the strong and experienced candidate that he is.
23. Omidal | 10.01.08
She is a good journalist.
Is not like she is going to ask them different set of questions.
As long she gives them equal time to answer I do not see the problem.
I love Gwen and she should Moderate. Period.
24. Kathy | 10.01.08
(Curious how many contributions caj and friends have made to PBS so far.)
Actually, it’s likely that Ifill will lean over backwards to give Palin a fair shot, given the attacks of the right wing media.
25. Steve | 10.01.08
And what about Palin’s interview with that paragon of objectivity, Sean Hannity of Fox News? Oh please give me a break. “Boo hoo hoo we’re a bunch of cry baby Republicans, Gwen Ifill is so unfair.” Should have picked a better VP candidate you whiners.
26. ed.v.stalzer,m.d. | 10.01.08
I think having her as moderator is basically wrong. There are many better qualified people around with more experience and inteligence.
ed
27. DMD | 10.01.08
Apparently, the most important question is not whether Gwen Ifill will be an objective moderator, but rather whether a sufficiently dubious question about Ifill’s objectivity can be raised prior to the Republican VP candidate’s performance. No offense intended to Republicans in general, but we must accept the existence of the Karl Rove-ian Best Methods that appear to have been in place for the last eight years, and are currently being employed by McCain operatives who call themselves patriotic Republicans.
To wit and I repeat myself; “the best thing that can happen for the supported candidate in a political endeavor reliant on Karl Rove-ian techniques is that early in the process, based on party affiliation or non-issue based biases or preferences, each supporter strongly or weakly decides to vote for the target candidate and thereafter is never subjected to any new election information; 2nd preference - said supporter will automatically reject new election information critical of supported candidate based on a programmed perception that the source is illegitimate; 3rd preference – any time the Rove-ian operative sees the potential by anyone even remotely connected to the adversary’s side for the commission of a bad act that the Rove-ian operative’s side has already committed or is in the process of committing, accuse the other side of the bad deed, preferably while bombastically displaying righteous indignation in the presence of the target voter.”
Of course, such “Best Methods” are dependent on what appears to be a Karl Rove-ian view that implicitly and emphatically asserts the general and natural gullibility or prejudice of the American electorate. Again, in the words of Kurt Vonnegut, “And so it goes.”
28. Michael Is | 10.01.08
Actually, who really expected an educated black woman NOT to be an Obama supporter? It would have stretched credulity if she were not, if polls are any indication. I would rather know what her opinion is beforehand than not knowing at all. Now everyone will be watching her as much as the VP candidates. This will, in the end, give Palin supporters an opportunity to claim bias if Palin does poorly.
29. stan | 10.01.08
Ah, won’t she ask the canidates the same questions? So unless Gwen asks what brand of underware Joe is wearing, I think it will be fair, and balanced. Sorry Faux News.
30. arnold | 10.01.08
Just what do you expect from the DEM’s and the Obama camp.Do you see bias here ?
31. SN | 10.01.08
So I guess since Jim Lehrer is a white older man Democrats should have complained that he moderated the first presidential debate since he would favor McCain. Are you kidding me with this? Then I guess since every moderator after tomorrow is a white male than I assume they will favor McCain in all future debates. I didn’t even think about the race or age of the moderator. Give me a break. Conservatives just want to postpone the VP debate so Palin won’t have to speak and they will once again shelter her so Americans won’t hear that she knows Nothing.
32. Overhere | 10.01.08
Just ANOTHER excuses for the McCain Campaign. They already KNEW about the book . PBS and GWEN still have my support. As for Palin, 4 interviews 4 disasters. You do the math. OF COURSE THEY WANT IT POSTPONED!
33. cal | 10.01.08
Get someoneelse asap — Done deal! maybe Obama would like to do it =—- he can do no wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!
34. Jackson Maynard | 10.01.08
Palin will be dumped from the ticket within 24 hours of the debate. Ifill will disect her with the skill of a taxidermist. The McSame campaign should have realized that Gwen was a Democratic plant.
35. Gus | 10.01.08
Do you lack that much confidence in the American people that they couldn’t see if she demonstrated her preference for one candidate or another?
Also, look at the bright side!!! If/when Palin makes a fool out of her self and the repbulican party, the republicans can blame PBS as opposed to McCain for his selection of an unqualified candidate.
Especially when she ask reprehenible partisan questions like the “Gotcha” questions from Couric “What do you think of the $700 billion government bail out.”
How dare Couric.
Here are a few republican questions-
“How long should it take for a skilled person to field dress a moose?”
“What is the fastest you have seen a hockey puck fly”
“what did you do with the money from the bridge to no-where that you kept after you turned down the bridge?” (oops scratch that one)?
“how close is Russia to you?”
“how partisan is the media?”
“Tell us how unfair it is that you are actually being treated like a candidate for the VP of the United States of America?”
36. Chuck | 10.01.08
I think that Ms. Ifill should be replaced with Nancy Pelosi. Ms. Pelosi would be far more fair and balance as a moderator. Her verbal skills precede her, plus she has demostrated being extremely moderate in her stance as a politician.
37. Danl | 10.01.08
Good article, Jimmy - though I’ve never seen “weasel” spelled that way before… I don’t quite get the complaints from Obama supporters about having this brought up….would they have been quiet if Rush Limbaugh had been chosen to moderate?
38. Ah Ha! | 10.01.08
We don’t know what is in the book and the McCain Camp is holding Ifill out to get trashed. She hasn’t even written the part on Obama yet. How could someone write a book about the political changes in the African American community & NOT include Obama?
So incredibly dumb, disrespectful, and low. McCain, stooping to the kind of politics he says he hates.
If that isn’t bad enough, they think the voters are soooo stupid we won’t know it is a ploy to cover Whalin’ Palin’s anticipated gaffs.
39. cal | 10.01.08
If she had any sence Gwen would not do this. This is all about selling her book! Come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Get someone else to do this asap.
40. Von | 10.01.08
Gwen Ifill is a professional, unlike pretty much everyone on Fox “news.” Anyone who is familiar with Gwen’s work knows how she presents herself and she will bring her professionalism to the debate. Her book doesn’t come out until next year, well after the elections. It’s obvious the book is not trying to sell Obama to voters, my guess is her book is about the first African American to be in a presidential election. Whether or not Obama is elected, this is history in the making. For African Americans, it’s very exciting.
If there’s even a hint of Gwen showing a bias during the debate, the media will be all over it and it could damage her reputation. Don’t worry, folks. I’m sure Palin is well prepped and will be as vicious as she normally is and find every angle possible to attack Obama. On the other side, Biden will no doubt go after McCain. That’s their job. But, if Palin can’t answer complex questions about foreign or domestic political affairs, that will be her downfall and you can’t blame that on the media. Gwen can’t make Palin lose a debate with Biden.
41. Matt H. | 10.01.08
They knew the details when they first agreed so they really just sound like kids trying to make up excuses to get out of their house chores whenever they try to soft shoe their way out of their obligations as candidates. If this is what they do with an election. I really don’t want to see what happens when its the real world calling with real world problems that require real world solutions.
43. Frank | 10.01.08
If she stands to gain financially with a Democratic win, then without question she should be removed. The organizers should have done it as soon as this was learned. Don’t make the Republicans have to look like the bad guys for insisting on some basic fairness.
44. Gus | 10.01.08
” There are many better qualified people around with more experience and inteligence.”
Name three? Oh, those three are already moderating the Obama / McCain debates, mind suggesting a few others?
45. Giveitarest | 10.01.08
It’s beyond laughable that someone of Michelle Malkin’s ilk would criticize a respected journalist like Gwen Ifill. I find it quite confounding that Malkin is quoted in this article as if she were a reputable source.
All of this indignation from the right about Ifill’s book seems to be suspiciously timed considering news of her book has been out for quite some time. It is not a surprise that the right-wing will do whatever is in their power to derail a debate in which they know there is a high probability their candidate will perform poorly.
47. Mark | 10.01.08
I see the Repubs are already scrambling for excuses for Half Baked Alaska’s hemming and hawing before the debate has even started.
Every journalist in creation is working on a book about the election. Grow up and face up to McCain’s sad, desperate choice in running mates.
48. Minnie Cactus | 10.01.08
Gwen Ifil is a class act. Leave her alone! She will do a great job as she has always done. Anyone who has ever watched her would not be critical of her.
49. Gravity Man | 10.01.08
Boy, for being supposedly these tough, free market, let the chips fall where they may bunch of folks, these “conservatives” sure know how to get their knickers in a twist over the smallest stuff. Me, I smell another diversion afoot…
It’s not like Keith Olbermann is going to do the moderation. (Actually what about getting Olbermann and Sean Hannity as co-moderators? That would be a hoot.)
And they’ve known about this for a while, at least since the beginning of September. From CNN:
“Ifill discussed the book in a interview with The Washington Post on September 4, well before the Commission on Presidential Debates announced the debate moderators.”
Also from CNN:
“I still don’t know if he’ll be a good president. I’m still capable of looking at his pros and cons in a political sense.” Besides, Ifill says, “no one’s ever assumed a white reporter can’t cover a white candidate.”
These folks are humans, with biases. What sets Ifill apart is her widely accepted status as being an ethical and fair journalist.
50. nathan | 10.01.08
what it has come down to is everyone knows that McShame and Palin are a joke. They have now lost Florida, Virginia and Ohio to Obama in the polls. They know their candidates have no chance so the next best thing, whine and cry about every possible thing you can find and hope that maybe someone will listen to it.
52. Pepe Le’Pew | 10.01.08
What possible diff does it make? We are united to get rid of republican corporate american greed no matter who asks the questions!
53. Andy | 10.01.08
Ifil’s doing this to pedal book money, how low can she stoop?! Let’s just see how much dough she gets when McCain is elected…
54. ss | 10.01.08
My gosh, a biased journalist from PBS.
On that, do you realize now that what ever call for the “fairness” doctrine will require PBS, NPR to run Sean Hannity and Rush Limbagh?
How suicidal will you lefties be then??
55. JPM in NC | 10.01.08
Here we have someone who is *supposed* to be qualified to be president of the U.S.A., and her own supporters don’t even think she can handle a basic debate? If Sarah Barracuda can’t even negotiate her way out of a question from Gwen Ifill, I can’t see how she is qualified to sit at the same table as Wen Jiabao, Dmitry Medvedev, or Hugo Chavez. Swim along, little fishy.
56. Cal | 10.01.08
Come on . . . this is just another ploy to lower expectations for the debate. If Governor Palin looks bad; well, ‘it’s all Gwen’s fault.’ Please, as if dealing with a biased moderator is going to be the most serious problem they will ever encounter. Frankly, if either of them cannot address that challenge…
We finally have a VP debate that matters. Both candidates have their faults, as well as strengths. They both want my/our vote. This is an opportunity for them to make their case. Just let them do it.
58. Randy | 10.01.08
This is just ridicules, all of the left wing-nuts and Dumocrats control the media what else is new?
Let’s get Newt Gingrich to moderate this event!!!
59. Kay | 10.01.08
Did we just find out about her book? Come on people this is politics as always. Find a way to blame somebody else if Palin incorrectly answers the question. I guess “daddy” wont be there to protect her.
60. nathan | 10.01.08
So I guess the Republican clueless that still stand behind these two must also think that those Republicans in office and the higher ups of the GOP that are saying she should just step down from the race must also be obama supporters.
Is that right, maybe Obama’s camp infiltrated the GOP and paid off their top dogs to speak out against her. yea right.
61. Steve2 | 10.01.08
And what about Palin’s interview with that paragon of objectivity, Sean Hannity of Fox News? Oh please give me a break. “Boo hoo hoo we’re a bunch of cry baby Republicans, Gwen Ifill is so unfair.” Should have picked a better VP candidate you whiners.
By the way
Obama wasn’t afraid to be interviewed by Fox conservative Bill O’Reilly. But Sarah is a delicate flower who can’t be exposed to any perceived bias? Keep cryin’ ’bout how unfair it is.
62. JT | 10.01.08
What is it exactly that Gwen has done here that disqualifies her from moderating? Her book is not positioned as a partisan treatment of Obama, it’s about the impact of Obama’s campaign on American politics. This is analysis, and this is what professional journalists do, and a journalist of any leaning could be motivated to write on this topic.
63. Save our Souls | 10.01.08
Do you publish articles that expose you for what you are.
Do you use your biased-media base to further engender the hatred you have sown up to now?
64. The check is in the mail… | 10.01.08
PBS will not be losing any money from you or your conservative friends. When has a conservative cared about any social issues or anyone besides themselves for that matter. PBS does not, has not, and will not ever air programming that pushes a political agenda. I doubt you have ever donated a penny to PBS. Gwen is a respected journalist, and will moderate fairly.
66. sonial | 10.01.08
I was hoping that PBS did not stoop to main stream media tactics instead they really blew this one. No contributions from me. Doesn’t matter which party I vote for this is just absolutely wrong. Gwen Ifill has no journalistic ethics.
On racism, isn’t it racism when every African American in the country is voting for Obama just because he is of the same race? How fair is this to begin with? And how can you count this as a vote? Wasn’t there sexism when Hillary lost the vote? So, we have racism and sexim guiding this election.
Obama was completely naive in the debate against McCain and this was extolled
as okay by MSM. Palin who is also a newbie gets chastised for her lack of experience.
Lets be sure of one thing, we already know that Palin will take heat and that Biden will be declared winner of the upcoming debate!
*So know your vote is bought - by the millions of dollars spent by the entertainers such as Oprah.
*Know that Obama and McCain voted for the bailout without really objecting!
They are willing to throw the burden on all of us as taxpayers for mistakes that banks ought to be paying for.
*During a national crisis, Obama urged the need for the debate proving that he just cares about one thing winning this election. No different than the recent actions of Pelosi!
67. valerie | 10.01.08
If the tables were turned Dems would be up in arms and it would be all over CNN and the network news shows.
There are hundreds of other journalists up to the task of moderating this debate who have not been writing a book about one of the candidates. Come on!!!
This is completely skewed and unfair, just like the majority of the news coverage of this election. No wonder Americans don’t trust the media. Why should they with this kind of behavior?
68. Marvin McConoughey | 10.01.08
The choice of a moderator is a tough issue for the program sponsors. Biden is white, Obama is not. Unless a racially identical moderator is found, some will complain about a tilt one way or another. The chosen moderator is a female, as is Palin and she is black, as is Obama. Seems plausibly fair on the face of it.
The issue of having written an Obama-centric book is more problematic. Here, conclusions are thwarted by lack of knowledge as to the book’s tone and content. A book that turns out to be an incisive and balanced analysis of Barack Obama will give strength to those who see the debate moderation as having been equally fair or unfair to both candidates.
I understand the worries of Palin’s supporters. They see a risk that they cannot define in advance, yet as reasonable people, they fear an outcome that, if it materializes, has no post-event corrective action available. Given the stakes at issue, both sides should worry, though for different reasons.
69. Robert | 10.01.08
It seems that the Republicans will stoop to ANYTHING at this point. Are they so afraid that Palin will give yet another laughable public appearance? The McCain/Palin ship is sinking quickly…abandon ship!
This is hilarious!
70. steve | 10.01.08
Could all of the right wing nut jobs who keep screaming about the biased media (even though all objective studies to date and of late have come to show that if anything it has a conservative bias) identify two examples of “bias” with regard to the coverage of McCain Palin. Is Katie Couric part of some liberal elite communist plot? Oh, and by the way, when you give your examples please note that reporting of facts does not constitute “bias” no matter how bad they may make your candidate appear. The only bias I can think of is the media’s failure to pursue “family values issues” in this election like McCain’s acknowledged cheating on the wife who waited for him for five years, Palin’s apparent out of wedlock pregnancy (oops, it happened again with her daughter. Fancy that!), Palin’s hopping on a plane when she was about to deliver against doctor’s orders, Palin’s kicking her pregnant daughter out of the house, her son’s apparent drug use (oh but they have shipped him off to Iraq now so he is an instant hero) etc. I guess you are right, the media just doesn’t care about family values . . .
71. rthomas | 10.01.08
Don’t forget, all Republicans are “fair and balanced” while all Democrats are biased. Of course.
72. DHS | 10.01.08
@12, Jeremiah:
The “57 states” was a joke, it meant to include Puerto Rico, etc….
Add them up, there are 57.
Remember when McCain called Putin the president of Germany?
This is petty ****. The truth is neither candidate are going to help the American people in the way they need it. The two party system is the problem and our founding fathers warned us about this. Yet, we still refuse to listen.
This “democracy” is 2 wolves and a sheep, voting on dinner.
73. joey | 10.01.08
re:caj
If you actually watch PBS and donate money to their cause, I doubt you would be as incensed over this as you claim to be.
“Big Big mistake for PBS. If I am not mistaken PBS relies on public support. For me and lots and lots of my friends PBS will be losing public contributions if she does not recuse herself.”
74. SNS | 10.01.08
Hey then we could easily say that Gwen will be partial towards Palin since she is a woman but we are too educated to say that. This is all ridiculous. I never gave it a thought that the gender, age or race of the moderator would matter in the debate questions. Conservatives, we know your scared to hear Palin tomorrow but deal with it.
75. Frank | 10.01.08
BTW, it’s kind of amusing that they went out of their way to get a woman to moderate in the first place. That’s exactly what Biden would have requested, so that he can drop lots of friendly comments on her and rip Palin without appearing to be mean to women.
Drink a beer for each compliment Biden gives Gwen. You’ll enjoy the media circus so much more that way.
76. jluasais | 10.01.08
I’m an Obama supporter, and it looks like the Democrats have more to lose than the Republicans with Gwen Iffil as moderator.
It doesn’t matter at all whether she’s actually biased. The possibility is enough to give the Republicans an out if (when) Palin bombs.
If McCain’s side hasn’t complained, it may be because they appreciate having been provided with an escape route.
77. philko | 10.01.08
Does anyone else here remember back when the Democrats were the party of whiners? Times change, I guess…
78. Karen | 10.01.08
What a bunch of whacky whiners. If they had chosen a ******* republican male y’all wouldn’t be complaining now would you. Both candidates get to answer the SAME questions, so who gives a hoot who does the asking. If Ms Ifill worked for Chevron, would that be more appropriate……PLLLLLLEEEEEASE get on with it!
79. tdub | 10.01.08
Wow, you say Palin was “pretty darn formidable” in the Alaska debates…
That was then, that was Alaska… This is now, the United States of America and the World and every problem we have that is a bit more important than simply Oil Revenues and Seal counts…. Maybe she can rise to the occasion, but she is going to have to go off script, otherwise she is going to look and sound as rehearsed as she always seems to be.
80. joey | 10.01.08
don’t you see what all the hoopla is? everyone knows that Ifill would be fair and impartial. however, with all this noise that fox and drudge are making, they are trying to force Ifill to consciously/subconsciously go lightly on Palin.
81. Paul Pace | 10.01.08
A professional reporter avoids and and all potential conflicts of interest. She is no better than the ladies of The View or Ophrah. Its all about trying to sway and influence their lady audience. Its a good example of bias in media. Where are the PBS ethical standards? Or in any of our leaders?
82. SNS | 10.01.08
Good point Joey but I would like to think her questions are already set and she won’t be influenced by blogs and will ask the same questions that she would have asked an intelligent male VP candidate.
83. No subtlety at all in right-world | 10.01.08
Does it not occur to anyone that:
1) The book is clearly not entirely about Obama — it appears to be about the context his presidential bid has created for *other* black politicians
2) Given #1, the book may not “support” Obama at all; it could, in fact, be somewhat dismissive of Obama the candidate.
3) Obama is *not in this debate*
4) The book is not titled “Hot-to-trot for Biden!” In fact, it’s not even titled “I love Obama.” Did I mention #3?
As a previous comment notes, if Ifill lobs softballs to Biden and hurls fastballs at Palin, it will be *obvious*, and no sensible person will come away thinking that Biden trounced Palin in the debate. Instead, I suspect a large percentage of the US population would come away from that situation nursing a touch of racial bias and vowing to vote against “her [Ifill’s] kind”. But, then again, this is the United States, the country that elected GWB twice, so expectations of people’s being “sensible” is perhaps misplaced.
84. David H. | 10.01.08
It’s hard to get too worked up about it. Who are they going to get, Bill O’Reilly? Anyone they could get as a moderator is going to be an Obama supporter. Conservatives have long gotten used to this.
86. tlz knows | 10.01.08
Unfreaking believable. There is no way that she should be moderating this debate. That is such a conflict of interest that anyone who can’t see it is an oBLAma zombie who can’t see straight.
87. Can’t Fix Stupid | 10.01.08
Republican strategy for this election is to create “whine power” to stiffle any truth. They attacked the New York Times for proving Rick Davis was getting paid to Lobby for Fannie Mae, they accuse CBS of favoritism because they ask simple questions and Sarah Palin cannot answer them without a script. They are losing in the polls, conservative writers are questioning McCains judgement in choosing Sarah Palin so what they fear worst is Ms Palin making more of a fool of herself. They can’t do anything about Ms Palin so they attack and smear a journalist with years of ethical reporting. Hmmm….spread lies, whine and complain, blame others… What would you do if your child acted this way?
88. The table is turned | 10.01.08
I read a lot of the comments from the Left that WE wouldn’t complain if Limbaugh was moderating. What they didn’t write is how upset THEY would be. Come on… admit it. You’d freak out and it would cost the American people a fortune in lawsuits, Congressional hearings, etc. to analyze how the Bush Administration was able to finagle an Ultra-Right moderator.
89. jp | 10.01.08
I can’t believe people are saying it’s her sharp journalist mind that let her spot the trick question and avoid it. Are you serious? She just immediately gets defensive about Alaska. She doesn’t even see the point of the question, she just gets defensive assuming it’s some slur against her backwoods state. Usually that sort of reaction means someone has similar subconscious concerns about that very subject.
90. Steve | 10.01.08
Cancel the debate!!!! OMG Ifill is writing a book about black politicians!!! Cancel! Cancel! Cancel!
Rovian manipulative crybabies. I can see one eye looking up from the crocodile tears to see the reactions. Sorry, Palin, you have to debate. Come on, you’re a pit bull with lipstick, right? Show us.
91. PVS | 10.01.08
UNETHICAL
Moderator has a financial stake in the outcome.
She did not disclose this information to the commission.
VERY SIMPLE…
She should resign.
92. frank | 10.01.08
why don’t sarah cancel the debate so she can sit by john when he cast his vote in the senate
94. Michael | 10.01.08
Man Free Republic must have been told to clog this forum, dont think I have ever seen as many stupid posts as this in a CSM article!
Face it guys, McLame and Failin are going down!
95. Dendroica | 10.01.08
Palin formidable? Only if you think dancing away from the actual question for a minute and vamping is formidable. This isn’t Alaska, this is the US VP slot. You can’t fake your way through it, you can’t charm people with empty rhetoric. You’re either immediately prepared with a response, or your dead in the water.
And note to the Republicans- you chose this moderator, live with it. She’s experienced, and wasn’t considered a problem before.
96. steve | 10.01.08
Well, I give him credit for literary taste at least. I doubt Palin knows who Faulkner is. Or maybe I am wrong about that - Q: “Govenor Palin I am curious about what literature you have read that you feel gave you insight into the human condition or the bigger questions in life” A: “Well I’ve read all of them whatever is in front of me. I give full credit to the authors. This is about universal health care. . .”
They could have one of those contests they have with Faulkner each year to see who can speak the most like Palin but the random phase generator somebody had posted the other day would probably win.
99. PleaseChange | 10.01.08
ABC has removed their story from the website and now it’s a broken link. Probably made too many people mad and for good reason.
I’m catching a whiff of desperation and overt racism from the McCain camp and it’s no surprise that Rudy would take an opportunity to weigh in. I am, however, pleasantly surprised to see that Sarah Palin has sense enough to not let it rattle her. I guess we’ll see how much of a pit bull Palin is, but there’s little doubt, after watching Rudy’s performance at the RNC, that he is an untamed Rottweiler who should be muzzled. Iffil is a stellar professional and doesn’t deserve these bum seeds. Are we to have a litmus test for debate moderators? The whole thing is rather ridiculous and it almost seems like a set up. If Palin doesn’t do well, then we can just blame on the partisan black women. Such ****.
100. Martin, GA | 10.01.08
all this noise about Palin? All this BS about sexism racism … and so on. If a candidate runs for a job then treat him/her regardless of gender, age, or race the same way. You want an intelligent person to is capable then bring it on ask the question.
101. social issues? | 10.01.08
Conservatives give more money per person to Social Causes than liberals. That is a proven Fact. Biden and his wife made over $300K and gave less than $1K to charity. As for PBS, everyone knows they are in the TANK for OBAMA. Have you ever seen Bill Moyers’ Show? A better propaganda machine for the left has never been made. Impartial Journalists? not on PBS or Working for the LA Times or the NY Times (The Democrat Times).
102. jp | 10.01.08
Like it even matters anyway.
1)She’s a total pro and will be completely neutral because that’s HER JOB
2) Palin needs absolutely no help in the looking like a complete idiot column
104. Cataplasm | 10.01.08
Undermine the referee and set up the excuse for failure. This is standard operating procedure for the Republicans. In their world anyone that is not declaratively on their side must be against them and so they go after Gwen Ifill. When it is bad for them politically they use surrogates.
I for one, will be watching carefully to see that Ifill asks follow up questions of BOTH candidates. I am tired of seeing politicians evading questions (or answering a different question) when they have a problem with answering. The BBC have a great tradition of asking the follow up question and persisting until they get an answer - which really ticks off the pols. Robin Day skewered pols of both persuasions and we all got to see much more of of the real them as a result. My vote is to bring in the BBC for moderators in future. No question of bias and, trust me, much better debates.
105. jtgalt | 10.01.08
caj, you’re an idiot. you and your friends neither listen to nor contribute to PBS to begin with, so just shut up and tune into your Rush Limbaugh.
106. tom davis | 10.01.08
The liberal media ploy strikes again. Republicans are the biggests whiner in this country. they can’t stand any opposition whatsoever, and if they had their way we would have a one party system. They are scared and desperate, and will continue to fight the public with complaints, lies, disinformation and scare tactics so they can carry on with their agenda.
107. Hank | 10.01.08
They ought to have Diane Rehm moderate the debate. She handles people on here show fairly.
108. PleaseChange | 10.01.08
88. The table is turned | 10.01.08 — Are you comparing Rush with Gwen? You’re right about Rush, but Gwen is not an extremist. Do you know that she also talks about Sec Powell in her book? She’s a reporter and she writes books and reports — that is her job.
110. Van E. Langley | 10.01.08
Most of your commentators fail to acknowledge these simple non-political facts:
There is a gargantuan conflict of interests: Ms. Ifell has I am sure received a signifcant financial advance. It is obviously in her interests to make the subjects of that book look favorable.
There was no disclosure to the League of Women Voters, a heretofore highly respected organization. This is likely to mean she lied and/or failed to disclose to the League manangement her conflict. There was also no disclosure to the American public who deserve better.
Perhaps we have forgotten the meaning of “ethical” obligation.
Query: What did PBS know and not disclose?
Query: Why did Random House not make any public disclosure?
In short: this is not a racial or political problem. It is an ethical abandonment of Americans’ right to know.
Iffel should be replaced by (e.g.) Barbara Walters.
111. Dee | 10.01.08
Christian Science Monitor have you ever heard of separation of church and state?
Gwen is expectionally professional! Not like Lou Dobbs, who is so biased in everything he presents to the public, or good old Fox News!
As for bias…Christian Science Monitor fits the bill nicely! I’m willing to bet you, and many of your readers have never watched Gwen Ifill’s program!
113. Ifill In-The-Tank-For-Obama Democrat Partisan | 10.01.08
PULEEZE. Gwen Ifill non-biased? First of all she is a registered DEMOCRAT.
She is one of the biggest in-the-tank-for-Obama Democrat partisan hacks ever to grace the beltway.
Just say no to a partisan rigged “debate” - unless Limbaugh or Hannity sit at the table and ask half the questions.
What’s the matter Obama worshipers? Afraid to take questions from Limbaugh or Hannity?
Thought so, and that proves our case. You want your hacks in there but you don’t want it to be fair or balanced.
114. nathan | 10.01.08
Paul Pace | 10.01.08
A professional reporter avoids and and all potential conflicts of interest. She is no better than the ladies of The View or Ophrah. Its all about trying to sway and influence their lady audience. Its a good example of bias in media. Where are the PBS ethical standards? Or in any of our leaders?
I love this post. So they are trying to sway the lady audience, you mean like McCain when Palin was picked as his VP candidate.
It is good times, the Republicans are some ignorant people with the attitude of its ok if we do it but no one else can otherwise we cry.
115. Lisacat | 10.01.08
Stop whining republican babys. Gwen Ifill has more professionalism, not to mention brain cells, in her little finger than the entire staff of fox news combined.
116. Eldrich Whitman | 10.01.08
So many people predicted that the GOP would either:
1) try to discredit the moderator or
2) try to postpone the debate
They’re getting predictable
Standard sleezy Rove tactics
and in the spirit of full disclosure
I’m a paid campaign staffer working as
an internet “message multiplier”
by posting pro McCain strategic rhetoric online.
Of course, this is my off time.
117. Phenry | 10.01.08
Gwen Ifill should step aside and turn the moderator duties over to a more balanced interviewer like Spike Lee, Oprah, Michael Moore, or perhaps, Ludicris. It is perfectly OK to write a book of adoration for Obama to try and make a buck. To do so and still go forward as the moderator for the VP debate is disgraceful.
118. Joe | 10.01.08
Actually, feel free to use this as an excuse to skip the debate entirely. There are no real upsides in this debate for Obama, anyhow. Realistically, Palin can only beat expectations, so if they want to run, let them.
119. Sean | 10.01.08
How could it possibly matter who is asking the questions. They are simply going to ask a question. The the candidates are going to be the ones answering the questions and we the voters are going to be the ones judging the merit of the answers. Republicans are either going to blindly say Palin is a great debater or they are going to make some judgement based on her answers as to whether she sould be put in a position of power on their behlaf.
Honestly, you republicans that voted for Bush twice should even be allowed to have an oppinion. You’re the people who were focused on your ownself interests to care that the country was suffering four years ago and your too obsessed with being right when you’re wrong to care about it now.
Plain and simple we’ll see on Friday morning how many of you people want to continue to back this moron.
120. Gravity Man | 10.01.08
To PVS:
“She did not disclose this information to the commission.”
From Fox News posting on JULY 21, 2008. In case you missed it, that’s JULY 21, 2008.
“We have an awkward history about how to talk about race in the nation and in newsrooms,” says Gwen Ifill, senior correspondent for PBS’ “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” and author of “The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama,” slated for publication early next year.
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Jul21/0,4670,APonTVTavisSmiley,00.html
This from the Washington Post:
“”The book has been out there and discussed for months,” said PBS spokeswoman Anne Bell. “It’s a non-issue.”
Queried about it, John McCain expressed confidence in Ifill.
“I think that Gwen Ifill is a professional, and I think she will do a totally objective job because she is a highly-respected professional,” McCain told Fox News’s Carl Cameron.”
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/01/ifills_book_is_no_secret.html
Fellow American citizen, PVS, it’s already been out there. You can have your crocodile tears and your oft repeated lies. The rest of us Americans are sick of the BS.
121. Mike | 10.01.08
For sure she is a gushing Obama supporter. Go back to just before the Democratic convention and she had one of Obama’s best 20 minute ad on Washington Week. She lost all of my respect then and now I don’t believe she should moderate this debate or be further employed by PBS.
122. Richard | 10.01.08
Hey
News reporting is suppose to be neutral science. The fact that she already has researched and picked a subject and is writing a book about Obama makes her bias. On a jury she would be thrown off. This is too important a debate to have a referee who has already taken a side.
123. CD | 10.01.08
John McCain and his camp thinks highly of Gwen, and agreed to having her moderate the debate while knowing about the book deal.
Soooooo if John’s ok with it, I won’t assume I know more than he does about politics or campainging to second guess him.
124. Alec | 10.01.08
The acrimony over Gwen Ifill sounds like a tempest in a teapot to me. Both campaigns have already agreed to her presence as moderator. For Republicans to balk now would be to rebuke the decision of their own candidate’s campaign people. The bottom line in any debate is that EVERYONE who could possibly be a moderator has a personal bias. The question is, can Ifill rise above any personal bias to effectively moderate the debate? Republican and Democrat campaign people have already answered that question YES. FWIW, my own personal bias in this election is that I don’t intend to vote for either candidate. But, I like a good debate and will probably watch it.
125. Susan Williams | 10.01.08
This really stinks. If there’s any semblance of self-respect or ethics left in the journalism profession, other journalists MUST call for her to be removed. Let the candidates ask each other questions and have a moderator simply monitor and equalize the time.
126. NS | 10.01.08
I’m too lazy to read all the comments, but in case nobody mentioned that she did the 2004 VP debate too…she did the 2004 VP debate too. We all know what happened there - Kerry/Edwards still lost. She didn’t help them.
But that’s probably just because Cheney made Edwards look like Sarah Palin. Zing!
Obama’s going to win this thing even if Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter moderates the debate. Give it up. I used to be a Republican too and even I’m admitting it. I can’t see how anyone can trust McCain (or Palin) with the fate of the country with all the negative (and false) campaign they’ve been running. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Maybe other countries will finally like us for having a President that I’m sure will have higher than a 23% approval rating or whatever it is.
127. Michelle in TN | 10.01.08
What are the chances that anyone who would moderate has not already made up their mind about who they are voting for anyway? Unless you find Independents, who have still somehow not made a decision on who to vote for, to moderate this topic is pointless.
128. brian | 10.01.08
Its obvious why this country is in such a mess. I read these comments from most people and realize what stupid and ignorant some of these people are. Get a life and act like adults.
129. mull | 10.01.08
Palin should just take a hint from McCain and say that she has to cancel the debate at the last minute because of pressing business. Hmmm, let’s see, when does moose hunting season open in Alaska?
130. HL | 10.01.08
I am a lifelong Republican and I see no issue with Gwen Ifill being the moderator for the Vice Presidential debate. She is a well known and mature journalist. She’s allowed to have a choice just like anyone else. If she were to attempt to sabatoge the debate it would be very obvious and would ruin her career instantly.
As for the individual who says that all Republicans hate PBS, please check your facts before you make such a ludicrus statement. I have supported PBS for years and intend on continuing to support them.
Bottom line is that all the candidates are good American’s. Our choice as voters is to determine and vote for the ones that will do the best job for America.
131. Wayne Tanzer | 10.01.08
If Ms. Ifill has charactor and integrity she would withdraw as moderator of the Vice-Presidential debate. She stands to make a fortune from her book and has a monetary stake in this political event. This debate should not be postponed, but the moderator ethically should be nuetral which she is clearly not.
132. julieah | 10.01.08
Whenever I read comments from the “right” they usually have much in common….
~ Insult and suggest a respected journalist and moderator would stoop so low as to add some kind of bias to her debate questions. Basically, discredit all perceived opponent’s careers and character. This is usually followed with feigned distain and outrage over some manufactured comment or incident. Upset over something that never happened. Gwen Ifill is a well respected journalist and I think anyone worried about her moderating, is REALLY worried about something else.
~ Call questions you don’t like, (because the truth hurts), “Gotcha Journalism”, and refuse to answer them even though voters have a right to inquire. The media can’t “Get Cha” if there isn’t something to get.
~ many comments focus on anything except the real issues and the “truth” but I guess that’s to be expected given the way one man is running his campaign.
If you want to talk about a serious conflict of interest, how about ex-Goldman-Sachs CEO as treasurer who didn’t like oversight or regulations then and still feels the same with 700 billion tax dollars.
I’d suggest considering opinions that are in opposition to your own since you might learn something. In this campaign, the fact check organizations have cleared up many things for me, yet I met someone who thought these sites are biased. Pleez…. get educated before screaming media bias.
The more some focus on silly and downright absurd campaign distractions, distortions and lies, the more I see which side is will be honest, lead with good judgement and won’t rush in to military battles before exhausting diplomacy.
It’s GOOD to learn before we vote.
133. Wanderson | 10.01.08
I smell a rat!! The American public are sick and tired of the blatantly obvious bias that MSNCBC’s Olberman & Matthews have regurgitated on viewers this campaign season and that CNN and Fox are equally guilty of as well. The biased daily newspapers are no better either. Can’t Americans please be treated with even a modicum of respect during this handful of debates without having some Obama-Lover or McCain-backer moderating the debates?? Don’t we deserve better? Here’s one debate, i’ll not watch. I don’t want to have to throw up watching the likely biased love-fest that will unfold EXACTLY as Saturday Night Live has ridiculed and rightly so!
134. pahqlle | 10.01.08
There is a conflict of interest, since she will finanically benefit from Obama being elected. Just like judges step aside when there is an appearance of conflict, so should this moderator. A professional journalist would understand and step aside.
The next question is who would replace her? It’s not like there are a lot of journalist that are neutral in this election.
135. Elwood Blues | 10.01.08
What would all you ***** lib’s say to a conservative moderator for a debate, perhaps with a book about the courage of McCain? Would you say “That’s OK, we’ll get a fair shake?” I doubt it very much. Who really needs to grow up. Let me make a prediction, if Obongo loses, how long before you all scream “we were cheated”?
136. Goodman | 10.01.08
This is such a joke the Republicans should be happy about the Moderator that way when Palin Bombs they will just be able to scape goat Gwen.
“It was all because that mean black lady asked her something about policy! how dare her! The Debate was just suppose to be about talking points! God damn Liberal Media.!”
FYI: This is not even really a debate its a Duel interview.
137. Recovering Republican | 10.01.08
Gwen Ifill is a professional, the fact that she has written a book has nothing to do with it. She can’t ask one candidate different questions than the other, so all you lockstep Republicans get over it. I left the party in spirt a long time ago because of the whining, the underhanded politics, and the greed and corruption I have seen in a party that deserves better than it’s current nut cases who actually believe some of the **** they espouse.
139. dipsy | 10.01.08
Well if you choose someone like Greta Van Sustern, the other side will scream and holler. Gwen Ifil is a seasoned calm professional as is Jim Leherer. I’m sure she won’t ask slanted questions. I’m sure Joe Biden is going to be careful as well. If Palin comes out looking stupid or unqualified, she will have done it on her own. If you recall the debates between the older Bush and Geraldine Ferraro, he was brutal and condescending. The public did not like this at all.
I think you will see both Gwen and Joe treating Palin with kid gloves. They will let her do anything to hang herself on her own, not with their help. She has been bunkered down for weeks cramming for her performance. I’m sure she will do brilliantly! On the other hand, if Palin comes on like a pitbull, I’m sure gloves will be removed.
140. Taylor | 10.01.08
26. ed.v.stalzer,m.d. | 10.01.08
I think having her as moderator is basically wrong. There are many better qualified people around with more experience and inteligence.
ed
———
Replace “moderator” with “Vice-Presidential candidate” there and you make a good point.
141. Dori Devereux | 10.01.08
The fact that Ifil did not disclose she had been writing a book about Obama’s rise for some time is problematic for me. I like things clean and above board, so I’m troubled by this omission…just doesn’t pass the sniff test. Dori Devereux
142. RealAmerican | 10.01.08
I see a problem here: Some people, based on their comments, seem to think that Rush Limbaugh and Gwen Ifill are both journalists. Gwen Ifill has been a respected journalist for many years. The job of a journalist is to find the truth in any story. That is done by asking questions. You can’t do your job if you only ask easy questions, or let your interviewee avoid answering questions. When she writes her books, she does an incredible amount of research about her subject. She consults many different sources to come up with the most accurate picture of her subject that she can. And as for sales of her latest book, the sales will reflect her reputation as a fair and talented journalist.
If you only watch Fox News or listen to right-wing talk radio, this concept is probably new and scary to you. Some of what Fox does is news, but a huge part of what they do is actually opinion or editorial programming. The “No-Spin Zone” is all about O’Reilly’s opinion. Even what sometimes looks like journalists reporting news is personal commentary unrelated to strict reporting. In fact, the morning that Obama announced his selection of Biden as his running mate, the only comment one Fox “journalist” made was that Biden has a toothy grin. News flash: That is not journalism, yet this man was “on location” in Denver and had a microphone in his hand. He looked like a journalist; what he said was not journalism.
Rush Limbaugh is nothing more than a ranting, self-promoting bigot. He is the opposite of a journalist; he deals only with opinion: his. He apparently has no set belief system; witness his different reactions to the pregnancies of Britney Spears’ sister and Sarah Palin’s daughter: only one represented bad parenting. And his call for drug addicts to be thrown in jail, until he got busted for doctor shopping and was shown to be a drug addict. When Rush writes a book, he doesn’t have to do the one big thing that separates journalism from opinion writing: research.
143. Jim | 10.01.08
OMG, this story is typical RW Kool-Aid “liberal conspiracy” nonsense. It’s also an insult tojournalism that a self-hating Asian Michelle Malkin is complaining about journalistic integrity by incorrectly labeling Ifill as a Obama campaigner. Malkin is a RW Blogger, nothing more, nothing less. She warrants absolutely ZERO credibility to this campaign.
144. Joe | 10.01.08
I decided to read the comments by readers of your journal regarding the debate, and I’m sorry, but not surprised, to discover that the people who voted for George Bush the first time (for good reason , I truly am sure) and then voted for him a second time (for some reason that can only fly in the face of reason) are doing it yet again.
Vote for John McCain because you think he can actually help this country solve a few of the problems it must solve, but please allow the rest of us to actually learn something about the possible President-in-waiting.
If Ifill shows herself to be partisan and “in the tank” for Obama, it will be apparent, and Palin should call her on that, on the spot.
How many ways, by the way, can the neanderthal right play the race card?
We’re finding out.
Publish this opinion. This is, after all, still America.
145. spare me | 10.01.08
Spare me - this is a ploy. Officials from both campaigns knew of the book and were obviously ok with it. All they had to do was Google her name… Now, they feign shock just a day before? Spare me. Just another distraction and attempt to hide Palin.
146. dostoy | 10.01.08
democratic obama supporter here -
sure, she should recuse, or, better yet, the obama campaign should say ‘we would prefer if there were no doubts on the other side, though we have great confidence in gwen’s impartiality - we will work with the mccain palin campaign to find a moderator with whom they are more comfortable.’
palin has been preparing for gwen - this will totally push her off her game. biden can handle anyone they come up with. and obama’s campaign will look gracious, calm, nonpartisan and flexible - the winning combination in the last few weeks.
147. akanabder | 10.01.08
It strikes me as an issue of personal honor. In her position, I would a) admit that I stand to gain if Obama is elected, b) recuse myself.
148. David | 10.01.08
This is terrible writing.
“And although it isn’t set to be released until Inauguration Day…
The book, titled “The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama,” is set for release on - drumroll, please - Inauguration Day.”
This article is bad, and you should feel bad.
149. oregonian | 10.01.08
This will be a very even handed debate. If you doubt that, you really haven’t paid attention to the career of Gwen Ifill. Sit back and learn something.
I challenge the Right to create anything as useful and professional as PBS through voluntary donations. Pony up, folks. I don’t think you can do it. Reagan couldn’t kill it through attrition, and you can’t make it go away by shaking the boogyman stick.
150. commoner | 10.01.08
Pray tell, who in this country could be totally neutral–get real, Gwen is a pro, she has alot to gain by doing this job well– and she will!
151. mjlm | 10.01.08
I think Ifil will do a superb job as always. She has proven time and time again that she is a fantastic journalist. Her book when publshed I will purchase. The outcome of the debate rest solely in the hands of the debaters. Mr. Biden Mrs Palin good luck I will be watching LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!!!!
152. justamoment | 10.01.08
McCain has already said that his camp has no problems with Gwen Ifill being the moderator. I think that she should be replaced because she is certainly biased towards Obama, however, if she is replaced and Sarah Palin happens to win the debate, the Democrats will say that is was only because McCain got to change or choose the moderator. It’s best to just leave it alone. Now that this information about Ifill’s book has been made an issue, she would have to be a idiot to be openly biased towards Sarah Palin.
153. keith | 10.01.08
I think Katie Couric is a Republican — and I don’t think that worked to Sarah Palin’s advantage. Ifill wrote a book — not an endorsement — on Obama. And does anyone believe ANY moderator is “nonpartisan”?
154. Paul Stewart | 10.01.08
This is called hedging your bets. If the debate is not a loss for Palin, they will say she did well with the deck stacked against her. If she does mediocre or fails, then they will blame it on the moderator. Clearly, they need as many excuses as possible. We all know Palin has a small chance of looking good.
So, this will help to change the subject. Which is not the change we need….
And Rudy, take your sleazy Cheshire Cat grin back to New York or Wonderland or whatever land you live in these days.
155. ShameOnGwen | 10.01.08
This is deplorable! Gwen Ifill IS promoting her book! PBS is definitnely going to get bombarded by other angry subscribers cancelling for this reason alone, sponsors as well, to say the least of contributing another dime to any of their fundraising events–ever! Obviously Gwen is spineless and lacks any honor and integrity, otherwise she would have IMMEDIATELY recognized the conflict of interest and declined.
156. joytha | 10.01.08
Oh America,
you are loosing your Freedom.No Ifill,Sorry PBS,DO not loose your diginity.Keep away Ms Ifill.America for BILLY the OREILLY.
157. Frompzig | 10.01.08
Unless one is legally blind, one should be able to tell that Ms. Ifill is a Democrat and will be voting for Obama. That having been said, Ms. Ifill should begin the debate with a disclaimer acknowledging her conflict of interest. Should she fail to do so, Ms. Palin should ask Ms. Ifill what her new book on Obama is about.
158. Chaifuddagee | 10.01.08
I think Gwen Ifill should step down from this debate. Not that I think she would be partial, as a regular viewer of the Newshour, I’ve never seen her lean to either side… never seen an indication of her political preference. She is a professional. But given the outrage, its the right thing to do. May i also point out that just about anybody who moderates a presidential debate, is bound to show up at the polls and cast a vote… that is to say, any moderator is likely to have a preference going in. No? In this case however, she should step aside. Its clear that the supporters of McCain/Palin will cry foul until election day no matter how professional and impartial Ifill would be.
160. Chas63 | 10.01.08
I am taking a different stand. I want McCain to win; he’ll get sick in office and Palin will be president. You think the bailout is bad; America will become the joke of the world. I’m going to sit back like the fat rat in the ghetto and watch.
161. Steve3 | 10.01.08
McCain is a cranky old rascal who takes wild needless risks. His judgment was poor choosing unvetted incoherent Palin. She is way out of her depth. We need the calm intelligence of Obama at the helm. The McCain campaign is thrashing about in panic with Obama taking a 7 point lead in the most recent AP poll. Is Sarah Palin a pit bull or just too fragile to face a PBS moderator. All Gwen Ifill has done is write an objective book about the rise of new black politicians. That’s journalism. Something that Palin supposedly knows about. But now desperate Republicans call it bias. Obama went toe to toe with Fox News conservative, Bill O’Reilly. I say bring on the pit bull and stop complaining about how unfair it’s going to be. The world stage isn’t fair. She better be able to step up. If she can’t we need to know now.
162. Muntu Muimpe | 10.01.08
I am an Obama supporter.
Mrs. Ifill should recuse herself for the simple reason that I don’t want the McCain/Palin DEFEAT to be TAINTED in any way.
I want them to be defeated CLEANLY. There are many other capable journalists at PBS and NPR who can moderate this debate just as well.
Let’s not postpone this debate.
163. Brian | 10.01.08
This is a last in a line of fake controversies conjured up by the GOP. Their supporters need their two minute’s hate, and so something must be prepared each week to satisfy them.
In this case, the tempest in the teapot serves to distract attention from Sarah Palin. The republicans are terrified that she will have a meltdown like she did with Katie Couric. So, because they are afraid of debating, they want to take cheap shots to confuse the issue.
164. jpz | 10.01.08
To me, the issue is not that Ms. Ifill is an Obama supporter. It’s the fact that she is writing a book about him that is scheduled to be released on inauguration day. If Obama is elected, she stands to make a lot of cash off the book. And any way you slice it, that is a major conflict of interest that casts a lot of doubt on her ability to moderate the debate in a non-biased way.
165. Jim | 10.01.08
I have to say that it’s refreshing to see conservatives speaking without the usual venom and ignorance that I read on Foxnews.com. I like to hear both sides of the story and though I’m for Obama, I’m for civil debate foremost. I know it’s not just the right that can be boorish and I’m glad there are civil forums to read peoples thoughts. This forum has that in spades. I’ll be back often.
Oh as for the topic, I think she’ll be professional, if she’s not it’ll be very reported and will detract from her as a respected reporter and from the Obama campaign. It’s in her interest to be as fair and balanced and not like Fox News fair and balanced. Just my thoughts.
I’m actually for Obama after being on the fence. That was clearly the only way I could vote after Palin was picked as McCains running mate. She’s also made me rethink McCains judgement. I still respect him but feel he’s lost his values recently.
She’s so unintelligent and say’s some of the scariest things I’ve heard out of politicians mouth. All I can say about her is God help us if she ends up commander of our military. She’ll even make Bush look good.
166. Paul Stewart | 10.01.08
Poor Palin. She been hiding under her own skirt so long. She been practicing the impracticable. She been lying with a straight face. Now, not only does she have to come out of hiding, but she may face someone who is at a minimum objective. Maybe someone that is skeptical too, like everyone else. Maybe even a bit biased, like Rick Warren would likely be. After all, her wrote the script(ure) for McCain. Poor Palin.
Maybe its good practice for a VP candidate, maybe its even better practice for a potential day one P. The show must go on.
The comments about the media being on Obama’s side are wearing real thin too. More than 50% of the voters support Obama, even more likely, given the polls are missing those with cell phones and probably do not take into account all the new just registered voters that are being signed up by the millions. I think maybe even more will by voting day.
A good deal of the press is supportive of Obama’s views and his abilities, maybe just because they are becoming more and more evident. I think the press is able to give a fair and balanced perspective. That is what it is for. Fair and balanced in not necessarily quoting what “he said” versus what “she said”. Especially when the one side will say anything with that in mind with a view to balance out the other side. What they say is not limited by truth, justice and the American way.
And more voters and press and well, even Republicans are seeing the real McCain (as opposed to the real McCoy).
It seems to me that maybe, just maybe, the press is right? The voters are right? And guess who might be wrong….
167. RussT | 10.01.08
I suspect the McCain campaign is already preparing excuses to explain a poor showing by Palin in tomorrow’s debate (besides the obvious reason - her unsuitability for the office), so they will be happy to have “media bias” by Ifill as an option.
For that reason, you will hear the possibility of bias mentioned many times, but no serious efforts to have Ifill step down.
169. kathy | 10.01.08
I have never read so much silly immature garbage in my life.
You all act like you are watching the clowns at the circus instead of the seriousness that we are actually facing in this election
It really comes down to big government getting bigger and taxing all of us middle class to death to support a growing socialistic welfare system, or smaller government not spending us to death.
You have all of these frightening special interests that you care about more than freedom. Where do you plan on getting all the money to do so? Make more funny money, or steal from the pensions of the retirees– who have earned the scale of living where they are at.
Read the agenda of the NEA before you suck into more money for the early years of education. Their idea is state run schools for three year olds so that they can indoctrinate them earlier.
Get your facts by doing your own research instead of the Media who are supidly clever as word technicians
Vote for Obama and you will pay at the pump.
170. ethel08 | 10.01.08
Let’s try repeating this one more time.
The Republicans agreed to the moderator months ago. They knew about Gwen Ifill’s book AT THE TIME they agreed to the debate. They apparently mentioned nothing about a “conflict of interest” then.
They had every right to negotiate other terms of the debate at the time. (Bush did some of this in 2004). They did not.
Instead, they “coincidentally” go to the MEDIA the day before the debate and complain (note that they run straight to the media to claim “media bias”). If this was so problematic, why not bring it up during negotiations????????
Ifill’s book covers a range of black politicians in the post-Civil Rights era, including Colin Powell. It is not an Obama-centric book, and I suspect that her publisher put Obama’s name in the title as a marketing strategy. (Authors rarely get to title their own books whatever they want.)
171. Koh | 10.01.08
Kathy:
You sound like a low information moron. Go back to the trailer and cook up another batch of meth.
Btw, the only thing getting “pumped” around here is you. By your brother.
172. Koh | 10.01.08
Kathy:
You sound like a low information moron. Go back to the trailer and cook up another batch of meth.
176. Chris | 10.01.08
Go conservatives!!!! I like the idea of cancelling the debate. If Palin’s performance on the Couric interview is the only widely viewed television appearance for Palin then more people are going to think she is not qualified to be Vice President. But seriously, I watch Gwen almost every night she is on and I do believe she can moderate in an unbiased manner as she does in her job at PBS. It may be high risk fro Palin to debate, but I believe it will be her opportunity to prove she is a valid candidate.
177. Tom | 10.01.08
Ms. Ifill is a perfect excuse if Ms. Palin does terrible in tomorrow’s debate.
And we all know she will do terrible.
Had it not come out that Ms. Ifill was writing this book, Michelle Malkin and the rest of the Radical Right would have complained that Ms. Ifill was genetically inclined towards the other side or has a brain.
179. Jay, Tallulah | 10.01.08
Has anyone noticed that 99% of the moderators are white, as well as the same number of candidates. If the moderator was white, and wrote a book about McCain would this be an issue???
180. Brian | 10.01.08
Is there anything in Washington that isn’t corrupt? The Debate Commission now joins a long pantheon of corrupt organizations we poor taxpayers are compelled to financially support to a cushy lifestyle.
How much longer must we endure the antics of the media, the politicians, the “leaders” of this country.
A pox on them all. Let’s toss the bunch out, both the elected ones and the parasites like this.
181. Maureen | 10.01.08
This is another “Hail Mary” pass from the McCain campaign. Does it not seem strange that this “discovery” about Ifill’s book came at the eleventh hour AGAIN? There have been numerous press releases about the book,well before BOTH campaigns agreed to her as the moderator. Anybody who googled Ifill’s name would find the reference. Does the McCain campaign EVER do its homework? Really? They are throwing everything they can at this debate - make Ifill more cautious about appearing biased, provide a plausible excuse for Palin’s predictably abysmal debate performance, fire up the base, while distancing themselves from the controversy by saying that Ifill is a “professional”. This is the kitchen sink strategy, and it is really, really tiresome.
182. nathan | 10.01.08
of course the GOP is setting themselves up for an excuse. They know Palin is going to bomb her debate so they need to prepare in advance.
183. jpz | 10.01.08
All of you who are bashing the McCain campaign either didn’t read the story or have a serious lack of reading comprehension skills. It’s not them, just many of McCain’s supporters and media types who are bringing this up.
##########################################################################3
From the story …
“So is McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt on the phone with reporters shredding PBS like he did to the New York Times two weeks ago? Nope.
In fact, the campaign doesn’t seem to care. At least, Senator McCain didn’t seem concerned this morning while speaking to Fox News correspondent Carl Cameron.
“I think that Gwen Ifill is a professional, and I think that she will do a totally objective job because she is a highly respected professional,” McCain said. “Does this help…if she has written a book that’s favorable to Senator Obama? Probably not. But I have confidence that Gwen Ifill will do a professional job, and I have that confidence.”
But, think of it this way: If the McCain campaign says anything that suggests a concern, they’ll be attacked as trying to weasel out of the debate somehow. That doesn’t mean others can’t say what they think though.”
184. Silvia | 10.01.08
What are you talking about? This is great for McCain campaign!! Couldn’t be any better. If she makes a mistake, they can always blame in on Gwen and her conflict of interest! This is fantastic news!!!
186. Phil | 10.01.08
Shmit et al. know full well that Ms. Ifil will do a balanced job of moderating. Nonetheless, they will reserve the right to bash her in the event Ms. Palin doesn’t rise to the low expectations that are being set.
Kind of funny how Ms. Palin seems to need a lot of protection from the guys around her, while at the same time they seem to be hiding behind her.
187. Greg | 10.01.08
1) She’s gonna ask them the SAME QUESTION ya morons!
2) Ifill is a Journalist. Nobody on Fox News is a jounralist. Rush limbaugh is not a journalist. They are professional propagandists.
3) You say the media is anti-Republican. REALITY is anti-Republican. Physics is anti-Republican. Archeology is anti-Republican.
4) Most ppl are naturally socially Conservative, including Democrats. That is NOT the same as being Republican. Republicanism is a set of policy decisions, not a set of personal beliefs.
I see marriage as a union between man and woman, but the LAW has to be NEUTRAL, the law is not allowed to have an opinion.
Democrats = Rule of Law, I believe in Jesus, everyone else has their own beliefs.
Republicans = Rule of personal taste, I believe in Jesus therefor everyone should too.
Conservative = work 9 to 5, come home, have dinner, watch tv, sex with wife, sleep.
Liberal = Eat tofu, be one with planet, save dolphins, drive hybrid vehicle.
188. Wanderson | 10.01.08
She needs to recuse herself — yesterday. What a blatant conflict of interest. The fact that she kept mum about her planned book is duplicitous and in poor judgment. I mean she behaves as if she were part of the Bush administration, trying to sweep conflicts of interest under the rug as if they didn’t matter. GWEN Be Gone and now!!!!!!!!!
189. Jawallaby | 10.01.08
It is totally fair to ask that the moderator be changed. There are plenty of people who can do this. The real concern is that there be no leverage for the GOP to claim that the debate was stacked. We have seen the extent to which they will contort the facts, why give them that much to work with? It’s not that big of a deal to change is it? Ms. Ifill is probably every bit the professional she has always seemed to be. The Republicans aren’t going to care. Even if her questions are the absolute model of neutrality, unless Palin “wins”, the GOP will scream bloody murder about the ‘biased liberal homosexual infanticidal(sp?) pinko commie media”. They should just switch the moderator. I want Palins slaughter to be as sweet as possible. 
191. fnp2 | 10.01.08
It dosn’t matter if Ifill dosn’t make her look bad enough the media will take over and tare her apart. I have never see a election with so much bias. If Obama can’t buy his way in the media will help.
192. gaypastor | 10.01.08
Here is another example of why I (a longtime Democratic gay man) is actually considering the Republicans this year. I want to win too…truly I want people who represent my issues….but the way the Democrats and Obama are playing the game this year is just wrong (I’m also a UCC pastor and simply care about ethics and the “means justify the ends” playbook we’re using is not okay with me) It was bad enough watching sexism bring HRC down while the DNC stood by in utter silence. Its bad enough that even I can see how the mainstream media is simply in LOVE with Obama and is, therefore, biased on a daily basis. Now we’re going to have a moderator for the VP debate who says she’s intelligent and objective but when asked about her new book (which clearly includes the phrase in the “Age of OBAMA in its’ title) her reply was it’s okay…Obama is just a small part of my book! What!!!??? His name is in the title and she’s even named an Age after him!!! Who picked this moderator in the first place and what were they thinking??? Even the staunch Obama supporters (which I am not) are going to see this backfire! If Palin does poorly (as they expect her to do) they Reps. are just going to blame it on the moderator now. An abundandtly CLEAR even playing field is in everyone’s best interests. Unless, of course, you’re in one of these “do anything to win” groups! I’m not and I think this moderator choice is a HUGE mistake!
193. akineko | 10.01.08
I like Gwen Ifill.
She is one of the finest journalists we have now.
It is a shame that some people think she doesn’t fit for the job.
For Ms. Sarah Palin, this is a great opportunity to prove herself.
Anyway, we shall see …
194. Dine | 10.01.08
Gwen Ifil is dishonest. She need to be removed. I am angry that the Commission was so stupid to select her and not do their homework. I will do what ever I can to promote people and businesses to withhold money from PBS when they go out to raise funds. Gwen should be fired.
196. Jim C. | 10.02.08
If the shoe were on the other foot, the Democrates would be howling “fowl.”
She should recuse hereself. This is ridiculous.
197. TEXGG | 10.02.08
If NObama can get the American people to turn away when he, Frank, Dodd, Sumer, The guys From Fanny and Freddie and Ms. Superior Bank cook the books, what is wrong with a biased Moderator. I wait for Gwen to pull off that smerk and show her true colors, bet she hunts bears with a switch rather than Mose with a gun.The way Washington is going don’t you think it is unfair for the Enron boys and all the others that are unwilling guests of Uncle are kept under lock and key while Obama and his buddies are free to spend their ill gotten wealth.
198. Randy in Dallas | 10.02.08
I’m a registered independent voter. Ms Ifill must step aside. It’s the right thing to do.
199. Ready to Rummmble | 10.02.08
I certainly haven’t read the book, but judging from the title, it is about race and politics. It seems journalistic, much like the work that she carries out on PBS on a regular basis, much like the work of any journalist that has ever moderated a debate.
200. Ron | 10.02.08
It really doesn’t matter who is the moderator, because Palin will give the same answer to any question and even when you ask the question twice, she still gives the same answer. Do you really think that Palin will have a breakthrough night…. Besides the fact that Palin will be talking about how great McCain is,no matter what the question is. This debate has become a joke after all the demands the McCain camp made in changing the format. The only way Palin can look good is if they have a teleprompter for her….. My guess is that her head has been so filled with talking points, it will explode.
201. Mike | 10.02.08
The legitimatcy of the Vice-Presidential debate just lost it’s legs. Gwen Ifill is a walking, talking conflict of interest, to say nothing of the implied bias the title of her book conjurs. What’s “moderate” about that? I’m a reasonable man and I don’t trust your organization now.
202. pete | 10.02.08
How does anyone of you even know whether her book is pro-Obama or not? It hasn’t come out yet. What a stupid thing to get worked up about. Additionally, if any one of you has actually listened to one of these debates in the last twenty or thirty years, you’d know it doesn’t matter what the moderator says or does, the participants typically answer the question they would like to be asked, not the one they were asked.
203. Mary | 10.02.08
Any moderator already has a stance for whom they are voting. That’s a non issue for me. What astounds me is the fact that this lady has a financial interest in the outcome of this election. That by itself should nullify her being a moderator.
Tim Russert has now gone from rolling in his grave to spinning. Unbelievable!!!!!
204. Maureen | 10.02.08
To Grover who writes:
42. Grover | 10.01.08
The media favors McCain so its about time we had someone on Barack’s side.
Are you KIDDING ME??? You comment is so off the wall - and WRONG. What news programs are you watching?
205. Maureen | 10.02.08
Why Gwen Ifill is still planning to do this debate is very curious to me. If I were in her shoes and my bias were in question - even my perceived bias - I would step down for the benefit of the entire country. The only reason that makes any sense to me for her to go through with this is her pure unadulterated greed and selfishness. She is most certainly trying to further her career and financial position. Anyone who was a true patriot and wanted the best for our country would have stepped aside under these circumstances. And oh by the way, the entire reason the country is in a financial crisis right now is because of pure unadulterated greed and selfishness. I say “enough already”. People need to be held accountable and those in a position to make a difference should have the courage to make this change - even if it is at the last moment. Gwen Ifill should NOT be moderating this debate. The stakes for the country are way too high for there to be unnecessary and avoidable controversy. She can pay a publicist to promote herself and her book. It shouldn’t be on the backs of the American people.
206. Bill | 10.02.08
Why didn’t they complain about the first discussion at the church in CA? That was really biased!! How many more times are they going to cry unfair and try to stall? Do they think we’re stupid. Bill
207. Lea | 10.02.08
McCain’s got it partly right. What he should say is “the media isn’t fair” instead of “Life isn’t fair.” I am disgusted by how grossly irresponsible the media has been with its reporting this election year. Their coverage is so blatanly one sided it can’t even be called journalism, but would be better classified as propaganda. Even more disparraging is the choice of Ifill as moderator of the VP debates. Does anyone really think she won’t be biased? I hope the American people are smart enough to make their own choice and not just go with the candidate the media has been shoving down their throats for months.
208. Chuck | 10.02.08
BUSH’S numbers are dropping and he’s just in a panic.
That’s why he want’s to cancel the debate, so we don’t find out how dumb his VP pick is.
OH, Did I say BUSH?
I mean, McCain’s numbers are dropping and he’s just in a panic.
etc..
MCCAIN
PAIN
….
He’ll do ANYTHING to keep America from finding out hou bad a choice he made.
209. Jerry | 10.02.08
I just wish the media persons would confront Barack Hussein Obama and find out about his connections with Tony Rezko the convicted Syrian born criminal.
Instead they set back and pamper this guy like he is the golden child.
I do not like George W. Bush because he is a liar and I dislike Barack H. Obama for the same reason.
I also wonder if the media is not trying to play favorites, why they always list an article as Obama - McCain last time I looked the alphabet was “,m, n, o” so it should be McCain - Obama —— they are trying to mentally influence you by listing Obama first.
210. gemini3 | 10.02.08
The issue has nothing to do with Biden or Palin. It has to do with a journalist who has an admirable career not stating a possible conflict of interest in an assignment. I’m not sure why Ms Ifill doesn’t see this as a conflict of interest.
Her demeanor to both candidates tonight will be viewed with a high degree of scrutiny by people from both parties and that will be a distraction that could have been avoided if she had realized that her reputation doesn’t give her special consideration. There is an old saying that Caesar’s wife needs to be above reproach and I don’t think that Ifill’s non-declaration places her in the “above reproach” category.
211. Gordon Schlicke | 10.02.08
Disappointing that the Commission failed to maintain a spirit of fairness. At the least all questions should be pre-approved.
212. Den Gran | 10.02.08
What is all this ridiculous talk of conflict of interest? Ifill has every right to write a book and moderate over a debate. If she’s biased and leads the debaters, all of America will see it. Almost all the people decrying Ifill’s role know she’s a respected journalist and will almost certainly carry out her moderator duties without any missteps. Give us a break. The McCain camp is trying to discredit the debate because they fear Palin will put on a disastrous display. Don’t blame the media for Palin’s obvious shortcomings.
213. John D | 10.02.08
Fed up with the extremely bias reporting on the presidential campaign by ABC, NBC and CBS? Do something about it!
214. Pufnstuf | 10.02.08
Anyone who thinks the McCain campaign was not aware of this is just fooling themselves. Every word that comes out of the campaign is analzed, parsed and checked… I expect nothing different when it comes to picking a moderator. Are you telling me that the McCain camp didn’t even do a Google search of Ifill before they agreed to her? Puhleezzzz… This little feigned outrage is simply an insurance policy… first, it tries to get Ifill concerned about the questions and follow-ups… second, should Palin falls flat on her face. Then they’ll try to make the story about the liberal media abused poor Sarah in the debate.
215. George Washington | 10.02.08
It would be a crime against America to hold biased moderator to participate.
216. Steve5 | 10.03.08
Palin and Biden’s positions on energy were interesting. As a former engineer in the defense industry, it seems that it would be better to use oil/petroleum to manufacture materials like plastic and composites rather than burning it. From a strategic point of view we should deplete our adversary’s petroleum resources, buying as much of their oil as possible. Once the adversary’s resources are depleted, then we should tap our own. So I can only conclude that we should move forward on all fronts, drilling in Alaska, and offshore if they can make it catastrophe (oil spill) proof. Develop alternate energy sources like clean coal (and if there is such a thing why not clean oil), wind solar, nuclear, hydro, natural gas, renewable, and buy as much oil from overseas as possible.
217. david | 10.03.08
This lady is from PBS which is pretty left-wing. I don’t mind, but I wish we had some new faces besides these old PBS types. She is rather dull.
219. treasure troopers | 09.01.09
Some of the best programs are unfortunately only availible to US users but if you live in the UK or Canada you can still find some great programs out there.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. Schreff | 10.01.08
Don’t cancel the debate….Just ask Gwen Ifill to step aside because there is a conflict of interest and stands to make a great deal of money from being moderator due to an increase in book sales. Either that or have Gwen Ifill agree to donate all the proceeds of her book to charity. Okay, Gwen step up and answer that question.