Ifill On Race And Rightwing Attacks: "I Find It Curious"

NEW YORK — PBS journalist Gwen Ifill, moderator of the upcoming vice presidential debate, dismissed conservative questions about her impartiality because she is writing a book that includes material on Barack Obama.

Ifill said Wednesday that she hasn't even written her chapter on Obama for the book "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama," which is to be published by Doubleday on Jan. 20, 2009, the day a new president is inaugurated.

"I've got a pretty long track record covering politics and news, so I'm not particularly worried that one-day blog chatter is going to destroy my reputation," Ifill said. "The proof is in the pudding. They can watch the debate tomorrow night and make their own decisions about whether or not I've done my job."

The day before the Joe Biden-Sarah Palin debate, columnist Michelle Malkin wrote in the New York Post about Ifill's book, saying, "She's so far in the tank for the Democratic presidential candidate, her oxygen delivery line is running out."

John McCain, though, spoke highly of the reporter in an interview with FOX News Channel. "I think Gwen Ifill is a professional and I think she will do a completely objective job because she is a highly respected professional," he said Wednesday.

In its online description of the book, Doubleday says that 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."

Ifill said Obama's story, which she has yet to write, is only a small part of the book, which discusses how politics in the black community have changed since the civil rights era. Among those subjects is Colin Powell, secretary of state in the Bush administration.

The host of PBS' "Washington Week" and senior correspondent on "The NewsHour" said she did not tell the Commission on Presidential Debates about the book. The commission had no immediate comment when contacted by The Associated Press. A spokeswoman for John McCain's campaign did not immediately return phone and e-mail messages.

Ifill's resume includes jobs at The New York Times, the Washington Post and NBC News. She moderated the 2004 vice presidential debate between Dick Cheney and John Edwards.

She said it was the publisher, not herself, who set the Inauguration Day release date. It will be released then whether Obama wins or loses.

Although Malkin raised the topic of Ifill's impartiality the day before the debate, the PBS journalist said that Time magazine noted she was writing a book in August, and that it has been available for pre-sale on Amazon.com. The book also is mentioned in a Sept. 4 interview she gave the Washington Post.

Ifill questions why people assume that her book will be favorable toward Obama.

"Do you think they made the same assumptions about Lou Cannon (who is white) when he wrote his book about Reagan?" said Ifill, who is black. Asked if there were racial motives at play, she said, "I don't know what it is. I find it curious."

Comments

[sent2null]

I've been watching the PBS News Hour since I was oh about 14 and I can say that from the time that Mrs. Ifill has been on it I've known her to be an incredibly brilliant and objective journalist. Right wing monkey faced , dirt mouthed self hate mongers like Malkin are simply trying to again interject race into the issue. In this case the implication that because Ifill is a woman of color she somehow has an implicit bias toward Obama and that is balderdash absolutely contradicted by every down the line performance that Ifill has ever given.

Wow, are the right wing hate mongers stewing in their own juices now! They are looking for anything to try and use FUD to slow the hammering that McCain Palin is taking in the polls.

Monkey faced Malkin will soon have no target to aim her putrid invectives.

I don't usually go Ad Hominem but darn it...she does look like a monkey , sue me!!

[leaningIndy]

careful - she will find you and destroy you.

[Chbronze]

I used to find this an insightful blog, but more and more I see filth like this. Its okay to disagree, but do you really believe this is going to persuade people.

[chitown8]

I plan on righting a book about Mccain and Palin The Return of the Mack. I want Mccain to give me back the 89 MIl dollars they took from us without our permission!

[wdw101]

if it were true that you were writing a book about any candidates party pro or con, i would object to you moderating the debate

[NTO08]

. Right wing monkey faced...

You worry about Malkin injecting race and you inject it in this comment...makes your comment worthless...I dislike Malkin intensely, but to call her out based on a such a racially charged smear negates your remarks.

[Ramirez]

That's some serious hate you're carrying.

[leaningIndy]

My gosh, that Michelle Malkin creature is beyond frightening in every way. FOX used to let her spout her hate often but has reduced her airtime somewhat. Talk about a lost soul looking for a repressed regime to lead ... I think she and Sean Hannity could open up a learn-to-hate clinic and do quite well. Even Bill O'Reilly is scared to disagree with her.

[NTO08]

I think many Obamabots have adopted very well the level of hate Malkin displays...that is why they and their candidate is as undeserving of winning as Mack is.

[the stoics]

Ifill should not be moderating the VP debate. We all know her political leanings and it's no secret that she is a huge Obama supporter. It's difficult to find anyone in the liberal mass media who isn't. She'll be as objective as she possibly can in her questioning of the candidates. Since their will be an intense amount of scrutiny on her to be objective she'll mostly attain that goal just like she did in the 2004 VP debate with Cheney/Edwards.

Here's the deal, though. This should never have gotten this far. She should've admitted to the comission before her selection as the moderator that she was writing a book about black politicians in america and that a large portion of the book would be dedicated to Obama. There's no doubt that she has a personally vested financial interest in Obama winning the election. No reasonable person can honestly say that her book would sell just as many or more copies if Obama loses. If he wins, she'll make more money because her book will sell more copies. I would feel the same way if the roles were reversed and the moderator was conservative. This is a right/wrong, fair/unfair issue. I'll respond to anyone who has a reasonable disagreement or critique of my argument.

[Thefamilyvan]

Sorry dude, but you're looking at this through racists, biased eyes. Can we talk about Texan Jim Lehrer who's McCain's age? I think not........

[Xavieer]

Sorry man forgot your hood and robe?????

[HUFFNAME]

Obama has for the most part been leading this contest from the start. Recently he has begun to pull away.

So here's your theory, the-stoics: If despite all that, McCain by hook or by crook manages to get elected instead of Obama, America's interest in the effect of race on politics will suddenly fizzle out?

If Obama fails now, in the wake of all that has gone on, in the wake of all the polling in his favor, "The Effect of Race on American Politics" would be a primary topic of debate not only in America but in much of the world for a long time to come--and obvioulsy not just the so-called First World. There wouldn't be a major media outlet *anywhere* that would not want to interview Ifill and feature her book if McCain were to win.

For Obama to lose would be an orgasmic dream-come-true for the bean-counters at Ifill's publishing house. If Ifill were to proceed based solely on economic self-interest she should hope that Obama loses.

My critique of your argument is that it is absurd on its face, as illustrated above.

[Xavieer]

Bet you are a avid sports fan........

[NTO08]

If Ifill were to proceed based solely on economic self-interest she should hope that Obama loses.

You know that isn't true...not in a million years...

[Xavieer]

Respond to this .....................43 Presidents , the right to vot on any 20th century , ALL WHITE AND BLACKS VOTING FOT THEM!!!! Respond to your absurd attack on the intellegence of the 21st century, ones without horses, hoods predujice, or ignorance.................... yea...BLACK MODERATOR whom happens to be BLACK ?????!!!! Yea respond let's see where ya live...

[soaquarian]

"There's no doubt that she has a personally vested financial interest in Obama winning the election"

There's no doubt your main premise for her recusal is absurd.

She has already gotten the advance for the book, whomever wins (i.e., she has already recouped a financial interest). The book will sell to those who are interested in the subject matter. If anything, she has a vested financial interest in furthering the controversy, but acting impartially; it will increase buzz about her book.

What specifically makes you think that a black woman cannot act professionally and impartially? Money? Believe it or not, for most people, money is not the be all end all. Integrity and personal responsibility are a huge motivator, even for us, the non-white people. It's even for the same reason, even if no one else knows, you know, and you have to look yourself in the eye, every day for the rest of your life.

I don't think you would feel the same way if the roles were reversed, either. I would assume a professional with many years on the job, working for a notably non-partisan news agency, will act professionally, regardless of what they were writing in the future. You don't. I'm with Gwen, I find it curious.

[NTO08]

Ifill has shown bias before...she was incredibly disrespectful to Gore, reciting the ridiculous memes we heard about him as Gospel and not as ridiculous talking points...

[Thefamilyvan]

So, let me get this right. If a Black person moderates a debate among a Black man and White man, they are BIASED toward the Black person. If a white person moderates a debate between a Black man and White man, they are impartial. HUM......... there's something awfully fishy about that.

[snapper310]

"Country of Whiners???? Sound familiar????

[zigzag1]

Hey David. Where is the mention that Gwens book was announced publicly on July 23 and was in several news magazines. More great vetting by the McCain camp. Guess they never heard of The Google

[iswideopen]

Let John McCain and the republicans continue to make fools of themselves with this vitriol racial bigotry and division of the country and watch what the voters do in November. Leave them alone; they are digging their own holes just big enough for them all to fall into. IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID.

[timmmahhhh]

The saddest part of this story is that it will galvanize conservatives who will believe that Ifill is biased because:
1. It will help them rationalize that the debate is not fair and therefore Palin deserves their respect no matter how bad her answers may come off.
2. That conservatives will jump to any lie that bolsters their cause.
3. Noun, verb, prolife.

Scientific proof that conservatives are outright morons:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/24/opinion/main4475223.shtml?source=search_story

[Querent]

Succinct, but accurate, timmmahhhh.

[NTO08]

Go on convincing yourself of this...Obamabots have displayed surprising levels of idiocy over and over...it operates in both camps of these men....you can have them...

[Mr Grey]

Ding Ding Ding, we have our GOP insane moment of the day. When this election is over, I think I will go to bed and sleep until the inauguration. All of the lies, crap and the constant parade of morons is just killing me. I feel like this race has been running for about 8 years now.

[Querent]

I agree. My tolerance for conservative bullshit has been exceeded. NPR woke me via clock-radio twice this week with clips of the loathsome war-criminal from Crawford alternately blustering, threatening, and whining about the Congress. My desire to shut off the anger provoking sound of his voice caused me to start my day cursing. Enough of the right-wing insanity.

[magggs]

I'm thinking this ploy is trying to cover several bases:
#1. Evil Biased Media Hate Our Sarah!
#2. Try to use Ifil's own integrity to get her to step down and DELAY THE DEBATE til they find someone suitable--say, Rush Limbaugh, which = longer for Bible Spice to prepare.Or maybe it gets pushed til AFTER the early voting.
#3. McCain looks gracious saying Ifil's a pro, but "will let the American People make up their own mind" about whether it was fair or not to let Our Sarah be unfairly lambasted with pop quizez and gotcha questions from a mean biased black woman who must be as mean and biased as Obama as they're all the same.

Sickening, all the way around.

[demjustice]

If anyone out there did not think that the McCain campaign would not come up with some type of complaint about the vp debate, they were kidding themselves. The McCain campaign is all about distract and attack. It will be the answers an dnot the questions that the American public remembers when the debate is finished. I believe that Gov. Palin will do an adequate job based solely on her expections being so low. I am curious to learn if she will just spew catchphrases or can actually carry on a serious discussion on important issues. Time will tell.

[crayola 08]

wow. gwen ifil looks just like that lady that lives down the street, except that gwen has eyebrows and hair.

[paleoimage]

Michelle Malkin, like the majority of right wing apologists, is simply running out of time. She is becoming increasingly frantic. Soon, it's possible, our nation will be moving in a different, better direction and all of her trickle down economic nonsense, demonization of the word "liberal" and divisive rhetoric will be worthless. Poor Michelle, she might have to earn a living by doing something productive, for a change.
Obama/Biden 08 !!!

[2876]

Palin is a woman, Ifill is a woman. Perhaps we should be worried about Ifill being biased toward Palin because they share the same sex? I'm joking of course. This is just more BS from the McCain/Palin camp.

[Chbronze]

That might be right if she were writing a book about female politicians. Republicans may be wrong to say she is biased, and democrats may be wrong when they say she is unbiased. Who knows, it seems at this point everyone has their blinders on refusing to see.

[labman57]

Maykin is one of those typical extremists (Limbaugh, Coulter, etc.) that rely on their rude, insulting demeanor to attract an audience. If they kept it civil, no one would notice them. So they go over the top in order to keep themselves in the spotlight. They are more interesting in BEING the news than they are in commentating on the news.