Ifill: Palin "Blew Me Off"

On "Meet the Press" Sunday morning, vice presidential debate moderator Gwen Ifill said Palin "more than ignored" some of her questions -- she "blew me off." She added that Palin decided to "give a stump speech" instead of a debate, and that there's "little a moderator can do" to stop that. Watch:

Comments

[windwashed]

12:50 PM on 10/09/2008

I find it fatally tragic that a large portion of the American public is threatened by intelligence.

[Kahill]

12:07 PM on 10/09/2008

Ifil should have openly disclosed her book deal, and simply recused herself from being a moderator. Having failed that, she basically tied her own hands and became quite ineffectual. That's all there is to it.

[IronMikeHouston]

06:53 AM on 10/09/2008

I just wonder what good are these debates! They are all campaign speeches. I would rather have written detailed papers on what the candidates planned to do during their administrations. If they really want debates then pick someone who is really neutral and is above reproach by any candidate or party. Personally, I think the debates are a waste of time. Both parties claim victory because their candidates says what they want to hear (and not what they will really do). You would need to find the truly undecides (that will actually vote) to determine if any of them were swayed by the speeches.

[VAMike]

02:23 AM on 10/09/2008

You would have had more credibility if you had been more upfront about the book on Obama that you were putting out on Inagrual Day. Since you were trying so hard not to look biased, you were unable to keep both candidates from deviating from the rules, and resorting to stump speaches. Both were equally guilty from my viewpoint. Stop whining about people not following your rules of debate, and next time be more honest about writing books that make you look anything but impartial.

[Cilantro33309]

09:03 AM on 10/09/2008

She could be releasing 5 books on inauguration day. She could be Obama's campaign manager.

What does that have to do with the fact that she was asked unbiased questions and still refused to answer them. Actually came out and said she wouldn't.

She was there to talk about only what she knew, regardless of the questions.

Doesn't sound like someone who's ready to be 2nd in line for POTUS to me. Not even close.

[BarryChamplain]

10:32 AM on 10/09/2008

Also, understand: when Sarah came out and just said bluntly that she wasn't going to respect the moderstor, you and 69% of Americans might have been shocked, or offended. This wasn't ABOUT us.

This was a dog-whistle to the 29 percenters, the rabid right-wing base. It was saying, "Liberal media types are all scum. Screw 'em!"

The base heard that loud and clear, and Sarah's completely inappropriate disrespect of the democratic system was seen as a triumph over the evil America-haters.


Also, understand that she wasn't smart enough to come up with this ploy, herself. It's classic Rove political poison.

[Miss Lola]

08:30 PM on 10/08/2008

I truly think that Ifill should have thrown the rules out the window for a minute or two, to pull little miss muffet back down from the ethos, and have her join the earthlings and debate-not bloviate about what talking points she'd memorized.

Ifill said that Palin said from the get-go she wasn't going to "answer the way you want me to."

She simply didn't answer.

I would pay money to get Ifill's REAL take on her. Betcha it wouldn't be too kindly-let's face it, palin's an intellectual lightweight....like bush, she's intellectually incurious....anyone who believes that the earth is 6,000 years old, and REFUSES to even contemplate scientific evidence otherwise, has NO place in public office...hell, in public. Drop her back to the stone age-or back to the flat-earth folks!

[kerns]

05:08 PM on 10/08/2008

Gwen was professional and fair and did the best she could.

[techNmoreDotCom]

04:38 PM on 10/08/2008

I really feel that Gwen tried to be professional and stick to the rules a bit too much. I think her hands were tied a bit though based on the coverage of her book coming out inauguration day. There was only one VP debate and after the debacle with Katie Couric I feel the public needed straight answers from Palin instead over her guiding the debate with her own topics and answers. Palin especially seems to buckle with follow-up questions and none of those were found. At the end of the day the election will be about change and the economy, Obama vs McCain, and Palin does little more than to solidify the base.

[berrycooda]

12:38 PM on 10/08/2008

Too bad Gwen...you should have let Queen Latifah do the interview...

She did pretty good on SNL

Anyway, Palin probably knew that you are for Obama and decided to get her remarks in before you
had a chance to cut her off.

[Mercy8 om]

11:38 AM on 10/08/2008

What's the deal with Acorn? Are they hurting Obama? And if they are then get them to stop please!!!!

[eahce]

11:33 AM on 10/08/2008

Palin's ok with a scriptbut a dolt on her feet. Does anyone in their right mind think she can handle today's problems. The republicans have made enough of a mess in the last eight years. McCain Palin is not the answer.

[Evoxx]

12:08 PM on 10/08/2008

Palin is a person who has stepped up in her life and made a difference. She has not lived her life out of the private sector on government cheese like Biden. She is generous and caring, unlike Obama who never made charitable donations above 1% before going on the campain, and this despite making very good money (1/4 million/year) with his wife. Palin has strong values and has had approval ratings that Pelosi couldn't get to in her wildest dreams. Palin would make a great vice president.

[trevorgasm]

12:23 PM on 10/08/2008

brainwashed.

[derekc06]

01:02 PM on 10/08/2008

you know, at some point, you really should take the time to wash off the republican propaganda that's clearly been ejaculated all over your face....

[thirteen13]

12:33 PM on 10/08/2008

Palin is a mouthpiece bimbo for the Republican machine. She is not a free agent.

[Miss Lola]

08:44 PM on 10/08/2008

No, and if you look really closely, you will see someone's hand in her back, operating her mouth........she probably can't talk when someone in the McCain camp drinks a glass of water...

[pavoterinde]

11:03 AM on 10/08/2008

Gwen, you're a professional and wonderful person, but you let her OFF too easy...What about equal pay for women. you should asked her about that. Asked how she felt abut her running mate wanting women to stay back in time and not advance ( .77 to a man's dollar).

[iranter]

10:33 AM on 10/08/2008

oh how sad to be ignored, just like a woman

[veganphoto]

10:11 AM on 10/08/2008

Palin is asserting a similar dictatorial privilege to Dick Cheney. She won't have to answer any questions or be responsible to the law or things like that, just like Cheney and his not being part of "any branch" of the government.

[Danvanh]

10:11 AM on 10/08/2008

Ifill could have done a lot more to stop Palin to giving a stump speech. Gwen really sat back and let Palin get away with it.

[Roll451]

10:27 AM on 10/08/2008

Yes, Ifill could have done more to stop it, but it may not have worked out well for Obama if she had. This way no one can claim that she was treated unfairly thereby taking attention away from her nonsubstantive answers.

[NeoConsAreWhackJobs]

10:59 AM on 10/08/2008

Ifill should have asked a follow ups since Palin was not answering questions. But then that would have been called "Gotcha Debating"

[Rufus01]

09:09 AM on 10/08/2008

Gwen should have said:

"Who am I? Why am I here?" and then asked, "I still get paid, right?"

[mitch4822]

10:07 AM on 10/08/2008

Gwen, you could do a lot to stop her by interjecting when she wanted to give her stumps.
Or after her stumps. "There was nothing" you could do?
Gwen, stop. you failed your audience - you should have called her on the carpet and you failed to do so, and if she kept going - at least you know you had tried and we would see her for what she is.
You could have said "gov Palin, you did not answer the question. Could you pls stay on point," or
something to that effect.