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Thread: Where's the Impartiality?

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    Default Where's the Impartiality?

    From today's NY Post:

    How could the McCain camp allow this?

    <snip>

    IMPARTIAL? VP-DEBATE HOST PENS BOOK LAUDING OBAMA
    Comments: 37Read Comments Leave a Comment TILT! Gwen Ifill, who's supposed be completely neutral as veep candidate Sarah Palin debates tomorrow, has written a book about Barack Obama's "pivotal" campaign.



    TOMORROW, PBS anchor Gwen Ifill will serve as moderator for the first and only vice-presidential debate. But there is nothing "moderate" about where Ifill stands on Barack Obama.

    She's so far in the tank for the Democratic presidential candidate, her oxygen delivery line is running out.

    In an imaginary world where liberal journalists are held to the same standards as everyone else, Ifill would be required to make a full disclosure at the start of the debate. She would be required to turn to the cameras and tell the national audience that she has a book coming out on Jan. 20, 2009 - a date that just happens to coincide with the inauguration of the next president of the United States.

    The title of Ifill's book? "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama." Nonpartisan, my foot.

    Random House, her publisher, is already busy hyping the book with YouTube clips of Ifill heaping praise on her subjects, including Obama and Obama-endorsing Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. The official promo for the book gushes:

    "In 'The Breakthrough,' veteran journalist Gwen Ifill surveys the American political landscape, shedding new light on the impact of Barack Obama's stunning presidential campaign and introducing the emerging young African-American politicians forging a bold new path to political power . . . Drawing on interviews with power brokers like Sen. Obama, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Vernon Jordan, the Rev. 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."

    Ifill and her publisher are banking on an Obama-Biden win to buoy her book sales. The moderator expected to treat both sides fairly has grandiosely declared this the "Age of Obama."

    Can you imagine a right-leaning journalist writing a book about the "stunning" McCain campaign and its "bold" path to reform timed for release on Inauguration Day - and then expecting a slot as a moderator for the nation's sole vice-presidential debate?

    Yeah, I just registered 6.4 on the Snicker Richter Scale, too.

    Despite the protestations of her colleagues that she will be fair, Ifill has appeared on numerous radio and TV talk shows over the past several months to cash in on her access to the Obama campaign.

    She recently penned a fawning cover story on the Obamas for Essence magazine that earned much buzz. The title? "The Obamas: Portrait of an American Family." A sample of her hard-hitting investigative journalism, illustrated with Kennedy-esque photos of the Obamas and children posing at home on the back porch and by the piano:

    "Barack Obama is sitting in the back of his rented luxury campaign bus with its granite counters and two flat-screen TVs. The Illinois senator's arms are wrapped around his wife, Michelle, whom he doesn't get to see much these days. At this very moment he is, of all things, singing."

    During the Democratic National Convention, Ifill offered her neutral analysis on NBC News before Michelle Obama's speech: "A lot of people have never seen anything that looks like a Michelle Obama before. She's educated, she's beautiful, she's tall, she tells you what she thinks and they hope that she can tell a story about Barack Obama and about herself."

    During the Republican National Convention, the PBS ombudsman fielded numerous complaints about Ifill's coverage of Sarah Palin's speech. Wrote Brian Meyers of Granby, Conn.:

    "I was appalled by Gwen Ifill's commentary directly following Gov. Sarah Palin's speech. Her attitude was dismissive, and the look on her face was one of disgust. Clearly, she was agitated by what most critics view as a well-delivered speech. It is quite obvious that Ms. Ifill supports Obama, as she struggled to say anything redemptive about Gov. Palin's performance. I am disappointed in Ms. Ifill's complete disregard for journalistic objectivity."

    Like Obama, Ifill, who is black, is quick to play the race card at the first sign of criticism. In an interview with the Washington Post a few weeks ago, she carped: "No one's ever assumed a white reporter can't cover a white candidate."

    It's not the color of your skin, sweetie. It's the color of your politics.

    Perhaps Ifill will be able to conceal it this week. But if the "stunning" "Breakthrough" she's rooting for comes to pass on Jan. 20, 2009, nobody will be fooled.

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    <snip>
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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    It's on both sides.

    Here's a section of the article:

    Sunday on Meet The Press, Tom Brokaw moderated a debate between McCain strategist Steve Schmidt and Obama strategist David Axelrod on topics ranging from Iraq to the Wall Street bailout. At the end, Tom Brokaw did something strange. He opted to give himself the last word and told the audience:

    "In fairness to everybody here, I'm just going to end on one note. And that is that we continue to poll on who's best equipped to be Commander in Chief, and John McCain continues to lead in that category despite the criticism from Barack Obama by a factor of 53 to 42 percent in our latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. Gentlemen, thank you very much." Brokaw said.

    1. We checked, and the latest NBC poll actually has no question about Commander in Chief. 2 We contacted NBC about this, and it turns out Brokaw was referring to a poll taken weeks ago--right after the Republican convention and well before Friday's big national security debate. 3 And in each of NBC's last two polls, Americans chose Obama over McCain.
    Also, Tom Brokaw called Democrats "besotted" in commentary following Senator Obama's speech the night he accepted the nomination. When asked for reaction by KO, he said, "my reaction is less enthusiastic than the "besotted" audience inside the stadium." Besotted means "in love in an irrational and intense way" according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

    Keep in mind that Brokaw is deciding which questions to use. There are biases all around; don't get your panties in a bunch. She'll sink or swim on her own accord.
    "A stupid man's report of what a clever man says is never accurate because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something he can understand." - Bertrand Russell

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    Quote Originally Posted by Katrine View Post
    Ya'll bitches need to calm down. Cerously.
    In other words: Boo-motherfucking-hoo

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Brokaw is non-partisan. Ifill is not. And the success of her book ( to be released on Inauguration Day ) is reliant on an Obama victory. The book is the real problem. She stands to profit from an Obama win. Imagine if someone who wrote a book lauding McCain were tapped to be the moderator for the debate. The Dems would be scraming and yelling, and rightfully so.

    And "besotted" is an apt way to describe Obama's supporters.
    "never trust a big butt and a smile"-- Bell Biv DeVoe

    If you're in your twenties and aren't a liberal, you have no heart. If you're in you're forties and aren't a conservative, you have no brain - Winston Churchill

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Whatever Bem. I'm SO SURE it'll be the fault of the ARRRGGGG LIBERAL MEDIA!!!!!! If Palin doesn't do a good job tomorrow.
    "A stupid man's report of what a clever man says is never accurate because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something he can understand." - Bertrand Russell

    "It's just a matter of people having low self esteem and being way too easily offended." -Random Guy on a Internet Forum

    Quote Originally Posted by Katrine View Post
    Ya'll bitches need to calm down. Cerously.
    In other words: Boo-motherfucking-hoo

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Quote Originally Posted by bem401 View Post
    Brokaw is non-partisan. Ifill is not. And the success of her book ( to be released on Inauguration Day ) is reliant on an Obama victory. The book is the real problem. She stands to profit from an Obama win. Imagine if someone who wrote a book lauding McCain were tapped to be the moderator for the debate. The Dems would be scraming and yelling, and rightfully so.

    And "besotted" is an apt way to describe Obama's supporters.
    Brokaw "non-partisan" ? Please ! He just looks LESS partisan because he makes an effort at fundamental fairness.

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Quote Originally Posted by Miss_Luscious View Post
    Whatever Bem. I'm SO SURE it'll be the fault of the ARRRGGGG LIBERAL MEDIA!!!!!! If Palin doesn't do a good job tomorrow.
    I see your point, but do you REALLY not see an issue in the moderator being so obviously supportive of one side?

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Quote Originally Posted by jester214 View Post
    I see your point, but do you REALLY not see an issue in the moderator being so obviously supportive of one side?
    You mean you think its gonna be a set-up, like the Kitty Dukakis/Death Penalty question?

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Quote Originally Posted by G-Real View Post
    You mean you think its gonna be a set-up, like the Kitty Dukakis/Death Penalty question?
    WHAT ???? Who knew Dukakis would pull a Quayle and give a "deer in the headlights" look and response ? What is unfair about a question like that ?

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Quote Originally Posted by G-Real View Post
    You mean you think its gonna be a set-up, like the Kitty Dukakis/Death Penalty question?
    I think anything is realistically possible, but that would also probably be a career-ender for her, so I'm gonna say that extreme is unlikely.

    It will probably be a fair debate, but I see an issue with either side have a person who is so openly bias in favor of one in charge. The potential for something to happen is increased, and in my opinion, should therefore preclude her. Same as if the person was a McCain fan, who wrote a book about him and his historical role.

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    This video doesn't have to do with the debate, I just thought it was on topic since this thread is about impartiality. It's from Fox News. Note the hands raised for each candidate and tell me if it looks like a split vote to you.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTkqosRiyYo

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Quote Originally Posted by bem401 View Post
    From today's NY Post:

    How could the McCain camp allow this?

    Maybe they know Ifill better than you and Michelle Malkin do.

    Here's what McCain had to say:

    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/vid...a_profess.html

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Quote Originally Posted by eagle2 View Post
    Maybe they know Ifill better than you and Michelle Malkin do.

    Here's what McCain had to say:

    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/vid...a_profess.html
    I think she will too, but she still should have been precluded from being in the position.

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Get a new moderator...Hell, get a moderator from Fox news. Sarah Palin has gotten so many special considerations so far...give her more.

    It would not matter WHO THE MODERATOR IS IF SARAH PALIN was qualified.

    Put a republican moderator in place....and give the Republicans a blankie.

    Biden is a MILLION times more qualified than her. She cannot even answer questions about the Supreme Court with Couric.

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Thank goodness for Olberman...


    debate moderator...Republicans...cry me a river.


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h29O_LOkVF8

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Quote Originally Posted by Richard_Head View Post
    This video doesn't have to do with the debate, I just thought it was on topic since this thread is about impartiality. It's from Fox News. Note the hands raised for each candidate and tell me if it looks like a split vote to you.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTkqosRiyYo

    I saw that too. Yeah, split my ass. It was funny when the old guy in the back tried to raise his hand for McCain and his wife slapped it down then he sheepishly raised his hand for Obama.
    "A stupid man's report of what a clever man says is never accurate because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something he can understand." - Bertrand Russell

    "It's just a matter of people having low self esteem and being way too easily offended." -Random Guy on a Internet Forum

    Quote Originally Posted by Katrine View Post
    Ya'll bitches need to calm down. Cerously.
    In other words: Boo-motherfucking-hoo

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Also, I'm not sure if all you who are outraged that Ifill is the moderator know that he book is not just about Obama, it's about young black politicians. Plus, they knew she was going to be moderating and they know about the book at least since July. They are just trying to once again stir shit up. It's not going to work and tonight will show exactly how clueless Palin is. It wouldn't matter WHO the moderator was. Hannity could moderate and she would still be a complete mess.
    "A stupid man's report of what a clever man says is never accurate because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something he can understand." - Bertrand Russell

    "It's just a matter of people having low self esteem and being way too easily offended." -Random Guy on a Internet Forum

    Quote Originally Posted by Katrine View Post
    Ya'll bitches need to calm down. Cerously.
    In other words: Boo-motherfucking-hoo

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Quote Originally Posted by sapphiregirl View Post
    Thank goodness for Olberman...

    Yeah, Keith Olbermann, what a guy!

    http://marklevinshow.com/keith-overbite/
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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Quote Originally Posted by bem401 View Post
    Yeah, Keith Olbermann, what a guy!

    http://marklevinshow.com/keith-overbite/


    What in the above clip that I posted about Obermann was not accurate..

    Details please...

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Quote Originally Posted by Miss_Luscious View Post
    Also, I'm not sure if all you who are outraged that Ifill is the moderator know that he book is not just about Obama, it's about young black politicians. Plus, they knew she was going to be moderating and they know about the book at least since July. They are just trying to once again stir shit up. It's not going to work and tonight will show exactly how clueless Palin is. It wouldn't matter WHO the moderator was. Hannity could moderate and she would still be a complete mess.
    Her book is being released on Inauguration Day 2009. If Obama loses she can expect to sell about 10 or 12 copies to family and close friends. If Obama wins she could have a NYT bestseller which usually means about 100,000 copies from which she would net $3 to $4 a copy. That's an incentive averaging about $350,000 for her to want Obama to win. It's like a referee officiating a game that he put a bet down on.

    I'm amazed that Ifill didn't have the integrity to avoid any appearance of favoritism and bow out as moderator. Notwithstanding the usual media biases and the blatant cheerleading for Obama, I would have thought she'd have enough basic ethics not to moderate under these circumstances.

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Stoner View Post
    Her book is being released on Inauguration Day 2009. If Obama loses she can expect to sell about 10 or 12 copies to family and close friends. If Obama wins she could have a NYT bestseller which usually means about 100,000 copies from which she would net $3 to $4 a copy. That's an incentive averaging about $350,000 for her to want Obama to win. It's like a referee officiating a game that he put a bet down on.

    I'm amazed that Ifill didn't have the integrity to avoid any appearance of favoritism and bow out as moderator. Notwithstanding the usual media biases and the blatant cheerleading for Obama, I would have thought she'd have enough basic ethics not to moderate under these circumstances.


    Give me a break...people could "complain" she is biased in favor of Palin because she is FEMALE.


    McCain agreed on the choice or moderator WEEKS ago....its his own fault if the Republican Party does not like her....but then again he seems to make poor choices all the time.

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Give me a break...people could "complain" she is biased in favor of Palin because she is FEMALE.
    I doubt that Ifill having several hundred thousand dollars worth of personal financial gains at stake in an Obama victory is as easy to discount as you imply.



    Of course, Ifill herself didn't feel that her impending Inauguration Day release of a highly pro-Obama book was worth mentioning to the debate commission either ...

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    ^Considering that the book isn't finished, and she said she hasn't even written the chapter on Obama yet, why do you say it is 'highly pro-Obama'?

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    A. the advance sale promo at Amazon.com ... "The Amazon.com description of the book says the journalist "surveys the American political landscape, shedding new light on the impact of Barack Obama's stunning presidential campaign and introducing the emerging young African-American politicians forging a bold new path to political power."

    B. Ifill's previous pro-Obama submissions to Essence magazine

    C. even if the content of Ifill's new 'Age of Obama' book were to turn out to be unfavorable to Obama, the conflict of interest involving royalty profits for Ifill on Inauguration Day book sales remains the same.

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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Quote Originally Posted by sapphiregirl View Post
    What in the above clip that I posted about Obermann was not accurate..

    Details please...
    I did not look at your clip/link. I know far too much about Olbermann than I care to already.
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    Default Re: Where's the Impartiality?

    Quote Originally Posted by sapphiregirl View Post
    Give me a break...people could "complain" she is biased in favor of Palin because she is FEMALE.


    McCain agreed on the choice or moderator WEEKS ago....its his own fault if the Republican Party does not like her....but then again he seems to make poor choices all the time.
    Suppose the title was "Politics and Gender in the Age of Palin". Are you telling me Obama supporteres wouldn't be a little concerned?
    "never trust a big butt and a smile"-- Bell Biv DeVoe

    If you're in your twenties and aren't a liberal, you have no heart. If you're in you're forties and aren't a conservative, you have no brain - Winston Churchill

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