Charlie Gibson's Palin Interview Reviews: "Annoyed," "All Business," "No Nonsense"

ABC's Charlie Gibson is drawing positive reviews for his interview of Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

New York Times' Alessanda Stanley:

Ms. Palin didn't look rattled or lose her cool in her first interview with Mr. Gibson, the network anchor, on Thursday night, but she skittered through with general answers, sticking to talking points that flowed out quickly and spiritedly, a little too much by rote to satisfy her interviewer that she was giving his questions serious consideration. When Ms. Palin seemed not to know exactly what the Bush doctrine is, Mr. Gibson made a point of explaining it -- pre-emptive self-defense -- and demanded that she tell him whether she agreed with it.

ABC News delivered the first glimpse of Ms. Palin without a script or a cheering audience, and it was a strained and illuminating conversation. Ms. Palin, who kept inserting Mr. Gibson's nickname, Charlie, into her answers, as if to convey an old hand's conviviality, tried to project self-confidence, poise and even expertise: She let Mr. Gibson know that she had personally reassured the Georgian president and correctly pronounced his last name, Saakashvili. At times, her eyes looked uncertain and her voice hesitated, and she looked like a student trying to bend prepared answers to fit unexpected questions.

Mr. Gibson, who sat back in his chair, impatiently wriggling his foot, had the skeptical, annoyed tone of a university president who agrees to interview the daughter of a trustee but doesn't believe she merits admission.

Washington Post's Howard Kurtz:

Anyone who said that Charlie Gibson might go easy on Sarah Palin might want to quickly delete those comments.

What the ABC newsman conducted yesterday was a serious, professional interview that went right at the heart of what we want and need to know about the governor: Could she be president? Does she understand the nuances of international affairs? Does she have a world view?

He was all business, respectful but persistent.

The Baltimore Sun's David Zurawik:

ABC anchorman Charles Gibson came across as a stern, no-nonsense senior professor putting a graduate student through a tough exam in the first part of his interview with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

It was round one of a three-part interview that will air on the network through tomorrow night, and you had to give it as a split decision to Gibson. But he was far from perfect, and he clearly received a lot of help from the way the interview was edited.

The usually genial Gibson was firm and authoritative without being hectoring as he and the Republican vice presidential candidate sat stiffly knees to knees in leather chairs discussing God, national security and the possibility of military action against Russia if it invades Georgia again. Gibson wasted no time in the excerpted portion of the interview that aired on ABC World News in asking about her qualifications.

Comments

[MitTheMan]

Obama interview:

How does it feel to break a glass ceiling?
How does it feel to “win”?
How does your family feel about your “winning” breaking a glass ceiling?
Who will be your VP?
Should you choose Hillary Clinton as VP?
Will you accept public finance?
What issues is your campaign about?
Will you visit Iraq?
Will you debate McCain at a town hall?
What did you think of your competitor’s [Clinton] speech?


Palin interview:
Do you have enough qualifications for the job you’re seeking? Specifically have you visited foreign countries and met foreign leaders?
Aren’t you conceited to be seeking this high level job?
Questions about foreign policy
-territorial integrity of Georgia
-allowing Georgia and Ukraine to be members of NATO
-NATO treaty
-Iranian nuclear threat
-what to do if Israel attacks Iran
-Al Qaeda motivations
-the Bush Doctrine
-attacking terrorists harbored by Pakistan
Is America fighting a holy war? [misquoted Palin]

[bascombe]

it was coaching, nothing more. he was preparing her for the coming debates.

[2bsure]

McCain says his running mate "knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America." Too bad Charlie didn't ask "Energy Expert Sarah" whether she knows how long it takes for plant fossils, marine organisms and other organic matter to break down in order for the earth to produce petroleum and natural gas. Scientists say it takes hundreds of thousands of years. How would "Creationist Sarah" reconcile that conflict?

[JBDial]

By the way... Scientists THEORIZE it takes hundreds of thousands of years... there is no proof.

[cmilburn]

Gibson appeared to be cognizant of the significance of this interview so it seemed to me that he was sober, dignified, respectful and prepared. In the first segment of the interview, he didn't let up much and pressed her appropriately on foreign policy issues. However, in the other two segments, I felt he let up on her and didn't ask the timely follow up questions he should have. She clearly had that deer-in-th­e-headligh­ts look when the Bush doctrine question came up.

She is not prepared to be our VP. Period. Cramming for the big test is unworthy of us as Americans. Like the protest sign said, "Real candidates don't need to cram."

[ObamaLover]

The term "Bush Doctrine" was first coined by columnist Charles Krauthammer three months before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and has undergone profound changes as the war against terror has evolved.

"There is no single meaning of the Bush Doctrine," Krauthammer noted in a forthcoming column. "In fact, there have been four distinct meanings, each one succeeding another over the eight years of this administration and the one Charlie Gibson cited is not the one in common usage today. It is utterly different

[jkminwa]

For the sake of argument, I'll accept Krauthammer's claim. Problem is, she didn't know a single one of them. If only she had a little curiosity about the world...

[Dutschke]

Interesting to read, that the news media makes this interview about Gibson instead of Palin. Gibson is merely the interviwer, The reason, why he conducted this interview is so that we can hear more about - and more importantly - from Sarah Palin so that we, the people have a better understanding of who she is and whether she seems qualified. ABC did a professional job and that's it. Palin obviously doesn't have either experience nor knowledge to run this country and the interview exposed that very well. The McCain - Palin ticket would not be a repeat of Bush - Cheney. Bush is beginning to look like an intelligent and reasonable man next to Palin.

[marymansour]

It's about time that Gibson made up for his BS on the debates last Spring. However, he is no Tim Russert. I scanned the morning Sunday' shows for Sarah this morning. There were none. How the pluperfect hell can this woman who is a candidate for the next highest position in the land, not get her feet put to the fire anymore than she has? The MSM is a b loody disgrace. .

[SUNRAI]

More like the campaign she's apart of; who won't allow her to go on any of the Sunday morning shows.

[bitterindependent]

i can't believe that palin took almost two weeks to study and prepare for this interview and she still

found a way to mess it up!!!! If she doesn't know what the Bush Doctrine is then how is she going to

reform it and Washington­.....isn't this Doctrine one of the reference points that she would have to

change......she is just a BSer and way over her head in this game.....

[keepacoolhead]

Plus on top of that I heard that it was pre-recorded and edited which leaves the question open what else she may have messed up that got EDITED OUT.

[JBDial]

News shows don't edit out blunders... especially left biased ABC, rather they edit it to the advantage of the interviewer

[Egghead]

I'm interested to see how many people are comparing Gibson to a professor or a university president. First of all, it's odd to see how many people IMMEDIATELY identify professor = tweedy male with reading glasses. As a woman who is also a professor, that's strange to me.

Also as a woman who is also a professor, I can tell a bullshit answer from someone who hasn't bothered with the material. The bright fake smile and the frequent use of the name: "GOSH, Professor So-and-So, I just think that ______ is the greatest author ever ever and ______universal values, Professor So-and-So, _______culture ________ and isn't that the beauty of living in America? . . . . Professor So-and-So?"

"Sorry. I was too busy thinking about just how badly you fail."

[milo44]

YOU GUYS NEED TO READ NY TIMES ARTICLE ON PALIN. VERY INTERESTING

[bitterindependent]

which ONE? each has a scandel connected to it real or fake......was she really vetted? LOL...

[chickenpieeggs]

I thought it was a GREAT interview. Come on America. Pay attention to this stuff.
The thought of her assuming the role of President of the United States, it would be like a sequel of the Bush comedy....only more embarrassing!
Besides, this would have been a better choice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo5cCmbnWTc

[johnnyjust]

Now if only the media would ask Obama a tough question.

"What are your qualifications for the Presidency?"

Ewww, that would be tough. "Uh, er.....six months in the Senate, two and a half years running for President....uh, er....comm­unity...uh­, something or other...."

[Probus]

What is Palin's experience?

[Egghead]

He could definitely answer questions on basic important issues. I think after the Gibson interview, it's obvious that she cannot.

[keepacoolhead]

Obama knows the issues pretty much inside out. He has all kinds of experience which he gather from the time as community organizer to his work in the Illinois Senate and while in the US Senate he passed as many bills as Hillary Clinton who spent more time in the Senate than he did. I think the so called "experience" question is mute but has been picked up by almost everyone. McCain does not seem to have a full grasp on the issues and Palin is like someone with a bachelor degree trying to cram for a doctorate.

[JBDial]

Just because you "sponsor" a bill doesn't mean you "passed" it. How many bills did he author or co-author? Sponsoring is not necessarily authoring... And only 2 passed:

Here are a few of the bills Obama sponsored:

- A resolution expressing the sense of Congress that any effort to impose photo identification requirements for voting should be rejected.

- A resolution recognizing the historical significance of the Juneteenth Independence Day

- A resolution designating July 13, 2006, as "National Summer Learning Day".

And my favorite significantly important bill:

- A resolution to congratulate the Chicago White Sox on winning the 2005 World Series Championship.

Wow, those are AWESOME!

Oh, and here are the only ones to pass:

(source: Library of Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD003+@4((@1(Sen+Obama++Barack))+01763))

- A bill to promote relief, security, and democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

- A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 950 Missouri Avenue in East St. Louis, Illinois, as the "Katherine Dunham Post Office Building".

Again - Wow! You're right, he's a legilsative GENIUS! Woo-hoo! Go Obama!

[andyg]

Never happening, did you see him on fox news, dodging question's about Wright, he was not my mentor, never was, were the headlines on that.

[cabledave]

I watched the interview.

She is a BSer. If she doesn't know the answer, which is often, she just talks and talks and talks hoping the other person glazes over.

When asked about adult stem cell research, she referred to them as "adult skin cells". I even check with the close caption on to see if I was hearing things. OMG she is George W Bush in drag!!!

Being the humanitarian that I am, I will be using a loofa tonight and donating my "adult skin cells" for research.

God save us!!!

[Egghead]

She is a total BSer. I agree.

[blackhawk]

Always been a fan of Charlie Gibsons but no more. I have never seen him conduct an interview with such obvious animosity. Sarah conducted herself like a lady ... a very bright and capable woman. Charlie, you came off as a pompous, pontifical jerk. Who gives a crap about the Bush Doctrine. You tried to trip her up but it didn't work as you had hoped it would. She interpreted the Doctrine in her own words. Not reading it like you were. I'll bet that if you asked that question of the Cabinet or Staff surrounding Mr. Bush they couldn't give you an answer without running to look it up. She answered you, Charlie. Sarah was gracious to you. I would not have been. By the way, I am a Democrat.

[KillBillV2]

Who gives a crap about the Bush Doctrine? Are you the biggest tard on the planet other than Sarah Palin or what?

[neenj]

I know Democrats. Lots of my friends are Democrats. And you, blackhawk, is not a Democrat.

[JBDial]

DO you know any teachers?

[IBOAT]

Believe me, she got an easy interview from a gentleman. We have GOP whiners saying Charlie Gibson was to rough on Sarah Palin. She is possibly going to become the president of the United States. We are involved in a War that has cost Trillions and climbing, unsettled a total region. Very conceivably an illegal war, not only costing over 4000 American lives but also costing over 100,000 iraqi lives. All this based on the Bush doctrine. Charlie Gibson asked a simple question - the question was - Sarah Palin are you for or against the past 8 years? Are you for or against invading a country just because you SUSPECT they have Nuclear weapons and are going to attack the U.S. -- Sarah Palin what do you know about the people that will surround you, if you get to the OVAL office and they tell you we SUSPECT they have Nuclear weapons and are claimed they want to attack the U.S. ----Sarah Palin should know what she is stepping into. The fate of perhaps the WORLD depends on it.---- Charlie Gibson wanted to know - Sarah Palin do you agree with the Bush Doctrine. - The WORLD wants to know.

[roneco]

Charlie Gidson is just another Dumocratic operative like Paul Begala and James Carville. No one in the media knows what the Bush Doctrine is, and no one in the country cares, except for you bitter losers.

[123dee]

With that one question alone Charlie, exposed that is nothing more than a
phony.
The honest answer would have been gee, I have to admit I am not
familiar with enough to comment.

[Probus]

What is with the GOP - why can't they produce competent candidates? The Bush Doctrine has cost us more than 4000 lives it's very important. It matters to the troops serving in Iraq right now.

[Osprey3]

Weren't you at all concerned when she replied: "Perhaps so." to a question about going to war with Russia over a Georgian invasion. Militarily engage Russia on their border? Are you kidding me? She's got to be out of her "permafrost" mind! This person might well ascend to the Presidency and be handed the U.S. nuclear launch-codes. Doesn't that scare you, even a little?!

[BetterDays]

Gibson redeemed himself in my book. I swore I would never watch Gibson or Little Georgie after the debate between Clinton and Obama. I must admit that Gibson is now worth a second look.

[azyuwish]

Ditto.

[MissKaren]

Agreed. He was respectful but demanding. He didn't badger her and he let her fall on her own cupcake behind without pushing her over.

[123dee]

I 2nd that

[JCTaylor]

It was quite the editing job they did. For shame for shame