Judy Woodruff Comes To Ifill's Defense

Colleagues of Gwen Ifill are coming to her defense after conservatives, including members of the McCain campaign, declared her a biased moderator for Thursday's vice presidential debate because of a book she is authoring on black politicians that includes Barack Obama's name in the headline.

"Of virtually all the reporters I know, Gwen is somebody I have no idea where she stands politically. I mean, I have no idea where she is," said Judy Woodruff, who has moderated a vice presidential debate herself and works alongside Ifill at PBS. Writing this book does not present a problem "at all," she added. "I haven't seen it because Gwen has been working on it. But Gwen Ifill is a reporter. She is not someone who delivers opinion and I know that that is not the type of book she is involved in."

A virtual political firestorm erupted on Wednesday morning after it was reported that Ifill was working on a book about "emerging young African American politicians," which Republicans - including aides to John McCain - proclaimed compromised her objectivity for the vice presidential debate.

"You know, I think the moderator will have some serious questions to answer themselves if they do go so heavily foreign policy," said aide Nancy Pfotenhauer on Fox News, suggesting Ifill would ask questions that played to Joe Biden's expertise.

McCain himself downplayed the revelation, perhaps rightfully so. His campaign approved of her selection and ostensibly knew about the book before hand (it had been in the news weeks prior).

"I think that Gwen Ifill is a professional and I think she will do a totally objective job," said McCain, "because she is a highly respected professional. Does this help that if she has written a book that's favorable to Sen. Obama? Probably not. But I have confidence that Gwen Ifill will do a professional job."

Woodruff, likewise, touted Ifill's history of professionalism and objectivity, saying she'd brush off the criticism from conservatives.

"Of all the people I know who are unflappable she is not going to be influence in any way by this," said Woodruff. "The fact is in journalism today one has to have a thick skin anyway. And Gwen has a thick skin. And like all of us who work in this business you get accustomed to people telling you what they think, and they have that right, this is a free country and people can way in anyway they want to."

Comments

[psychomama]

Anybody who has heard Palin speak will have a bias against her.

[MyVoiceHere]

It just shows how well the Mccain camp does it vetting. Maybe they had the book in mind too use as a ploy to their advantage if needed.

[highflag]

So the McCain camp will cry foul if they ask foreign policy questions(even though McCain claims that he's gotten advice on just that subject from Palin on "numerous" occasions.­..hah!)? I suppose there has to be at least one segment on field dressing a moose.
These guys are great. They've already lowered the bar to the point that she merely has to remain upright, and they'll declare her performance a tour de force. Now, they can play the additional card , if she's exposed for the fraud that she is, that the moderator was clearly biased. Rove is very proud...

[vincealy]

More lack of honesty and and dishonor from the McCain Camp. Phony story from the propaganda arm of the GOP.

[AmericasWarrior]

"You know, I think the moderator will have some serious questions to answer themselves if they do go so heavily foreign policy," said aide Nancy Pfotenhauer

Here's the thing that bothers me, arent' the questions coming from either current events, or actual questions by the american people? Since when are questions that come from the populus "gotcha" questions.

[tjwdraws]

Boot Brokaw

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/boot-brokaw-as-debate-moderator?page=7

[siney]

"You know, I think the moderator will have some serious questions to answer themselves if they do go so heavily foreign policy," said aide Nancy Pfotenhauer on Fox News, suggesting Ifill would ask questions that played to Joe Biden's expertise.

i'm sorry, but isn't the world a mess right now? isn't the united states engaged in two wars? aren't we fighting the so-called war on terrorism throughout the globe? hasn't our country's reputation been significantly diminished over the last 8 years and is in serious need of repair?

i should hope the debate has a fair number of foreign policy questions!!! a VP candidate should know something of foreign policy and the public has a right to know just what sort of foreign policy little ms. palin has to offer....

this is disgusting­....

[mysterygirl18]

Oh give Sarah some tissues...­oh booo hooo....


http://www.myspace.com/wakeupnowpeople

[rasputin999]

Sarah Palin should study Tina Fey, just look cute, pert and child-like and she will sail through the debate. Sarah has two things going for her--NO--her smile and her glasses. If she don't know the answer, just smile, pout and simper, "Hey, did you know that I was a beauty queen?" How could Joe Biden beat that? And Don'T--DON'T mention the old guy locked up in his bedroom.

[JonG345]

its too late for palin already, we've seen what she's like without speeches written for her.

now she'll memorize things that lobbyists and bushies have written for her. i wouldn't be surprised if her ears are covered to hide an EARPIECE a la bush '04

[buddbo1]

Ifill, only became a problem because Joe Scarbrough, on Morning Joe went off on his right wing defensive about it. He suggested Palin could have gotten her sea legs affirmed if she had gone on Rush's show. Someone, who could ignore her ignorance, and given her soft ball questions before asking. Maybe, Obama should option out of his debate being moderated by Tom Brokaw, who is sooo in the tank with Republicans, that his bias is crystal clear. Yet , if you don't suffer from a lack of knowledge (Palin), you won't have anything to worry about. McCain should have picked someone qualified to take over the presidency, in the likely event of his permanent nap; but he went for the ex-beauty queen ( the way he picked his wife, mistress, wife, vp) . He has a pattern of picking these types of females. The only problem is that beauty can only dazzle for a moment, then you must have substance!

[wdw101]

"The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama," Gee, with this title will she benefit financially more if obama win? I'll bet a financial motive is pretty strong to have obama win.......­.

[XME]

Doubtful. The book will do well either way, and I think she'd care more about him being elected because she believed in him, than because it would help her book! Either way, I don't think her book preculdes her from being able to preside of the debate in a non-biased fashion.

[KarateKid]

This book has been public knowledge since JULY, morons. It's also in the publisher's catalog, published in EARLY SEPTEMBER.

The McCain campaign shows what idiots they are, not to mention their supporters.

[ObamAtomic]

See Profile I'm not a Fan of pupbayer

I don't think she is as respected as she was. This has hurt her. She should have disclosed she was writing the book. She chose not to. She can live with the hits on her reputation
----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­-----
Your thinking is irrelevant,McCain campaign knew in advance of the book.
Before your post here misinformation and rumors get your facts straight .
Your comment is borderline moronic
Your reputation is hurting you everyday,You Still Here,Shut~

[ObamAtomic]

Stump The Candidate,­haha,alrea­dy Stumped,God Bless Us All!
Does,those,such as,not as,scary thing,all those things,,,,, ,,,,,,,
It paid to be American,,­,,,,,,,,,,­,,and Stumped...­....Vp,,ha­ha!

[Dailyfare]

Gwen Ifill is one of the best journalists working today. This book isn't new. It was in the works when both campaigns agreed to her as moderator.

Too little protestation too late.