Heads up-"Gwen Ifill should recuse herself" is coming

[underpants]

I flipped over to the Glen Beck show and has was ranting about how "Gwen Ifill MUST recuse herself"

So I looked it up.

She isn't stepping down (she broke her ankle the other day too) but this will fit nicely into the post VP debate spin/excuse.

Should Gwen Ifill recuse herself from moderating the debate?
She is writing a book about black politicians and Obama figures heavily in her debate. Will she throw soft balls to Biden, while throwing curve balls to Palin?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081001050743AA09tLl

Gwen Ifill Full of Obamamania: Must Be Yanked As Moderator!
http://liberalismisinsanity.blogspot.com/2008/10/gwen-ifill-full-of-obamamania-must-be.html

New Book By Gwen Ifill Causing Controversy
Debate Moderator Plans January Release
Last Edited: Wednesday, 01 Oct 2008, 10:25 AM EDT
Created: Wednesday, 01 Oct 2008, 10:25 AM EDT
http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7553322&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.1.1

[tosh]

1. -"Gwen Ifill should recuse herself" - only if Brokaw does.

[obiden]

5. Is Brokaw writing a book on mccain's heroism?

c'mon if this was the other way, we would be screaming.....Gwen Ifill needs to step down here...

[ingac70]

10. She is writing a book about black politicians...

not a book about how great Obama is.

She doesn't need to go anywhere. You repuke trolls just want someone up there tossing softballs to Palin.

[jenmito]

11. Um, this book was in the works well before McCain agreed to her being the moderator.

If they didn't know she was writing this book, that's THEIR fault.

[SIMPLYB1980]

14. You are disturbing poorly.

[dgibby]

44. Sniff, sniff, sniff

Do I smell Troll House Cookies?:evilgrin:

[blm]

16. Where have YOU been? McCain wrote a book about Vietnam in 2006 and EXCLUDED John Kerry - wouldn't

even interview him. He had no problem interviewing McCain and Hillary Clinton, though - two people who never served in battle, and who never risked their life to save the lives of others in those battles.

So.....where are your protests from that time?

And did you protest Ifill's protection of Bush, Rumsfeld and Rice throughout the 9-11 and Iraq war matters? You do know Gwen is BFF with Condi, don't you?

[jenmito]

17. "WE" would be screaming? Otrollin'.

:)

[obiden]

23. Jeez...Independents

this won't play well with independents if its turned into an issue tomorrow. All it does is help them by making it a racial polarazing issue saying all blacks are voting for obama so all whites should vote for mccain...that's republicans only hope right now. My point is why is gwen ifill necessary for this? Somebody can ask the same questions and it won't be a problem for Obama campaign afterwords. Otherwise if palin does ok it will look she did great because moderator was in the tank for obama.....and if she doesn't, she was a victim....republicans have nothing to lose by throwing out this issue imo....

[jenmito]

34. You are using RW talking points. Ifill was chosen to be the moderater before Obama was even the

nominee. McCain had an opportunity to reject Ifill. He didn't. Black people supported Hillary before supporting Obama. It wasn't until people saw he was more than capable of being president that they started overwhelmingly supporting him. Voting for someone because you like them is different from voting AGAINST someone because you're prejudiced against them. :eyes:

[EstimatedProphet]

42. Anyone assuming all blacks vote for Obama because they are black

is likely white, and voting for McCain BECAUSE HE IS WHITE.

[jenmito]

43. I disagree...

I think lots of white people will vote for McCain because Obama is BLACK. (You're probably saying the same thing). :hi:

[EstimatedProphet]

48. Exactly. To me that's the same thing

And I think it wouldn't hurt us one bit to make the point that way.

[creeksneakers2]

24. We need somebody who won't bend to right wing pressure

and give Palin softball questions. Anyway, McCain already had the rules of the debate rewritten to protect Palin. How long can they hide her incompetence?

[Blue_Tires]

28. what heroism? oh i forgot; mccain won the vietnam singlehandedly

:sarcasm:

[Cosmic Charlie]

30. sure thing, Troll. We'll get right on that.

[Overseas]

31. No Brokaw just assured the McCain team they'd be given a "fair shake"

by NBC in spite of that evil criticism from Keith and Chris. MSNBC already has far more conservatives than liberals on its shows, but that still isn't good enough. Brokaw feels compelled to reassure the McCain camp that he'll be sure even more is skewed in their favor.

This is from an article about Brokaw moderating the upcoming Oct 7 debate.

Mr. Brokaw said he had also conducted some shuttle diplomacy in recent weeks between NBC and the McCain campaign. His mission, he said, was to assure the candidate’s aides that — despite some negative on-air commentary by Mr. Olbermann in particular — Mr. McCain could still get a fair shake from NBC News.

So hey, if Brokaw considers it his job to be sure the two or three liberals who regularly criticize administration mistakes don't offend the precious McSame campaign, then he is clearly biased.

MSNBC already has outweighed its 2 liberal anchors with conservatives, but Brokaw doesn't think that is kind enough to McCain? He's gotta do extra "shuttle diplomacy" to soothe their precious feelings?

That is clear evidence of his bias. He should step aside.

[Teaser]

36. em kcus

.

[obiden]

2. well she SHOULD quit

What was she thinking, this wouldn't come up? all this does is play in the hands us vs them republican strategy..

[Zuiderelle]

6. LOL! Nice try.

:hi:

[blm]

18. Show me your protests that Ifill is Condi Rice's best friend. Show me protests of Brokaw's close

friendship with McCain.

[Lorien]

33. Um, have you EVER seen her on PBS? She's hardly a liberal

if she were writing a book on female politicians we wouldn't be throwing a fit about it.

[myrna minx]

39. Yes. McCain should SUSPEND HIS CAMPAIGN until we solve this!!1!

Perhaps Boehner could whine and cry fat tears that would streak through his bronzer, that Ifill is ruining the whole world too.

We aren't falling for the gimmicks, distractions and the tantrums that are the signature of the Republican party. You may get the pundits in a tizzy over this, but we the people are seeing right through another stupid tactic. :eyes:

[iceman66]

3. Ifill is not exactly a liberal.

[KittyWampus]

and if she'd been writing a book about white politicians? I think she might be tougher

on Obama so she doesn't come across as biased.

[Mz Pip]

4. Oh good grief.

The only way sarah could possible do well in this debate is if Sean Hannity were the moderator. It doesn't matter who asks the questions, only how they are answered.

BTW aren't there several Black politicians out there who are Republican?

[begin_within]

7. Palin's afraid of Ifill, yet can be trusted to stand up to Putin?

[EnviroBat]

8. Ummm, I thought the same question is asked of both candidates

in the debates. Am I missing something here? I guess Glen Beck is too fucking retarded to remember how the debate process works.

[AldebTX]

9. Gwen has always Leaned Right

She was extremely rough on the Dems last time she hosted the debate.

Besides does this debate format give Gwen the power to make poor innocent abused Palin look bad.

[Bad Thoughts]

12. Why not? In exchange, Obama should ask for follow up questions.

McCain agreed to Ifill as a moderator. If they want to change the moderator, let's also make this a true debate.

[SoxFan]

13. Ifill has always acted like a professional

Yes, she sometimes asks questions that make us squirm, but that's a reprters job. The best are able to do that in a way that helps the debate (Lehrer, Russert for much of his career). The worst are the ones who just throw inflammatory crap and see what happens (Blitzer, Stephanopoulos, Hume).

[Overseas]

15. This is called PLAYING THE REF -- warn Ifill to be soft on Palin.

The right has been playing this game ever since they realized slamming the So-Called-Liberal-Media polled well for them. They accuse the media of being "way far left" and the reporters will then bend over backward to prove they're not liberal by favoring the right. It has worked very well for them so far. The media has been moved way over to the right since the 80's.

So they pick on Ifill and put her on the defensive so she'll be sure not to be too tough on Palin.

I think Ifill is smart enough to realize that she can issue mostly softball questions and allow Palin to hang herself, so their obvious playing the ref really isn't necessary.

"What Liberal Media?" by Eric ALterman explains how the right wing campaign was created and is sustained.

http://www.whatliberalmedia.com/

[underpants]

21. Overseas that is EXACTLY what this is as well

They are trying to intimidate her

as well as the post debates "Well...you know...." "some people say...."

[Overseas]

32. Amazing that Brokaw's open adulation of McSame doesn't lead to his removal.

Brokaw shouldn't moderate a McSame debate because he has shown so much bias in McSame's favor.

Including his latest statement about his obligation to assure the McCain campaign that in spite of a couple of liberal reporters at MSNBC who actually dare to criticize the administration, they'd still get a "fair shake." So I guess critical comments just aren't fair, Tom?

[quantass]

46. But he's white, and a man so that's ok.......'nuf said.

[underpants]

45. racism too

"they are all in this together"--> THAT is how this will be disseminated to their viewers and word of mouth

[TheCoxwain]

19. You guys dont get it .. this has nothing to do with Gwen Ifill..

This is simply another excuse to punch the Media ..

The point the Republicans are trying to drive home is much more sinister..

They are trying to tell ..."Dont believe what you hear or see ... Unless it is coming from us"

They are trying to shut the independent voice down.

[jakem]

20. Palin is still working on those tricky T-ball at bats...

[Stuckinthebush]

22. That's fine with me

Let Maddow take her place.

[WA98296]

25. Right after TOM BROWKAW

[Arkansas Granny]

26. This is their latest attempt to protect Palin. They are pretty certain that

her debate performance is going to be a disaster so they are making excuses for her in advance. It's more of their "lowering expectations" crap. If she does poorly they have already established the "fact" that Gwen Ifill is unlikely to be a fair moderator and poor Sarah did the best she could with the deck stacked against her.

[maui9002]

27. As an African American, Gwen Ifill has to be what Jackie Robinson was to baseball

On Bill Maher's show last week, Chris Rock was a guest and made a very good observation of why Barack Obama sometimes seems so careful and respectful of everyone else, including McCain (other than the fact that he seems to be a genuinely thoughtful and respectful person anyway). In short, he said Barack Obama, as the first African American to have a legit shot to become the President, he needs to be like Jackie Robinson was when he broke the color barrier in major league baseball. Not just good, but the best. And he wasn't talking just about his performance on the field. He was referring to how Jackie Robinson carried himself in public. In the debate, I suspect Gwen Ifill will feel the same unfair burden, but frankly, I think she has the skills to meet that standard--Republicans can complain, but it won't be because Gwen Ifill is unfair or unprepared.

[Rainbowreflect]

40. I think this is very true.

[oviedodem]

29. how long has the media known about the book? just to bring this up now

[rlb]

35. Ifill...

Should stay.  She will be professional.  I pray her book does
well.  What will matter in tomorrow's debate are the answers
to her questions and Biden has the experience to take Palin
on.

[chookie]

37. What's Lesley Stahl doing Thursday night? n/t

[chookie]

38. (Not that I think Ifill should step down) n/t

[underpants]

41. HERE WE GO-Fox News, Drudge, WaPo (2), others will follow

Top of the page on Drudge (MSM will therefore follow)
http://www.drudgereport.com/

VP Debate Moderator Pens Pro-Obama Book
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/01/vp-debate-moderator-pens-pro-obama-book/

WASHINGTON: Gwen Ifill, who is moderating Thursday's vice-presidential debate, is releasing a book on Barack Obama and other young black politicians who are "forging a bold new path to political power."

Questions are being raised about the objectivity of Thursday's vice presidential debate moderator after news surfaced that she is releasing a new book promoting Barack Obama and other black politicians who have benefited from the civil rights struggle.

In her book, Ifill contends that the black political structure of the civil rights movement has cleared the way for post-racial politicians to ascend to new heights.

Now some are wondering whether Ifill can be fair and balanced, and whether she should be the moderator of Thursday's 9 p.m. ET debate.

"Clearly her books aren't going to do as well unless Obama wins, so it looks like she has some investment, literally, in one candidate or the other. And she's supposed to be sitting there as a neutral arbiter during the debate," said NPR's Juan Williams, a FOX News contributor. "I think the world of Gwen Ifill but I know there's a perception problem."

VP debate moderator Ifill releasing pro-Obama book
Focuses on blacks who are 'forging a bold new path to political power'
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=76645


VP Debate Moderator, Gwen Ifill, Wrote Book Featuring Barack Obama
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/260570


Gwen Ifill hit for Obama book, debate
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/10/gwen_ifill_hit_for_obama_book.html

Is VP Debate Moderator Gwen Ifill In The Tank For Obama?
http://gawker.com/5057480/is-vp-debate-moderator-gwen-ifill-in-the-tank-for-obama

Ifill's Book is no Secret
By Howard Kurtz
But today, the day before Ifill is to moderate the vice-presidential debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden, a conservative Web site made an issue of the book, which quickly ricocheted onto the Drudge Report. "VP Debate Moderator Ifill Releasing Pro-Obama Book," said the headline on World Net Daily picked up by Drudge.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/01/ifills_book_is_no_secret.html

[Paulie]

50. That's fine. Put in Rachel Maddow

She doesn't have a book coming out. There, problem solved! :)

[VolcanoJen]

47. Drudge and The Corner are leading the charge!!!

:eyes:

These people are so fucking McDesperate they make me laugh. Anything to Save Sarah!!!!

[Vinca]

49. Fine - then Brokaw should step down. How can he be the liaison

between NBC and the McCain campaign (having had a hand in ousting Tweety and Olbermann from election coverage), and be an even handed interviewer in a debate?