VP Debate Moderator Pens Pro-Obama Book

[underpants]

Source: Fox News (via Drudge and World Net Daily)

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."



Read more: http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/01/vp-debate-moder... /

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OTHERS


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...

Is VP Debate Moderator Gwen Ifill In The Tank For Obama?
http://gawker.com/5057480/is-vp-debate-moderator-gwen-i...

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/i...

[TheWraith]

1. God forbid that a black journalist write about black politicians.

Post racial my ass.

[underpants]

6. Working the refs, prepping the post debate talking points, AND the race card

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

[ogneopasno]

2. Why is writing about black politicians a "pro Obama" book?

Blah, blah, blah...

[wtmusic]

3. Hmm.

There does appear to be a conflict of interest.

[LeftyMom]

4. Are they honestly saying Condi Rice's best friend won't be fair to the Republican?

[John Q. Citizen]

5. Interesting ploy to wait until one day out to raise a shill cry.

[frylock]

7. and tom brokejaw is real good buddies with mccain..

what about that, juan williams? have you addressed that at all?

[Jackpine Radical]

8. Best give the job to somebody neutral like Hannity or Limbaugh.

[anakie]

34. how about Elisabeth from The View

she is both a woman and fair and balanced.


Peace

[brooklynite]

9. GASP! McCain campaign didn't know!!!!! (per Fox)

from Greta Van Susteren

I confirmed for us here on GretaWire: the McCain campaign did NOT know about Gwen Ifill’s book (I think I told them when I made my efforts - emails about midnight - to find out!) 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.

So, apparently, the McCain campaign spent as much time cetting Gwen Ifill as they did Sarah Palin...

[GinaMaria]

29. Riiiiigggghhhtttt.

He didn't know. Yeah. let's go with that.



Smell the desperation. They are going into this so far behind the starting line that they need tactics like this to push things Sarah's way. They do not want a fair debate. She can't compete in a fair debate and the world knows it. The day before the debate they start banging the drum on the moderator? It's all a strategy to work the refs and cry foul when Sarah fails against Joe. Man they like to create a lot of noise and distraction don't they?

[kestrel91316]

10. Too f----ing bad, whiners. For far too long, RW fascists have been

in control of most of our media outlets and we progressives have had NO VOICE.

[EV_Ares]

11. What about Tom Brokow who is blatantly pro McCain & an announced liaison between

NBC & the McCain campaign.

She is a writer who has written a book about black politicians including Obama. When did she do her first draft and was this something she already had in the pipeline before she was selected for the debate.

Her book doesn't indicate anything about her leanings its just a book about up and coming young black politicians isn't it.

Brokow is different and especially with the position and job he has at the network.

[bowens43]

12. excuse number ?????

If Palin can't hold her won with a debate moderator how in the hell can she hold her own on the world stage?

[GinaMaria]

13. What other strategy do they have at this point?

They must resort to desperate measures to cushion the fall of the 'great debater' Sarah Palin. They will have a few other desperate tactics too, but whatever. She sounds like a fool when she speaks.

[Xipe Totec]

14. She's also a woman, so she's clearly biased towards Palin...

[THUNDER HANDS]

15. this is actually a fair point

the moderator of a debate should not have any financial stake at all in the outcome of the race she's moderating.

not that I liked Ifill that much anyway, but really, she should step down. A real journalist would.

[madamesilverspurs]

16. Quibble, here.

You say "...she should step down. A real journalist would." She is every bit as "real" a journalist as Brokaw, who is invested in getting his paycheck from NBC while simultaneously promoting McCain. Are you expecting him to withdraw as well?

[NashVegas]

17. Yup. "The Greatest Generation" Was Tom Brokaw's Book

I guess that disqualifies him.

[THUNDER HANDS]

19. is he moderating a debate?

if so, i would expect him to withdraw as well.

[fjc]

18. Real journalist = transparent smear

[THUNDER HANDS]

20. real journalist = not TV journalist

or someone who writes books to profit off of those she interviews.

[fjc]

21. Welcome to capitalism comrad.

[THUNDER HANDS]

23. i'm not saying journalists can't write books

but don't hold yourself out as a serious journalist if you do. Unless you're writing a historical biography or something.

[fjc]

39. Nonesense.

Who are you to determine what kind of books journalists are allowed to write?

[Psephos]

22. It isn't about fair. It's about protecting our partisans, and expressing "outrage" to theirs

They work the same way.

Us vs. Them. The way proto-humans did it between tribes a hundred thousand years ago. Some things never change.

Meanwhile, I'm with you, we should have unbiased moderators. The knife cuts both ways.

[notaboutus]

25. NO IT IS NOT!

1. Not after Tom Brokaw identified himself as a republican during MSNBC's coverage of the Democratic Convention.
2. She was working on this book foe a while. Obama never complains and look at how differently he gets treated. He is rarely allowed to complete a sentence during any interview without being interrupted.
3. Explain to me why it was and is okay for Obama to be interviewed and have debates moderated by known republicans?
This woman is a black political journalist (a real one). The only one I know of (journalist) who stood up to Tim Russert for the Imus mess and how he handled it and what he said about it. She called him on it(in private)he then invited her on MTP to discuss it. A black woman political journalist writing about black politicians disqualifies her? Go read some of Tom's books and get back to me after you read them.

[THUNDER HANDS]

27. I'm not defending Tom Brokaw

But I have a background in journalism, and I know when something just feels off, ethically. She should not be moderating a debate when she's coming out with a for-profit book about one of the debate participants (indirectly).

[kwassa]

32. Where is the proof of pro-Obama bias?

I watch Ifil a lot lately, including the excellent job she does as moderator of Washington Week in Review. She is quite unbiased in her observations, critical of both sides.

Simply writing about black politics does not make her biased about anything. If she can't write about black politics, isn't this a reverse race card being played?

[THUNDER HANDS]

35. there doesn't need to be a bias

she's going to directly profit off a book that has the main thesis being this is the age of Obama and the rise of black politicians. She doesn't have to hold pom poms and cheer lead him on, but she's not being 100% ethical about this either. Especially because the book is coming out around the time Obama would be sworn in, so she's looking to capitalize on it....ie, make money.

She's not writing a thesis paper, or a guest column in a newspaper, she's writing a for-profit book.

that's where she steps over the ethical line.

[kwassa]

38. how do you know what the thesis is?

It seems to me that you are rushing to judgment based on little or no knowledge.

Where is the advocacy of a political position in this book?

Show me evidence, or you have nothing but supposition. You've made two statements that appear to have no basis in fact.

Here is some background for you:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iVAeSkYI2HWjkaX11O2c...

"I've got a pretty long track record covering politics and news, so I'm not particularly worried that one-day blog chatter is going to destroy my reputation," Ifill said. "The proof is in the pudding. They can watch the debate tomorrow night and make their own decisions about whether or not I've done my job."

The day before the Joe Biden-Sarah Palin debate, columnist Michelle Malkin wrote in the New York Post about Ifill's book, saying, "She's so far in the tank for the Democratic presidential candidate, her oxygen delivery line is running out."

Ifill said Obama's story, which she has yet to write, is only a small part of the book, which discusses how politics in the black community have changed since the civil rights era. Among those subjects is Colin Powell, secretary of state in the Bush administration.

Now, when did we start to worry about what Michelle Malkin was saying? That woman is beyond partisan into crazy territory.

[JonLP24]

44. Bingo!

I can't believe this is even an issue. What is wrong about writing about rising black politicians. There is nothing written about Obama winning plus he is just a small part of the book. Replace her with who? She is more then qualified for this role, the debate commission carefully vette these moderators. They really got a monopoly on the business and they would risk reputation by having her host a debate especially MONTHS after it was announced.

[notaboutus]

43. Keith said it best for me

As do I. Have a little award I won too but that is beside the point. Her book is about how my generation is not concerned about "civil rights" and the us against them mentality of "Jesse" or "Sharpton" as far as politics is concerned. She is writing about how black politicians and leaders are now telling blacks they need to take personal responsibility and not expect government to give them anything.
They believe if you have equal rights and want to succeed you can and you will. It is all about the expectations you set for yourself. It's not about Obama he's a chapter in a book. It's about black politicians. I resent the FACT that I see a lot of news commentators and pundits not to mention journalist. Who write books about their personal views and values but their ethics are never called into question.

[marshall]

24. I'm sure Ifill will go above and beyond to be equal to both candidates

Aside from her reputation I"m sure she also got dollar signs on the line. With a book coming out she can't afford to alienate people who might buy her book.

[Blasphemer]

26. The ony issue is whether or not she is capable of being a fair and balanced moderator

Based on past history, that does appear to be the case. 90+ percent of African Americans are Democrats and journalists have a tendency to, you know, write. I don't think it fair to disqualify journalists as debate moderators based on who they may or may not support or write about. They all have political leanings, the only thing to be asked is whether or not they can put them aside and do their job competently.

[and-justice-for-all]

28. Fucked News can piss off! nt

[struggle4progress]

30. Fox News' Kelly falsely suggested Ifill's book about Obama was made "public" only after she was ...

announced as debate moderator

... In fact, media outlets, including the Associated Press, reported that Ifill was the book's author well before the August 21 announcement that she would moderate the debate ...

Prior to the joint announcement of the debate schedule and format, the July 21 AP article -- which is also posted on FoxNews.com -- identified Ifill as "author of 'The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama,' slated for publication early next year." Additionally, a May 13 article in The Republican of Springfield, Massachusetts, quoted Ifill discussing the book: Ifill told the paper she is working on a book "about an emerging generation of black politicians" ...

<Here> is a Doubleday description of Ifill's book: ... Ifill argues that the Black political structure formed during the Civil Rights movement is giving way to a generation of men and women who are the direct beneficiaries of the struggles of the 1960s. She offers incisive, detailed profiles of such prominent leaders as Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and U.S. Congressman Artur Davis of Alabama, and also covers up-and-coming figures from across the nation. Drawing on interviews with power brokers like Senator Obama, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Vernon Jordan, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, and many others, as well as her own razor-sharp observations and analysis of such issues as generational conflict and the "black enough" conundrum, Ifill shows why this is a pivotal moment in American history ...

http://mediamatters.org/items/200810010012?f=h_latest

[struggle4progress]

31. Gwen Ifill has broken her ankle, but she says she will still serve as the moderator for the upcoming

vice presidential debate. Ifill broke her ankle after she tripped while walking downstairs in her Washington area home on Monday. The veteran PBS newswoman was carrying material she was using to prep for the debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin ....

Gwen Ifill
Tribune wire reports
8:20 AM CDT, October 1, 2008
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-gwen-if...

[Mistwell]

33. I wish Gwen Ifill would step down as moderator...

...not because I think she is biased, but because the perception of bias is so obvious.

Look, we can argue about who she is friends with and what she believes, but it's hard to argue that financial interest in the outcome of the election exists. And financial interest is a pretty common criteria for conflict of interests. It's de facto bias.

A book about the "Obama Era" to be released on election day obviously will sell more if Obama wins. Which means she makes more if Obama wins. That's all you really need to know - a perception of bias has been established.

And if the moderator had penned a book about living in the "McCain Era" to be released on election day, I have no doubt at all we would all see the problem with that moderator.

It's not like Palin will screw up less if Gwen Ifill is not the moderator, why give a excuse for her performance with a moderator that has such an obvious conflict of interest? Why not let another moderator fill in who does not offer that kind of excuse?

Sorry, I am just not happy with Gwen Ifill as moderator. All it does is give Palin-supporters an easy excuse.

[renate]

36. it does look bad, I must admit, but upon further thought it might be okay

Let's be honest... if the moderator of one of the presidential debates had written a book praising Vietnam veterans, we'd be all

On the other hand, Tom Brokaw DID write books praising veterans of earlier wars (and rightly so, of course), and he's on record as being a go-between between NBC and the McCain camp, and he'll moderate the next debate, so it evens out at least, and the scales may still be tipped in favor of McCain.

I don't think it's fair to belittle the concerns of those who think Ifill shouldn't be the moderator. It does look like she would be predisposed to favor Obama. But she's a good journalist, isn't she?--and she can still be objective. It's ridiculous to assume that journalists don't have opinions in private that they are incapable of keeping separate from their jobs.

[WePurrsevere]

37. Horsepucky... it's not "pro-Obama". She brings up 3 other black politicians including POWELL.

Also the book has been known about and openly discussed for quite a while so now all of a sudden should it be an issue. If it were really an issue it should have been brought up long before this... this is pure political game playing again.

Here's McCain's reaction:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/1008/McC...

Fox's Carl Cameron asked John McCain today if he thought that PBS journalist Gwen Ifill should recuse herself from moderating Thursday's VP debate in St. Louis.

"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 said.

"Does this help that if she has written a book that's favorable to Sen. Obama?" McCain asked. "Probably not."

<snip>

McCain said he “had not heard about a new book or anything else,” but added that Ifill would be "scrupulously fair.”

[GeorgeGist]

40. the sky is falling ...

a black capitalist shill will 'moderate' a 'debate'.

[robcon]

41. She has an appearance of conflict of interest.

Under most media rules for writers and reporters, she should not moderate the debate tonight. A mistake, but certainly not a major one.

[kwassa]

42. Explain the conflict to me.

What would that be?

[robcon]

45. If Obama wins the election, her book will sell many more copies.

She'll make more money if one side wins.

That's an appearance of a conflict of interest, and, in any major newspaper or TV outlet, she would not be allowed to cover the campaign, or her coverage would be restricted by her editor.

[ohio2007]

46. I'm sure she has two differesnt ending chapters that can be sent to the presses on nov 5th

[sofa king]

47. Well, she let Palin slide a dozen times, so that ends this debate, doesn't it?

[Sewsojm]

48. When are we going to put an end to the Fuck America News Network?

How any decent person can watch and listen to these Bastards is beyond me, Fuck You Faux Noise!!

[Frank Cannon]

49. Good for her. I hope Gwen Ifill pursues a career as a writer.

Because she flat-out sucks as a debate moderator.