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

[EddieMcWords]

Praise for doing his f@cking job!!!!

[Topfeeder]

I'm with Eddie. It is about time the media stopped knuckling under to baseless claims of sexism and elitism.

[DebbieinPhx]

Did you see MSNBC today...I was so DISGUSTed I had to turn off the TV. They had some buffoon on there as a supposed expert saying how Palin's disasterous interview out come wasn't really all that bad in retrospect...His point of reference was, he had talked to other journalists around Washington and some of them didn't know what the Bush doctrine was. I was just ticked off at that. Seriously... the journalists he spoke to aren't running for Vice President, this woman insists she's ready to lead and has foreign policy cred and she does not!!!

[hawkseye]

Yes, you're right, but I was pleasantly surprised.

[JulieKay]

I was about half way through the New York Times' Alessanda Stanley article when I thought, sounds like a woman writing. I paged up to find my guess was correct.

Apparently Ms Stanley did not watch the Democrat debate with Charlie Gibson or she is incapable of being objective.

[Fbart]

I didn't like her tone, i thought she sounded annoyed at the questions. In a way saying, "I can't believe your asking me this". As for the Bush Doctrine, talk to any 2nd year Political Science student at any university in this country, they will clearly define the Bush Doctrine to you.

[Topfeeder]

My kid just graduated form high school in May and he knew.

[drumz]

My freshman in HS knew!

[redsongia]

Yes, she sounded quite defensive. That "Charlie" thing didn't help. Compared to older interviews where she's talking about Alaska and is quite relaxed and self-assured, she seemed markedly different here.

[beden7068]

Did she wink at him a few times or did I just imagine that? I don't have the stomach to to try to find a video of it and watch it again.

[AlaskanWannaB]

Oh, Lou Dobbs thought she did an excellent job. Dobbs is so unbiased, right? He said Biden had his homework cut out for him. And, he calls himself "Independent Nation." What a blowhard!!!!

[Fbart]

I agree with you, Dobbs has gotten totally ridiculous. He champions himself as a guy looking out for middle America, but every night he sits there and speaks in such a condescending and arrogant manner. I highly doubt the "middle class" likes him as much as he believes they do.

[Steelrod]

Lou Dobbs is the orginally racist. Not one night goes by on his show where he doesnt trash immigrants.

[Steelrod]

Have you seen how he disrespects immigrants on his show night after night.

[SeekerOne]

Lou's audience is Rush's audience.

[ming099]

............Joe Biden is going to EAT HER LUNCH...............AND take her milk money............

[bronceye]

This pig won't fly.

[jesuslovesObama]

Mr. Gibson,

Thank you for your fine work. It is always a pleasure to see a broadcast journalist that asks tough, honest questions. The health of this great nation depends on a free and unbiased press. Keep up the good work!

[Justsaynodeal]

That's a far cry from what you 0's were saying about him yesterday.........

[PrinceHal]

Charlie Gibson getting tough with a Republican?

Imagine how much pressure he and ABC must have felt they were under to exhibit even a semblance of toughness. And he was suitably tough -- just not tough enough for the crazies who wouldn't find fault with Palin if she advocated blowing up the Eastern Hemisphere.

Now here comes the rest of the show --- last night's Nightline, tonight's newscast for Part 2 of the interview, and finally (maybe) tonight's 20/20 hour. Or, in other words, a few billion dollars worth of free publicity for Sarah Palin (and John McCain). I think we can expect toughness to go out the window before this big show is over.

Now for the billion-dollar question --- when will Joe Biden get his matching time on the tube?

[LIBSDOA]

Can someone please tell me what Barack Obama has done to qualify him for president? Everytime this questioned is asked, the response is what he is going to do.

[Steelrod]

More than 18 million people elected him for starters.
The entire world want's him as president.
He has been referred to as the most proggressive leader in modern history.
He has the education that proves his critical thinking skills and judgement are on point.
He spent 8 yrs in the state senate. Doing the grunt work most US Senators don't do.
He is a US Senator for the past 4 yrs. Led one of the most important ethics reform bills and also championed nuclear proliferation globally.
He Inspires people. WHen a people move together they seem to get things done!
Do you realize how many people are paying attention to this election, all because of Barrack Hussein Obama.
He is very sharp. I don't think you can say McCain is sharp.
Barrackobama.com ( His campaign) is extremelky succesfuly well oiled machine that gives a preview of what his adminstration will look like. Hillary clinton end up being bankrupt and fired so many people and didnt really get her footing till she played dirty.

Whatelse you waan know?
Could you become president?

[Eolianharp]

For one thing--the man is brilliant. The youngest editor of the Harvard Law Review, for another. I'd much rather have an intellectual in the White House than the mother from "Bobby's World" doncha know (especially after eight years of the idiot-in-chief). She is a parody of herself.

BTW: Jesus was a community organizer and Pontius Pilate was a governor. 'Nuff said?

[Steelrod]

More than 18million people elected him for starters.
The entire world want's him as president.
He has been referred to as the most proggressive leader in modern history.
He has the education that proves his critical thinking skills and judgement are on point.
He spent 8 yrs in the state senate. Doing the grunt work most US Senators don't do.
He is a US Senator for the past 4 yrs. Led one of the most important ethics reform bills and also championed nuclear proliferation globally.

[Steelrod]

He Inspires people. When people move together they seem to get things done!
Do you realize how many people are paying attention to this election, all because of Barrack Obama.
He is very sharp. I don't think you can say McCain is sharp.
Barrackobama.com ( His campaign) is extremelky succesfuly well oiled machine that gives a preview of what his adminstration will look like. Hillary clinton end up being bankrupt and fired so many people and didnt really get her footing till she played dirty.

Whatelse you waan know?
Could you become president?

[Steelrod]

He Inspires people. WHen people move together they seem to get things done!
Do you realize how many people are paying attention to this election, all because of Barrack Obama.
He is very sharp. I don't think you can say McCain is sharp.
Barrackobama.com ( His campaign) is extremelky succesfuly well oiled machine that gives a preview of what his adminstration will look like.
Whatelse you waan know?
Could you become president?

[motley2]

Gibson dangled some bait for Sarah Barracuda, she took it. He let her run out some line, jerked her around a little, then reeled her in a bit. What fun!

[okmickey]

Heres the problem:

I read the NYT story on the interview, then watched my local NBC news (where most people get their news) here in Oklahoma.You'd never know she had difficulty from watching the TV news story There were short clips obviously sent down from the nets to the locals, and they were used to show her answering Charlie. She was crisp, clear, and on a level field with him in the 45 second story.

The bit abt the Bush Doctrine never came up.

So America will have to watch the entire interview on ABC ( against HS football, the Hurricane, etc), to see this.
The problem is that people who've already made up their minds will watch and be reinforced...but those undecideds who will determine the outcome might just see a snipet on the news...and not realize how flawed this woman is.

[Steelrod]

Her next interview is with SEAN HANNITY prepare for the Barrack Obama Attack. The Right Wing is smarter and bigger than you think. We need to fight!

[scmucas2001]

No. Please don't tell me this is true. That's just horrifying on all levels.

Hannity will hit her with such hardballs as, "So, exactly what shade of lipstick is this pit bull, hockey momma of a VP candidate wearing tonight? It's simply FABULOUS!!!!!"

[drumz]

Treacherous yes but smart? Hardly.

[ming099]

....the real BOTTOM LINE here is...........anyone...and I mean ANYONE who thinks this woman is qualified to be the governor of ANY state....much less to be Vice president of this country or even dog catcher in Wasilla.....is either stupid....braindead .....incompetent........ or all three.......even the DOGS are insulted by this

..... if I was a diehard John McCain FREAK......the chances of voting for him with her as his running mate disappeared the minute she sat down with C. Gibson........

If McCain thought he would capture the 'woman' vote by choosing her......he thought wrong.....and the women of this country should be highly offended by his doing so....

I cant believe the Republicans ....even as anti- Obama as all of them are are drinking THIS Kool Aid..this is an insult to all of us........Democrat and Republican alike.....

[OrlandoMom32]

This is why we are going to lose the woman's vote in Florida and throughout the country. Very sad.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

I don't know about that. I talked to my sister yesterday, (she lives in Orlando and converted to Judaism about thirty years ago). She told me that among the Jewish population in Fla. (and it is huge), alarms have been going off loudly. She keeps getting e-mails and mailers from Jewish organizations, that are scared to death of this rightwing fundie nutjob, and have mobilized like never before. If this is true, than that will put Obama in play in Fla. big time. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

[txgal44]

No we're not. Give those Florida women some credit. They know a faux when they see one.

[Bettysdad]

WOW!

The MSM praising the MSM!

The only thing tough about the interview was trying to not shoot the TV.

[LemonMeringue]

I would not call that interview tough but because he actually pressed her on one or two points it was more serious than I expected from Gibson.

Maybe we are witnessing the birth of a journalist.

[BGDiNLV]

The noise will get even louder now for her to do another.And not with punk A*@ Sean Hannity.

[Ozarks]

At Least Gibson was paying attention after the wack job he got after the ABC Debate fiasco. His trajectory into being a Fox bozo has been temporarily halted but wait for segment 2 of interview.

[Northernmom]

We know the answer to the question of what her handlers thought she needed to know: The Republican talking points. If anyone had really covered the Iraq war with her the Bush Doctrine would have been discussed. It was all over the news before we invaded Iraq. Clearly she is not getting schooled in foreign policy - it's obvious.

[middlefingermedia net]

Why don't we wait for the whole interview to be aired. At first glance, ABC had to concede to certain criteria to get interview. If I interviewed, the word cult would surface several times. That church is as scary as anything I've seen in recent memory.