Posted on 10/03/2008 12:02:36 PM PDT by WilliamReading
There was one player on the stage in St. Louis on Thursday night that really failed to meet the standard of professionalism and national leadership: moderator Gwen Ifill. Her questions often failed the first journalistic test: they failed to press the candidates to take or defend a stand, instead of letting them unload their talking points. One came across as just plain incoherent: "Governor, on another issue, interventionism, nuclear weapons. What should be the trigger, or should there be a trigger, when nuclear weapons use is ever put into play?" That unfairly put Gov. Palin into a stumbling mode as she tried to figure out: what on Earth was bumbling Ifill trying to say?
While she offered a pile of liberal-tilting questions, Ifill offered Biden only one question from the right, about raising taxes on people making over $250,000 a year: "Why isnt that class warfare?" Sadly, she didnt let the sharp question stand. In the next sentence, before Biden could answer, she then went on to slam McCains health-care tax proposal as possibly "taking things out on the poor."
But the worst, most politician-indulging questions came at the end. This was the most distasteful question of the night: how would you abandon your running mates legacy if he croaked?
(Excerpt) Read more at newsbusters.org ...
"Gwen, that question ought to be taken out and shot. Unless you've got some toast to go with it, so we can have scrambled eggs and toast, you should throw it away and move on to one that actually qualifies as a legitimate question."
Or, she should have simply answered, "Yes," and then stood there silently, looking placidly at Ifill.
I watched the whole debate and saw Gwen Ifil as fairer and more professional than I had expected.
Her book will be a dud along the lines of Pelosi’s. She didn’t even sellout the first printing.
Lefties don’t need to read. They already know everything.
Agree. I think she was well aware that she would be viewed as a partisan. She wasn’t great, but not bad either.
Sarah was great dispite the hard fact that Ifill was openly biased in her choice of questions and how she posed them. For Palin to score that well before a partial moderator in a tilted forum is, well, beyond excellent.
To me, there is an exponential element to her success that the MSM will obviously not recognize. But let’s hope Main Street does.
She was on pain pills! I’ll cut her some slack.
I don’t care how well (or poorly) she did during the debate - she failed the professional ethics test.
I’m sure I heard Governor Palin give passing nod to Kennedy’s tax cuts. Either that, or I’m wishing so hard I think I heard her say it.
I think {gulp} she did a fine job. I know she was under tremendous pressure from both sides. I thought she was fair and balanced, and conducted herself very professionally and with a certain grace we aren’t accustomed to seeing in these debates. I am very grateful for that.
Ifill manipulated it so that Biden got the last word on every meaningful exchange. At one point I believe he had the last word on four question in a row. When Gov. Palin finished answereing a question Ifill delayed before beginning the next question allowing Sen. Biden to jump in with an extra response. In some cases he asked permission (which should have been denied) and in others he just did it. When Sen. Biden finished a response she immediately started the next question so that Gov. Palin would have had to interrupt to respond.
It's easier to win a debate when you always get the last word.
So who has the next debate?
you can’t deny Gwen had a major conflict of interest.
Does the Jim Lehrer organization know something the rest of us don't know?.. You know that he has shared with Gwen Ifill?... Prompting all the work to produce a book that hinges on Borat O'bama being elected President?.. And known a good deal of time, before McLaim was inserted into the republican campaign.. And was selected in the primarys by republicans most of whom despised the little arch weasle..
I smell a skunk.. woo wee.. it stinks..
We could of had OBe one Kanobe!!!or how ever it’s spelled!!!The CEO of MSObama!!!
I didn't see anything that I'd consider particularly "right-wing nutty" about the post.
I expected the worst from Ifill but found her quite decent. She must have bent over backward to appear less partisan than she is, as per her book. She did fine.
This was probably due to all of us having the b*lls to keep talking about her conflict of interest for days before the debate, to the point where the MSM had to talk about it as well. Well done for us.
Oh, and we should give the angry, tight-lipped Katie Couric some of the credit as well. Spanish Inquisition tactics backfire.
They were all leftest questions. No questions about Illegal aliens, no question about fighting Islamic Terrorist, no questions about socialism,or about language, borders, and culture.
“So who has the next debate?”
######
A rock-ribbed conservative. A strict Constitutionist, proponent of ultra small government, self-reliance and personal responsibility.
I have to go lay down now. I hit my head real hard on the pavement today.
Besides, knowing she (Ifill) had a stake in the debate gave cover in case Sarah had a bad outing. But no worries - She Hit a Grand Slam!!! - Way to go, Sarah!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.