Everyone knows how the media hates stonewalling politicians. We all saw it last week when they stomped around over Sarah Palin's photo-ops at the United Nations. So why is it okay for Gwen Ifill and the Commission on Presidential Debates to try the "no comment" defense on Ifill's conflict of interest with the Obama "Breakthrough" book? (That is, other than telling AP conservatives are racist to raise questions.) Columbia Journalism Review's Liz Cox Barrett tried:
A Newshour spokeswoman returned my call to Ifill. The spokeswoman said that “as a journalist, Gwen has to focus on the task at hand: preparing for the debate” (adding that “way before this issue came up, [Ifill] decided not to do interviews” in advance of the debate). I asked the spokeswoman about the appearance of conflict and she replied that Ifill had “proven herself to be fair and balanced and no doubt will be” tomorrow night.
I was then bumped up to the spokeswoman’s boss who said that Ifill had “set this aside,” was focusing on debate prep, and that he didn’t “think Gwen is in a position” to talk to me about this but that he would try to reach her and ask.
Not only is Ifill supposed to represent the media's reverence for accountability and transparency, she's also taxpayer-subsidized, so she's stiffing the public in two maddening ways. The Boston Herald also noted its former food writer was stonewalling off the public:
Ifill did not return an e-mail. Peter Eyre of the Commission on Presidential Debates, which selected Ifill, didn’t return a call.
Wouldn't it be nice to hear from these people before the debate?
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Sing Along
October 2, 2008 - 11:27 ET by UtherpendCome on everyone....."H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E, put it all together and you spell Ifill...."
If Ifill were a true professional...
October 2, 2008 - 11:29 ET by PrairieSkyshe would step down as moderator in order to avoid any suggestion of bias. But, given the near certainty that she will not do that, there is, I hope, the possibility that all the publicity about her book will hopefully put her on notice that every word that comes out of her mouth will be scrutinized for any hint of bias.
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan, January 20, 1981
Oh no she didn't....yep she did she.......
October 2, 2008 - 11:37 ET by connman....through down the race card. In an article from MyWay just put up on Drudge, Ifil says that no one questioned when Lou Cannon wrote a book on Reagan,( was he a Debate Moderator?) she said I guess it's because he's White! And now she's "curious", God help us all! They are shoving "The One" down our throats!
Jane.......stop this crazy thing!!!!- George Jetson
I was wondering...
October 2, 2008 - 11:58 ET by PrairieSkyhow long it would take for Ifill to pull the 'race card' out of the pile...Not long, obviously. Whatever criticism or scrutiny she draws can't possibly be because of anything she has or has not done...It's all just because she's black. How many times have we heard this one before????
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan, January 20, 1981
I can honestly see her
October 2, 2008 - 11:34 ET by mjgI can honestly see her cutting off Palin after asking a question. I won't be surprised by any of the biased, one sided questions she will probably ask Palin.
Vote with your wallet
October 2, 2008 - 11:49 ET by OhmingI wonder what PBS will do if 45% of the nation stops donating to them? I would imagine at that point, PBS would get an earmark in the next "wall street bailout" to keep this propaganda arm of the dnc going. PBS has lost my trust, I will never give them another dime, ever.
Our family...
October 2, 2008 - 12:11 ET by PrairieSkywatches certain programming on PBS fairly regularly. We enjoy the British comedies, Masterpiece Theater, and the some of the specials that they run.
That said, we have never, and likely will never, donate any money to PBS because of their history of bias in their political reporting and programming. I wouldn't mind donating if I knew that my money went to support non-political programming only, but there is no way to do that. The way I understand it, the money donated is used wherever the "bosses" see fit. Unfortunately, most, if not all of the "bosses" are all leftists.
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan, January 20, 1981
Stopped Donating Last Year
October 2, 2008 - 12:50 ET by IgnatzJFahrquarUsed to donate $120/year for many years and stopped last year due to the left leanings. Received a few letters and a call. Told her exactly why.
"All generalizations are false, including this one.” Mark Twain
Good for you!!! I wish...
October 2, 2008 - 12:55 ET by PrairieSkyothers would do the same...Maybe if PBS suffered a real money crunch in the donations department, there might be a chance for some change in the direction of their reporting. Imagine...PBS... taxpayer funded PBS, being objective?? Wouldn't that be nice???
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan, January 20, 1981
How to send PBS a message several times a year
October 2, 2008 - 13:35 ET by needleI stopped donating twenty years ago; and so I was disappointed and felt in a very small way like Nathan Hale in that I have but one wallet to close to them.
And then I just got an idea: In the future I think during their pledge drives I will pledge X dollars, predicated upon balanced programming and unbiased reporting, and then if I find disappointing performance – gosh, I wonder how difficult that will be – inform them that the pledge is cancelled. In this way I will be able to vote NO several times per year.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
This comes from the "Fool
October 2, 2008 - 11:58 ET by BuffNBoneThis comes from the "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me." school of thought.
It would be beneficial to see what forms Ifill had to complete to serve as moderator for tonight's debate. Ideally we could see a copy of the actual form she completed. Possibly it can be obtained as a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request.
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
They don't even care about
October 2, 2008 - 16:32 ET by motherbeltThey don't even care about their own supposed code of ethics.
From the website of the Society of Professional Journalists under "Act Independently," the first two standards are:—
I guess no one at PBS is a member, so they're not bound by that.
It's like the Geneva
October 2, 2008 - 18:52 ET by BuffNBoneIt's like the Geneva Convention, we abide by it and our enemies may or may not. If our troops fail to follow the convention they face charges and, if convicted, do hard time.
Our media hammers us and ignores our advisaries. It seems they never met an enemy of America that they didn't like. Two to one odds makes the job tougher in either arena.
Not saying we're not equal to the task. Our oaths of office say we're supposed to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. Sometimes I'm more worried about the domestic ones.
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
Ifill:No comment
October 2, 2008 - 13:02 ET by Forbus"Focusing on the task at hand...preparing for the debate."
Or was that preparing BIDEN for the debate?
Just let ramdom people from
October 2, 2008 - 13:16 ET by TN MomJust let ramdom people from the audience ask the questions! Ifill can hang out in the lobby promoting her new book.
Hey Y'all: I am new to NB, been reading your comments for approx. a month now but never posted.
Howdy TN Mom... I wished
October 2, 2008 - 13:23 ET by bigtimerHowdy TN Mom...
I wished they really could pick random people in the audience during the debates more than anything, unfortunately it seems for years now they pick the people the want to ask the questions who are usually working one way or the other for a candidate and you don't find out about until after the debate is over.
Glad to see you posting and have a blast here...
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Hey Y'all Tennessee!
October 2, 2008 - 13:24 ET by PrairieSkyIt's always nice to have another fellow Southerner join the NB ranks!! Glad to have you!!
Welcome!
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan, January 20, 1981
Howdy and welcome!
October 2, 2008 - 13:31 ET by c5thenSee, yours is the type of regular good old American common sense that can solve problems. Just replace Ifill with all the regular folks who come to see it in person. It being in St. Louis it'll probably be a good mix of ideologies and viewpoints.
Welcome!
October 2, 2008 - 15:42 ET by CoolShadesWelcome!
Unfortunate for Sarah Palin
October 2, 2008 - 13:35 ET by CapitalismRulesand I mean that quite literally, that despite their "honorable" campaign, Palin and McCain have been marginalized the past two weeks thanks to MSM's hammering away with their lying ways at the economy and the fact that Palin has been out of the spotlight. Now this, a moderator who is totally in the tank for Obama. I hate to say this, but if they continue this "we'll just have to take it" mentality towards the MSM, the Libs, the democrats and the tresurary secretary, Obama will be the next president. It's time to McCain to get tough, get pointed and if necessary, get dirty.
You're correct. It is now
October 2, 2008 - 16:05 ET by CoolShadesYou're correct. It is now time to take off the gloves and rip them on everything the press is ignoring. The McCain and Palin Campaign is fighting a two-front war: The Obama/Biden Campaign and the MSM. It's more than obvious they care nothing about objectivity or fairness. The Palin VP announcement exposed these dirty little cowards' bias for all to see as clear as day.
And I'm mad again that the're rubbing the Gwen Ifill controversy in our faces. We corner her like a rat and she pulls out the race card. The "get-out-of-jail card used when caught red-handed. As soon as employers see that card, they run for the hills. What in the world has happened to this country??
The Real Issue
October 2, 2008 - 13:36 ET by socal4patrickThe real issue is that Gwen is going to be selling her new book after the debate ! She has a financial conflict of interest based on that FACT, not that she is a "journalist". Her book sales are sharply influenced by the election and how it proceeds. That is the conflict of interest.
"If you want to save the world you must be willing to make others sacrifice" ....Dogbert the green consultant
Imagine Rush Limbaugh as Moderator
October 2, 2008 - 13:40 ET by kevinm13I love Rush and virtually all that he stands for (I'm only a Steelers fan when the Giants aren't playing). Imagine the outrage from the left if Rush was picked as a moderator. He would be great but is a political commentator supportive of conservative issues.
Gwen Ifill is as partisan as James Carville, Jim Lehrer, the late Tim Russert and anybody else the debates commission might have picked, but even moreso this year with the actual ability to profit from the election of Obama. She may be able to be fair (I strongly doubt it), but this is a big fat conflict of interest and should have disqualified her from the beginning. The libs in the media have completely dropped all so-called objectivity this year to be fully in the tank for Obama. Few if any are trying to even hide it. The drive-by's will sink as their partisanship turns more and more people away. Journalists need to get back to what they are supposed to do and that is report the news, not make it.
Ifill is talking
October 2, 2008 - 13:54 ET by iveseenitallTim, she can't come to the phone at this time. She's on a conference call with Biden and Barry.
Never, Never trust a "liberal"
Ifif
October 2, 2008 - 13:56 ET by JDWBecause of he broken ankle Ifil will be in a wheelchair tonight.
In her opening comments, Palin should congratulate Ifil for being there and in turn not ask her to stand up.
JDW
DAILY WAVE
'Hey Chuck, Stand Up!'
Ifill and the Commission plead the 5th.
October 2, 2008 - 13:58 ET by c5thenThey just need to get the skewed and biased debate held and out on the airwaves to influence as many voters as possible.
They just....need..to hold......on.....just a....bit...longer.....
I'm expecting a session like this:
"Ok, this next segment is going to be a series of quick questions were the only response acceptable will be a 'Yes' or 'No'. Senator Biden, your first.
Ifill: Do you think that you are ready to become President, if called upon by the situation"
Biden: Yes.
Ifill: Governor Palin, Have you stopped abusing your children yet?
Gwen is the Moderator 'cause Michelle O. had prev committment
October 2, 2008 - 14:37 ET by JayTeeDrum Roll
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
Will Biden the Plagiarist
October 2, 2008 - 14:39 ET by cocodrieWill Biden the Plagiarist get extra points if he compliments Gov. Palin for being clean and articulate?
Tim, you and everyon else
October 2, 2008 - 15:03 ET by motherbeltTim, you and everyon else HAVE heard from them before the debate; you have your answer:
"Shut up!" he explained. -Ring Lardner
They want Obama to win, and ignore anyone who questions them. They don't care what anyone thinks, and have no interest in even attempting to disguise their tactics.
You would think so MB
October 2, 2008 - 15:44 ET by general companyThey don't care what anyone thinks, and have no interest in even attempting to disguise their tactics.
This is plainly obvious to anyone, so I thought. One of my co-workers was just commenting on how stupid Palin sounded in her interviews. I showed him copies of the transcripts and what they cut out, then I showed him the questions from the most resent Obama and Biden interviews, lets just say he is trying to come to grips with left leaning media bias. And I was shocked I had to point it out.
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Trust, don't verify
October 2, 2008 - 15:18 ET by RHRobinsonMDHaving Ifill as moderator of this debate is no worse than having referees at NBA games bet on the outcome. These people are trained professionals and able to separate their financial gain from their duties, just trust them.
Also, buy more ammo.
First, what is it you want us to pay taxes for? Tell me what I get and perhaps I'll buy it. - Robert Heinlein
Heinlein Rocks
October 2, 2008 - 16:34 ET by OhmingHeilein is my favorite author. I am glad to see that he is not left wing, I feel validated somehow.
Laura
October 2, 2008 - 15:46 ET by JohanI would expect that the Democrats won't have any problem if Laura Ingrahm moderates the next debate. I'm sure Laura could set aside any bias she has and do a find job as moderator.
Ms. Ifill was quoted as
October 2, 2008 - 16:51 ET by Chris NormanMs. Ifill was quoted as saying we should watch the debate, then judge if she was biased or not. Gee, Ms. Ifill, if we do judge you as showing bias against Gov. Palin during the debate, it'll already be too late by then, now, won't it?
McNotObama '08
Palin Ad
October 2, 2008 - 17:06 ET by TN MomThe McCain camp should run an ad with NBC,ABC,NYT,CBS, MSNBC logos (& Ifill) ect. with Palin telling the American people how they are getting screwed by the msm. Call 'em out!
Palin: "I'm not going to Washington to seek their (msm) approval. I'm going to Washington to serve the AMERICAN PEOPLE!"
Asking
October 2, 2008 - 17:20 ET by kilrodJust asking yall to Pray for Sarah Palin tonight and Pray for our Nation. And yes, Praying for our Nation includes Joe Biden and Gwen Ifill etc., Thanks,
kilrod
Remember, only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American Soldier
I'm with you, k...
October 2, 2008 - 17:41 ET by PrairieSkyI've been praying about this election for weeks now, and more so in the last few days...I have a feeling that America is going to need all the help (and prayers) it can get.
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan, January 20, 1981
My prayers are that God's
October 2, 2008 - 19:00 ET by BuffNBoneMy prayers are that God's will done.
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
»→ God's will
October 2, 2008 - 19:10 ET by Cool ArrowAnd the people said "Give us Barabas Obama, let His [Jesus] blood (and the blood of the least among us) be upon us.
I think we've been warned, but we are a stiffnecked people with itching ears.
Kill Bill II - Stop the bailout