The Observer: US election: Storm as Oprah says no to Palin

[emad]

From The Observer

TV chat show queen and Obama supporter Winfrey rules out a TV interview with the Republican vice-presidential candidate
Paul Harris in New York and Ed Pilkington in Alaska
The Observer,
Sunday September 7 2008

Oprah Winfrey, America's favourite daytime TV star, has refused to have Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin as a guest on her talk show.

Winfrey, a prominent supporter of Democratic nominee Barack Obama, has been facing pressure from conservative commentators and pundits who say that Palin would be a perfect interview for her female-heavy audience.

Such an appearance would be a huge coup for the John McCain campaign. Palin, the party's first female vice-presidential choice, is making a determined bid for women voters and frequently refers to herself as a 'hockey mom' who just happened to fall into politics.

But Winfrey, responding to rumours on conservative websites like the Drudge Report that her staff was divided on the issue, squashed the idea of an interview. 'When I decided that I was going to take my first public stance in support of a candidate, I made the decision not to use my show as a platform for any of the candidates,' she said in a statement.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/07/uselections2008.sarahpalin1

[peacebird]

1. Oprah should have her on and ask her tough questions... It would be kind of fun.

[Joe Chi Minh]

3. No. There will be plenty of people doing that. Oprah is denying her

the oxygen of high-profile, even populist publicity. A very wise and virtuous move on Oprah's part.

[peacebird]

4. I bet Oprah would ask more pointed questions than Gibson will.. but your point is valid.

[bluestateguy]

2. Maybe if they supported the Fairness Doctrine the outcome would be different

because as it stands now, there are no equal time laws. That's what the conservatives wanted, and that's what they got.

[CitizenPatriot]

5. if all the media were so clever and ethical

we wouldn't be in this situation

give her no air time since she thinks she gets to tell the american people what they deserve to know and how they get the info. what a load of shite.

go O! I will write her a letter thanking her for her courage and ethics. At least one person is being fair in this thing. Odd that she isn't the "objective" news...ha ha.

anyway, sarah paleyn (boleyn) isn't a woman. she's a man in drag. she might as well be, anyway.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

6. The photo of bush* kissing Oprah on the cheek made the front page

of every major newspaper. "Misson Accomplished", as they say. She could have done the most incisive interview possible -- one that showed bush* for who he really was -- and it wouldn't matter. People respond to visual images, and the image said that Oprah thought bush* was a fine person that she liked and approved of.

[fortyfeetunder]

7. Actually, I'd rather see Palin on the View

I think Whoopi would do a number on Palin and take down Hasselbeck at the same time...

[applegrove]

8. Good for Oprah. I'm sure the GOP will use it somehow.

[Retrograde]

9. what I think Oprah should say:

"I am very interested in hearing what Gov. Palin has to say about the issues facing this country. I look forward to watching her interview on Meet the Press or along with Sen. Biden."