With the Lunch Bucket vs. Barracuda match up a hair over 24 hours away, the sassy, classy debate moderator Gwen Ifill has found her plate full of more than just prepping questions. Ifill, the PBS news maven and moderator of Washington Week, broke her ankle on Monday, though her doctor has given her the A-OK to travel and keep her debate duties. She called the accident, "Another crazy twist in a crazy week."
The week is about to get crazier if Matt Drudge and many others have anything to say about it. The top story on the DrudgeReport is of Ifill's upcoming book, set to be released on Inauguration Day called The Breakthrough: Politics in the Age of Obama. The book focuses on "emerging young African American politicians," one of whom is Barack Obama. The book also includes interviews with Colin Powell, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, and MA Gov. Deval Patrick, though given the climate the focus is on the big "O." Does that make for an uh-oh in a moderator?
To see what people are saying about it and my nickel (hey, two cents is not worth what it used to be) read more.
The book's Obama connection has been hyped as a "glaring conflict of interest," and Fox's Greta Van Susteren said the McCain campaign didn't know about the book and says having her moderate "simply is not fair — in law, this would create a mistrial."
Ifill moderated my favorite debate of all time, the one where Dick Cheney showed up to dinner with John Edwards, and one was the guest of honor and one was the main course. I'll let you assign roles as you see fit. I think the lady has cred to spare, and I'm frankly not concerned about the crossover of moderating a debate and writing a book examining the journey of African-Americans in the political process. Everyone from your mom to Wolf Blitzer's beard is calling this campaign, specifically Obama's journey, historic. Why wouldn't a journalist investigate something which she deems a trend worth exploring — especially one who's covered politics from the New York Times to the NewsHour?
And though some are up to their eyeballs in ire over the supposed lack of disclosure, it's not info that's so hard to find. Last time I checked, a listing on Amazon.com and the first paragraph of your work bio weren't really good places to hide things, just one of the reasons I'm not assigning indignation to this story. Look, these are touchy political times for us all, but naive or no, I have faith that at some point you have to trust that investigative curiosity and reportage are not equal to being a debate-throwing sycophant. And given the fact that most of the world will have a close eye on the fairness of the proceedings, I'm decidedly not worried. Are you?
People Tree
More of the expectations game. The Republicans have it set so all Palin needs to do is spell her own name right and she wins.
1Well I think there should be a public declaration of disclosure, but I won't say she acted biasedly until the debate is over.
I'll give her the benefit of the doubt that she can separate the two.
2She's not moderating for an Obama McCain debate, and neither Sarah Palin nor Joe Biden are emerging young African Americans. A moderator basically reads questions which they don't even come up with themselves and tries to keep the debaters on topic. I don't think there is a bias issue. I'm surprised no one said this When George Stephenoplolis of ABC News moderated a democratic debate which included Hillary Clinton...he use to work for her husband!
3I have faith that Ifill will be a good moderator. She's incredibly professional and I don't think it's exactly a "glaring" conflict of interest, IMO.
haus--LOVE the new avatar!
4I'm with haus:
"I'll give her the benefit of the doubt that she can separate the two."
5Same as when people George Stephanopoulos questions to Obama as unfair when he moderated the dem debate..
Its neither here nor there until the dust settles..
6I forgot "thought that" sorry
Same as when people thought that George Stephanopoulos questions to Obama was unfair when he moderated the dem debate..
Its neither here nor there until the dust settles..
7I have a feeling that if there is any perceived bias, she will be seen as being in the bag for Obama, and this will become an example of why.
8This is another stunt by the McCain campaign. It's just so they can have someone to blame for Palin's poor performance. Gwen Ifill has been nothing but an unbiased journalist (one of the few we have left) for the past several decades. This is not the first time she has been the moderator of a debate and I have no doubt she will moderate this one with a journalistic eye.
9I have no doubt that Gwen can moderate the debate without injecting any personal bias - that's what real journalist is supposed to do anyway. She's a respected journalist who has been in this business for years, I believe she will do what the duty calls for. As for it being a conflict of interest, from what I understand the book is about the rise of African American politicians, not just Obama.
10I don't see how an article on the Drudge report automatically becomes a McCain stunt?
11The last debate the moderator wrote the questions. So actually she does have a chance to inject some bias if she so chooses.
12Having followed Gwens carrier and knowing the integrity she has for her profession and her self I don't think there is anything to worry about. However I can certainly see why some eyebrows were raised and rightly so.
I can't flippen wait for Thursday nights debate.
13Haus,
Thanks for the info.
And like I said before I could see this being an issue if either of these people where young emerging African American Politicians which is what her book is about but they aren't. And the difference between George Step...and her is that George Step did actually have a direct relationship with one of the debaters when he moderated.
14That being said it is also virtually impossible to get anyone to moderate that has no percived bias. I mean if Obama gets a registered Republican as a moderator for the next debate should eyebrows be raised ( think not). Seriously either someone can answer a question biased or not or they can't ....as a matter of fact if she did ask a biased question and the answer was sound it makes the person that answers look better.
we all know that palin's somehow going to get those questions ahead of time. come on now...
15I really think that Palin will sink her own boat... no matter who the moderator is or what books they've written.
16[More of the expectations game. The Republicans have it set so all Palin needs to do is spell her own name right and she wins.]
Hey you get 200pts on the SAT just for writing your name -- She's got this in the bag!
17"I don't see how an article on the Drudge report automatically becomes a McCain stunt?"
As Citizen said, it's not as if the book was being kept a secret. Washington is a small town, and the circle of journalists is even smaller - someone at the McCain campaign knew about the book. It smacks of another McCain stunt because by bringing this up now, if Palin stumbles, they've already set up the Biased Moderator Defense.
18Tied to the outcome of the election economically, is she?
Trick her into doing that, did the Sith? Hmmm?
19the book is scheduled to be released January 20, 2009
the date of what she has already concluded will be Obama's presidential inauguration
someone who has something to gain by one side winning this debate has no business moderating this event
20organic:
21I think they should have 2 debates and Ann Coulter should moderate one and Al Franken the other.
22no no not Al, Rosie ODonell!
23"It smacks of another McCain stunt because by bringing this up now, if Palin stumbles, they've already set up the Biased Moderator Defense." Then the Obama camp should be smart enough to see that and have her excuse herself so someone less controversial can step in.
24What does Ifill have to gain from Obama winning? If he does, by the book's release date, her book will have tons of competition from all different sources.
25"Then the Obama camp should be smart enough to see that and have her excuse herself so someone less controversial can step in."
26Which would be an even worse stunt by McCain - last minute moderator switches based on information we already were aware of, but only decided to acknowledge at the last second.
Obama's better off letting the other side spin themselves silly.
the pressure is on her now to be absolutely fair, so why the call for her to step down?
her career will be on the line, that should be a guarantee of fairness in the debate
seems like anything and everything will be done to decry unfairness to palin
27[seems like anything and everything will be done to decry unfairness to palin]
Or sexiest! Let not forget that popular phrase.
28"Or sexiest! Let not forget that popular phrase."
absolutely, we don't want to work her small, fragile woman brain too hard
29Sexiest vice presidential nominee, Yoda agrees Palin is.
30yea she's totally the sexiest!
btw she just came out today and said the media wasn't being sexist, so i think that is over.
31This is not a good idea. They couldn't find a moderator who didn't have a book about Obama coming out soon?
32This is just more election silliness. Gwen Ifill is a class act. Have any of you acutually watched her on PBS. She's a real journalist. Ifill will be fair but ask real questions. Anyone who claims she's biased is just playing election year games.
33Lliliblu, none of us have seen the debate yet. Perhaps she will be a class act. Perhaps she will be biased. You don't know. I just think it was a bad idea to get a moderator that could be accused of a bias before the debates even take place. Doesn't everybody have an interest in the debates at least seeming to be fair?
34LOL I mean both sexiest and sexist....lol -- hit enter to early...lol -- I'm tired of hearing both really.
I'm glad she spoke up -- weeks or a month later. Better late than never
35I can't wait for the questions!
Her: Senator McCain, tell us how you'll destroy America.
Her: Senator Obama, tell us how you got those pretty brown eyes!
hahaha! I'm kidding obv.
36Although they should've chosen someone who's not related to either campaign (that's just my opinion).
I'm pretty sure that because of many eyes watching, her integrity, and I'm hopeful and certain that she will do the moderating professionally.
As for Palin's 'low expectations,' I don't think the campaign is exactly to blame, she's gotten so many bad media coverage, it's not even funny. Plus she did fluff up on Couric's interview anyway, so people who watched that interview (specially), just assume she's not that 'good' or won't be that great during the debate.
I'm so excited for tomorrow's debate though!
37
38Can one of you find it in your heart to be open minded and objective enough to even let the idea of what would happen if this were the other way around into your heads?
39The only person who should have anything to say about whether Ifill should step aside is Sarah Palin. If she has a problem and feels this will give her a disadvantage then she should say so. If not, then let the debate go on with Ifill as the moderator. I don't see how someone who writes a book about the rise of African Americans in politics is biased, but that's me. She's also black, does that make her biased as well. All of these moderators have some opinion about the candidated and their Veeps.
40GS, I'm finding it hard to imagine someone writing a book about the rise of the old white guy in American politics...
41Even if Sarah Palin was uncomfortable with this moderator, it would be a very bad idea for her to complain about it.
42I agree with the above comment that if anything, this sharper microscope will ensure the moderator is fair.
43Tom Brokaw's written books about both the WWII generation and the 60s, and has been criticized by the left for interviews with veterans like Colin Powell, Bob Kerrey, Wayne Downing and John McCain, but the views of equally well-known veterans who opposed the war -- like John Kerry, Bobby Muller (whose organization won a Nobel Prize for the land mines treaty) and Ron Kovic (author of Born on the Fourth of July) -- are not in Brokaw's history. Les Gelb, a DoD official who worked on the Pentagon Papers but kept silent, is interviewed. But Daniel Ellsberg, the former government official who leaked them to the press, is not even mentioned, much less interviewed.
So, is it open-minded of me to say I trust Brokaw to be professional when he moderates an upcoming presidential debate, or should I start screaming he's biased now?
44Mich, I've watched Gwen Ifill for years and I have always found her to be a class act.
45Brokaw has also made overtures to McCain's campaign recently. Should I start yelling conspiracy? Should Brokaw be replaced? He mentioned inacurate information from a poll Sunday that favored McCain. Is Brokaw in the tank for McCain?
46Liliblu, good! Then I have high hopes the debate will be fair. But even if the debates are fair, I wouldn't be surprised if people cry that she has a bias. They've just given them a perfect excuse.
Steph, if Tom Brokaw writes a book called 'The John McCain Generation', and sets its release for McCain's potential inauguration day, then maybe we could question Brokaw's objectivity.
47Ahh, it's the title that makes it biased.
48I don't think publishers let authors pick the release date.
stephley, actually, they have a LOT of say on the release date. The publisher asks them what their hope is, the author gives it, then the publisher gives them a deadline. IF the deadline is doable, they aim for the "wish for" release date.
I won't cry foul though until I see how the mod does.
49This is a lot of hot air about nothing. Political pundits are always working on political books and artices. Gwen Ifill's book has been talked about for months- if the McCain campaign was too out of touch to even know about it before they agreed to her as a moderator, then....?? They really need to be on top of stuff more.
That said, even John McCain said that she is a complete professional ( which she is) and that he is sure she will do an impartial job. But of course, he doesn't have to complain about it, since Drudge and other GOP-biased folks will do it for him.
But seriously-Ifill will undoubtedly be professional. This just gives the GOP faithful an excuse if Palin does badly- a nice, racially biased excuse that will play well with the far-Right wing base. I honestly don't think any Independents or undecided voters will believe that Ifill is picking on Sarah Palin if Palin rambles non-sensically on. She's already done that with Katie Couric in front of millions of people.
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