PBS Washington Week host Gwen Ifill participated in her monthly Internet chat at washingtonpost.com on Thursday, and committed at least one noticeable error. When someone asked Ifill about the "revolving door" between the media and politics – now symbolized by Time Deputy Washington Bureau Chief James Carney working for Vice President-elect Biden – she claimed that it’s "more often the other way" – more often between Republicans and the media.
For many years, MRC’s Brent Baker chronicled the Revolving Door, and it was dominated by Democrats, about three Democrats for each Republican – and that included liberal Republicans like Sen. John Chafee.
Ifill also mysteriously suggested Illinois qualified as the South when one chatter complained Obama had no cabinet picks from the South:
Breaking News: WaPo says Ron Kirk (Dallas) for USTR -- does that satisfy the South?
Gwen Ifill: Texas works for me. And some parts of Illinois(Ray LaHood) might too.
Ray LaHood represents Peoria, which doesn’t exactly border Kentucky.
Here's the question about Jay Carney and the Revolving Door:
Washington, D.C.: What do you think about Time's Jay Carney going over to the administration to work for Biden? Linda Douglass "crossed over" to go work for Obama. What's she going to do in the new White House? And why do major news figures like these two leave journalism for political jobs?
Gwen Ifill: I wouldn't be too quick to lump everyone's ambitions and callings together with one glib explanation. There has always been crossover -- more often the other way. Remember, Diane Sawyer worked in the Nixon White House. Pierre Salinger. William Safire. I could go on.
Let's hope Ifill isn't implying that Pierre Salinger symbolized a Nixon man or a Republican hack in the media. Salinger was press secretary for JFK before working for decades as a reporter for ABC News.
Ifill also agreed when a chatter took offense with someone else who claimed Caroline Kennedy was being picked because she can bring the cash, but she's not so qualified:
Caroline Kennedy is promoted as a very attractive candidate because she can bring hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Demorcratic table: Come on poster. She's an accomplished attorney, published author on Constitutional law, First Amendment rights expert, not a rich soccer mom.
Gwen Ifill: I think she is all that AND a rich soccer mom -- that is, if her kids play soccer. But could she find her way to Binghamton?
Predictably, Ifill did take the opportunity during the Post chat to plug her book coming out on Inauguration Day celebrating "The Breakthrough" of the "Age of Obama." It must have been rewarding to push that Age along as a journalist and a debate moderator.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.






















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shame
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 11:25 ET by AJBThat's a shame. I was actually happy with her moderation of the debates. I think she showed a lot of class, had reasonable questions and did not show overt bias... well, what did i really expect from PBS?
Can anyone answer this one for me? We pay LOTS of taxes to support PBS. Programs air on it, like Sesame Street who take subsidized money to air their program. They then merchandise their stuff (how many kids have Sesame Street stuffed toys, pajamas, coloring books, ad nauseum). I would think since the owners of Sesame Street get a free ride on their program they would pay back all the subsidies to the government. I fear I'm hopefully wrong... that they take from the government with one hand and stuff their pockets with the other.
She;s got a book to sell
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 12:37 ET by 10ksnookerNever forget, follow the money.
Illinois is in the south
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 11:31 ET by Worriedand Congress didn't just vote themselves in a pay raise. Gwen Ifill is not even worth talking about. Only idiots listen to her.
Drudge reported that our fine U.S. Congressmen have voted themselves in a raise. The Drudge story came from The Hill. I then did a search and found it posted no where else.
The arrogance of those bastards that disregard the U.S. Constitution and the people. While voting and toasting to each other, some of them must have been muttering those infamous words, "Let them eat cake!"
And George W. Bush, thanks for bailing out the UAW. I never voted for you but have defended you numerous times. I just saw my country sell it's soul to the devil.
Anything The One does will
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 11:35 ET by motherbeltAnything The One does will come under the category "Works for me" for Ifill. There is no other option.
Ifill wants to prove the
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 11:41 ET by HockeyKidIfill wants to prove the revolving door points more toward Republicans, and she pulls out Salinger?! "I could go on," she says, but doesn't. How about anything current, Gwen? Say, Stephanopolous, Carville, Begala, Matthews, Russert, Brian Williams (lobbyist), Moyers--Democrats to a man, and only the tip of the iceberg.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Gwen Ifill
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 11:44 ET by NorthCoasterGwen, It appears that you are blinded by your ivory tower over there at PBS! C'mon how can you suggest that there are more Republicans in Media when all of the Democrats were unapoligetic about their personal preferences during the last 20 years. In the last 8 years, the Democrats in Media promoting their Democrat positions has grown even more evident, so it is now blatently obvious what and who they support.
Do Illinoians
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 11:49 ET by littlemissmuffinDo Illinoians say "y'all?" If not, they are not qualified to be Southerners. :)
"If we conservatives moved to those seven non-existent States, the government couldn’t find us and tax us to death!"
Well there are some
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 14:58 ET by MidAmericaWell there are some southern Illinoisans with a little 'honey' in their voices but they are way removed from the real Illinois which is generally north of a line from St. Louis. Most of the rest of Illinois has speech that is as flat as the prairie. Except for Chicago, which has it's own speech pattern that you may have heard exaggerated on SNL during the reign Coach Dit-kuh and... Da Bearsss.
Hell I live in Lousiville
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 15:04 ET by UtherpendHell I live in Lousiville KY and we aren't even considered "the South" by anyone in the true South. Tennessee calls us Yankees....lol.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you"
Here in Florida
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 15:48 ET by littlemissmuffinPeople here in Florida have a unique view about the South. We were going to visit relatives in Georgia, and some friends said, "Oh, you're going up North." We informed them quite adamantly that Georgia is NOT up North.
"If we conservatives moved to those seven non-existent States, the government couldn’t find us and tax us to death!"
The "South" is a state of
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 11:58 ET by mattmThe "South" is a state of mind, not a place. It goes with NASCAR, The Stars and Bars, Church and a general attitude of narrow-minded bigotry.
That's how Libtards see it.
Ditto being black: it's a
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 12:13 ET by motherbeltDitto being black: it's a matter of political beliefs, not a skin color. That's why someone with black skin is not necessarily a "genuine" black.
Of this and that
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 12:08 ET by SentryDanI was thinking that this Ifill person might, just might be a somewhat honorable person. But then I realized that she is a liberal and that quickly set my thinking straight. Man, that would have been a terrible mistake on my part.
Illinois is no more south, than Mississippi is north. Why do people like Ifill, continue to try playing the race card? Their guy won. It's time to drop the race thing.
These black people what every appointment to be a person of color simply because they assume that Obama, 'the one', is black. Folks, Obama is mixed race. One of his parents was white and that makes him half white. He father was not all black either, which makes Obama not even half black.
The Big 3 Bailout. This one is about greed. The execs and union bosses are only looking out for themselves. They could give a rat's behind about the little guys, the workers.
I wish I could get $30/Hr in pay and $30/Hr in benefits just for tightening nuts and bolts. Must be nice.
Then there is Ms Kennedy. Ms Kennedy has even less experience than Obama. Maybe I should move back to New York and run for the seat. At least I have some experience. I don't believe that any governor should have the right to appoint a person to a senate or house seat. This is an elected office and should remain so even if the holder should resign the office or die while in office. Hold a freakin' special election, for pete's sake. Otherwise, we will continue to have the kinds of problems that we now face in Illinois and New York.
Remember folks, Freedom isn't Free. It was bought with the blood and sacrifice of the men and women who are serving and who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know.
I wish I could get $30/Hr
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 13:17 ET by Dan The Man 2I wish I could get $30/Hr in pay and $30/Hr in benefits just for tightening nuts and bolts. Must be nice.
Sounds like the local prostitute.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Ture
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 14:15 ET by CobraManTrue, as they always bolt after tightening nuts. Heh.
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
So we should add Caroline to
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 13:12 ET by SickofLibsSo we should add Caroline to that elite list of constitutional scholars, which now includes Obama and Biden.
And I would reserve the "accomplished lawyer" description for lawyers who actually practice, or who have practiced, law. Not just passed the bar.
Everybody knows....
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 15:01 ET by dmntd1Anything south of I-80 in Illinois is South. If it's south of I72/74 it's the deep south. Peoria is onI74, that makes it border between south and deep south.
"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy." - Winston Churchill
Ah, No.
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 21:51 ET by Saint ZeroIllinois, all of it, is firmly in Yankee country. There are no excuses or possible ways to rationalize it. Ya'll are all Yankees.
Sorry! :)
The way I read it is that
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 15:59 ET by Insane ChipmunkThe way I read it is that she meant "the other way" not as party but as directional.
Here the poster points out a media man going to work for the administration. She's saying more often you see former administration people going into the media.
Carville, Stephanopolous, Ollie North, Matthews, etc
I agree
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 23:19 ET by AlexaShruggedThat's exactly how I read it. She's talking about politicos turning media. There's no talk of party, even though she's extremely liberally biased in general.
http://www.AlexaShrugged.com
No doubt Gwen Ifill will
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 17:01 ET by fitzfongNo doubt Gwen Ifill will have to use the Jim Wright union dump approach to flog copies of her book. I can't imagine there's a natural market to buy that crap.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
fitzfong.blogspot.com