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

[ObamAtomic]

Sometimes I do not believe ,can not believe how childlike are people when they not
get their way,you are in the wrong place,defending Palin intelligence here, do not
work in your favor,if you do that,we know you are like Palin or worse than her,
in your comprehension and knowledge.

[GrainOSand]

Olbermann gave Malkin, Van Susteren, and their ilk a public noogie on this subject. He left nothing unsaid.

[whsmith]

McCain wants her so they have an excuse to fall back on when Palin bombs. I say just let Judy step in and moderate to silence the critics.

[Modok]

She works for PBS for cryin out loud and her coverage of Palins acceptance speech obviously show that she isn't beholden to the "Conservatives" ideology, yet McCain approved her anyway.

I'm amazed that the McChurian Candidte hasn't claimed this a "Gotcha!" moment like every other thing that hits them from left field due to their own lack information.

If the book didn't have a hugely pro-O"Bama slant before I'm sure it will now.

[whsmith]

If you look around the right wing blogs they are trying to compare Gwen Ifill to Limbaugh and Karl Rove.... suggesting they should moderate the next debate......... yeah.... I know...

[pupbayer]

If she had any integrity she would have refused to moderate.

[marasgram18]

tell Brokaw that

[mebble]

The McCainites have just realized Ms. Ifill is -- gasp! -- black!

(Oh, but wait, she's also a woman, so wouldn't that mean that ... ?)

But she is a professional journalist, and highly respected ... does that count?

[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.

[Decipherer]

Actually, she did! It was announced in July that she was writing this book which is to be published in January, after the inauguration. All the candidates knew it, or should have known it and she was selected as moderator anyway. This is just another desperate act by the McCain campaign to distract and deflect.

[mebble]

You learn a lot about McCain just by seeing the sort of people he associates himself with ... Schmidt ... Tucker Bounds, this Pfotenhauer woman ... Joe Lieberman ... Rudolf Giuliani ... Sarah Palin ... What a crowd. They'd be more interesting to watch on "Survivor".

[dmthurman]

Not only curious, but a bit amusing as well.

[ChrisR]

I won't be voting for Palin, but her acceptance speech was excellent, and certainly deserved better than the really lacklustre reaction which Gwen gave it on the convention floor on PBS, which really surprised me. The crowd went wild for a performance that exceeded ALL expectations, and she didn't even acknowledge that - not very objective at all, I felt at the time.
I'd like to see someone post that video clip here so I (and others) could watch that again. I'm sure she'll do a good job at the debate, but I've been a fan of Gwen's for a long time and her (non-)reaction to Palin's acceptance speech seemed a bit off to me, as if she was disappointed Palin did well.
This debate should be interesting - if Palin does bad, then it's cuz Gwen was picking on her. If Biden does bad, it's cuz Gwen was going easy on Palin. No-win no-win. Good luck with that!
Just be sure to ask SP how old the planet is.

[IndyReader]

Here's Part 1. You're on your own for the rest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzVLObwHNX8

[whsmith]

That depends on what your definition of excellent is. I guess Bush must have also seemed excellent 8 years ago - since Palin gave the same speech.

[rock2casbah]

No I think Ifill was the only one who had the guts to say what we were all thinking. Notice how the general wisdom changed from behind the media filter. People are now calling it the most snarky, nasty, and divisive speech they had ever heard.

Look at her favorable/unfavorable ratings. She is the only one of the candidates in the negatives. She is deep in the negatives at -17.

It just seemed that Ms. Ifill was way ahead of the curve. I did not watch it. I heard enough and saw clips of the nastiness, that I wondered who in the hell could think that was a good speech?

[Spesabsquemetu]

Dear Ms. Pfotenhauer:

YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

"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.

Dear Ms. Ifell:

A very wise and honorable man once said: "No man can terrorize an entire nation, UNLESS WE ARE HIS ACCOMPLICES."

Do not let these acts of intimidation and bullying, these subtle threats, and FEAR tactics manipulate you from doing your duty to INFORM the American people, nor suppress your voice into submission to their fear and intimidation .

Remove the DISTRACTIONS, and FOCUS on your job, on WE the people, on your role in both preserving and DEFENDING what America is and the promise of what she has yet to become - because of her constitutional beliefs, because of her bill of rights that you, as a faithful steward of the PEOPLE'S right to being informed, have the honor and privilege of protecting, and defending.

[GrainOSand]

I hate it when some pundit gets on TV and presumes to speak for America. This is another reason I like to get my news from other sources like the internet. On here, you know you must look at everything with skepticism because it is the wild, wild, west of ideas come to clash or blend in a public forum. When you view the pundits on TV if you are old enough to remember a time when journalism was approached differently or at least they pretended better, you are struck that someone is obviously twisting the truth via a venue that insist we take it seriously. Do not put a clown on in the middle of Perry Mason; it messes with the sense of equilibrium. The ludicrous nature of the bunk that Pfotenhauer pushes is clown like on a day where the senate votes on a package worth seven hundred and fifty billion dollars. Do not lie to me that only ticks me off and makes you look clown like.

Spesabsquemetu, you provide the right analysis -- focus on your job Mrs. Ifill.

[rock2casbah]

Actually Pfotenhauer is not a representative of the American people. She is an official McCain campaign spokesperson. They really should have her name and position with the campaign under her in a subtitle whenever she talks to explain to people why she does not make any sense whatsoever.

[raskolnikov72]

This was a really dirty thing to do to Ifill ... repugnant in fact ... they tried to put her in a box ... i suspect that she will not be boxed in ... she is among the most insightful, intelligent and impartial reporters on television ... repugnant.

[rock2casbah]

Thanks Ms Woodruff. But I would really like to see the day when Ms Ifill did not need a pass from Ms. Woodruff or any other collegue, but can go on her own impeccable credentials.

Why doesn't Biden complain because there are 2 women and him, so I am sure Ifill is in the tank for Palin?. Since they want to go along with this twisted logic of the Rethigs.

The book has not even been released and it has a host of African American political figures including Colin Powell. She even said they don't know what she is saying about Obama or the othr African American politicians mentioned in her book.

[NotMcCain]

So, either McCain again "doesn't speak for the campaign" or Rove is letting him be "good cop" to some "aides" as bad cops.

These people are so desperate. Obama's not the only black politician she's writing about--and many of them, like Powell, are REPUBLICANS.

Idiots.

[plooger]

"way in"?

[LeeScho]

I'm sorry. I meant "weigh" in. We all did. We meant weigh. Trust me. I meant heft and presence instead of distance. Weigh. Oh, you know, like a boxer "weighing in." Weigh in.

Will that do it for ya? Because yours was the most profound and telling comment to this blog. And I'm talking hundreds! Your wisdom, your insight, your, your .....

I'm sorry. I can't go on.

[Gardinia]

typical repub dirty tactics. They are putting pressure on Gwen so sara will benefit if she did bad.
I hope Gwen does not try hard to show her objectivity so biden will get hit in the way.
I am sure she knows what is behind this storm. She is very intelligent person. Karl Roove finger
prints all over this.

[rock2casbah]

Well their smear will work just about as well as it did when they tried to plant that lie about Oprah snubbing Sarah.

Sarah does not even rank that much importance in Oprah's life. Secondly Oprah was on summer hiatus at the time. Thirdly she was never even contacted by the McCain campaign, ever anyway, to deny or accept the request for appearance, so it was a lie planted in that rag Drudge. Lastly she never has VP candidates on her show her reputation speaks for itself and has for over 2 decades. Does that empty skirt Sarah think she can trump Oprah?

Now she thinks she can trump Ifill. Like hell she can.

[mrsbee]

This is another Karl Rove tactic...you notice they are not asking her to step down as moderator ..no, they will let her remain, let McCain give his same phony little speech "Oh, it's ok...I know it'll turn out alright "...or words to that affect...let the campaign attack, but keep her on so when Palin fails they can come out the next day and say ..."Ifil was biased." Ha ! They must think we are stupid. They really must ! Now, if they do force her to step down (a la O'Reilly and Hannity) then I think we should all increase our drive to oust Brokaw from the next debate, because he is totally in the tank for Mccain and has always been.
Also a comment on the Joe Six Pack characterization that Palin gave of herself...Joe Six Pack????
If I wanted Joe Six Pack to be a heartbeat away from running the country ...I'd put my son in law in the race !!!

[IndependentforObama]

Step down???? Are you NOT getting WAYYYYY ahead of yourself. This debate is tomorrow you know!