Call PBS to Discuss Gwen Ifill's Recusal From the Debate

Oct. 1, 2008 | Self

[Viking Ski Bum]

Should Gwen Ifill recuse herself from the VP debate given that her Obama book is coming out Jan. 20, 2009?

For those who think she ought to, they might make their feelings known to PBS CEO Paula Kerger. Her phone is 703-739-8619. They might also wish to address their concerns with Sharon Rockefeller, CEO of WETA/Washington from where Ifill broadcasts and does her show. Ms. Rockefeller’s phone is 703-998-2089.

[Yo-Yo]

People, it's not PBS' call. She was selected by the Commission on Presidential Debates. Complaining to PBS won't do a thing.

[Viking Ski Bum]

Imagine the howling if Hannity or Limbaugh were moderating a debate.

[stuartcr]

What does the McCain camp say about this?

[Old Retired Army Guy]

You are correct. The Commission on Presidential Debates controls this. Also, as far as I know, the Mc Cain campaign has not asked for her removal.

[Chickensoup]

And they have pulled their contact info

PBS might have second thoughts about airing this debate since it would be a contribution to Hussein’s campaign

[Diogenesis]

PBS is proven to have NO integrity, having tricked the McCain campaign
about Gwen Ifill's, Lehrer's, and the rests' complete lack
of ethical, legal, and moral duty in coming forward with their preplanned secret
biases, financial conflicts and even schedules
[Ifill's "Obama as Messiah" book signing planned for Jan 20, 2009].

[BigEdLB]

People, it's not PBS' call. She was selected by the Commission on Presidential Debates. Complaining to PBS won't do a thing

Janet H. Brown is the executive director of the Commission on Presidential Debates. Her EMail is : jb@debates.org

[CatOwner]

Imagine the howling if Hannity or Limbaugh were moderating a debate.

That would not (and should not) happen. A true moderator should be impartial. It is apparent that Ms. Ifill has a conflict of interest in this campaign to be a debate moderator.

I am not a fan of this type of debate because it is too staged and the pace of the debate can be controlled or biased by the moderator. I would rather they have townhall style meetings instead.

[pepperhead]

Exactly and like PBS gives a ____ about what republicans think about anything.

[Kieri]

I’m waiting for the commission to replace Ifill with Olberman.

Eh, they’re just more of the same Obamarazzi, loyal to his church.

[GOPJ]

She has friends at PBS. They need to talk to her. Ifill’s Obama kiss-up book disqualifies her from being a moderator... She’s a smart woman - she should show more dignity.

[BigEdLB]

Sharon Rockefeller, CEO of WETA/Washington from where Ifill broadcasts and does her show.
Is this the same Sharon Rockefeller married to Sen John Rockefeller IV, D-West Virginia?

[Viking Ski Bum]

Not certain. While the commission certainly chose Ifill to moderate, the question is whether ethics - those of Ifill, PBS or WETA - would compel a person in such a situation to recuse themselves for reasons of an obvious conflict.

I realize combining ‘ethics’ and ‘PBS’ in the same sentence is perhaps counterintuitive, but does simple reluctance to do the right thing excuse doing the wrong thing?

[koraz]

Here is contact info for the sponsors of the debate.

Commission on Presidential Debates
2008 National Sponsors
http://www.debates.org/pages/natspons.html

Anheuser-Busch Companies
1 800 342 5283

BBH New York
212 812-6600 T
212 242-4110 Fax
KOREN.PHOTOPOULOS@BBH-USA.COM

The Howard G. Buffet Foundation
158 W. Prairie Ave., Ste. 107
Decatur, IL 62523-1442
217-429-3988

Sheldon S. Cohen, Esq.
http://www.farrmiller.com/members/sheldon_cohen.asp
sscohen@farrmiller.com

EDS, an HP Company
Contact Us
EDS
1 800 566 9337
1 972 604 6000
(United States)
+1 972 604 6000
(International)

International Bottled Water Association
1700 Diagonal Road, Suite 650
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-683-5213
Fax: 703-683-4074
Information Hotline: 1-800-WATER-11
ibwainfo@bottledwater.org

The Kovler Fund
VTCCustserv@cds-global.com

Kaiser Family Foundation
2400 Sand Hill Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025
phone: (650) 854-9400
fax: (650) 854-4800

YWCA USA
advocacy@ywca.org

[shalom aleichem]

McCain is stuck. He would be asked, “Well whom would you like to perform the moderator role if not Ifil?

Before I saw where she wrote the laudatory book about Boma and also saw the YouTube on her snarky comments after Sarah’s acceptable speech, I would have thought Ifil was one of the more “fair” mods who would be acceptable to both sides. I think Lehrer did a great job.

Meanwhile our people go before the likes of Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson and are made to look like fools in the process.

[Cyman]

“What does the McCain camp say about this?”

Someone on McCain’s staff should be looking for their head. This “surprise” should not be tolerated as it makes McCain look either stupid or inept or both.

You choose.

[Ikemeister]

Here’s a number for the commission:

(202) 872-1020

[BigEdLB]

Bring back Lehrer from Debate I. Hey, it will be after sunset, so undead can rise again... And I think Lehrer tried to be fair....

[boxerblues]

compliments of another Freeper

e-mail address of Janet H. Brown, Executive Director of the Debates Commission: jb@debates.org