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

[carolo]

We had two debates going on here. Joe Biden was debating for Obama and Sarah Palin was debating for herself. She seemed the think what she did or didn't do in Alaska was of any interest to us. We are interested in this election, not hers.

[movingforequalrights]

were you not interested in her background and why she would make a qualified candidate?

[jotunloki]

She didn't give that, just lies about what a great politician she was in the vast EMPTY state of Alaska.

[charlesenn]

Liberals are liberal as long as they are with people that are liberal, but toss a conservative in there and all bets are off. You know, until I came on this website I was giving Senator Obama the benefit of the doubt.
Republicans can cross part lines to get things done, democrats would just rather argue and be "liberal" and get nothing done. I grew up democrat, my parents were democrats. I voted for Clinton and still actually like him. Biden is mean and can accomplish nothing, Obama is all talk. My neighbor is a democrat. He is also a psychologist. We agree to disagree, and I love the man and his family like my own family. I asked him what he thought of Obama. He would never have any trouble telling me what he thought about any subject whether I agree with his views or not. He said "Charles, he frightens me." When asked to explain he replied "I've seen Obama's all my life, black and white, democratic and republican­." "They can use basic tactics they learned at a decent school and make themselves into something people will buy." "But when it's all said and done and the checks are cashed, there's no substance.­..Charles, I don't know what to do."
I think Hillary would have made a great president. As my friends up in the mountains say, "Sorry Charlie, I just don't think that feller has the ass to fill them pants."

[movingforequalrights]

Finally some truth! I have been thinking this all along. He has nothing to say and people eat it up. Thank you for your comment. I hope people read this and actually think about this person they are so determined to get into office.

[BatMasterson]

he has plenty to say you just don't listen or read.

[map2history]

Whereas liberals argue, conservatives shout. High volume jingles, pre-packaged by Rush O'Reilly, provide cover for the vacuousness of the conservative agenda. For instance, "Islamo-fascism," "Femi-Nazi," "Wealth Redistribution,"" Big Government,", "Washingto­n-Outsider­","Maveric­k," "Pal-ing around with terrorists," "Drill, Baby, Drill." These jingles are easy to memorize, but difficult to defend. If you find that liberals avoid arguing conservatives, its probably because they recognize the fruitlessness of attempting a meaningful debate with a loud parrot.

Your democrat-neighbor's anecdotal meanderings aside, I will vote for Barrack Obama for the following SUBSTANTIAL reasons:

1) His tax policies benefit me and the tax bracket that I fall into
2) He has shown amazing and exemplary leadership skills in his history as a community organizer, in his courageous vote against the Iraq War, and in his comprehensive energy plan which would protect sensitive environments and provide subsidies for alternative energy reserach
3) He does not have a record of voting with George W. Bush 95% of the time.
4) he did not chose Sara Palin as his VP

[jotunloki]

Liar.

[SydneyS]

Well, dear Gwen, with all due respect, your questions did not match her pre-written answers she was given, and told to repeat by her handlers! So don't feel bad... Hey, at least she winked at you couple of times!

Proud Independent voter, supporting Obama for President

[lucca2004]

McCain knew what he was doing when he kept saying before the debate that Gwen Ifill should be replaced as the commentator since she would be biased for BIden since her new book featured Barack Obama in it. Because of McCain's complaints, Ifill felt that she had to be especially easy on Sarah Palin which completely messed up this debate since Palin didn't have to answer the questions nor explain anything.

Gwen Ifill should have stepped down and let someone else moderate but she wanted to get public exposure so that her new book would sell better. I think that it was selfish of Ifill to modify her questions during the debate and to not step down so that someone else could moderate without any fear of being specifically biased towards either one of the candidates.

[Miss Lola]

Duh.
As said, over and over, ad nauseum: Ifill hasn't even written the Obama bit yet.

This was a fail-safe argument that the regpugs could use to explain Fluffy Sarah's airy answers.

She is an embarrassment for thinking women.

[Joulanda]

I believe that the questions she asked which by the way were questions that she (Ifill) came up with, neglected to ask Sarah the one question that many of us women wanted an answer to, which was Sarah's position on Roe V. Wade. How could this very important question in what would be the only opportunity for us to hear Sarah in her own words not be asked.How completely irresponsible as a moderator. Not holding her accountable for answering the questions was not exceptable as well. Poor Poor job Gwen Ifill. Note: I call her Sarah because she has not earned the right to be addressed no different than the chick in the streets, since her voice politcally is that of some chick in the streets!

[MrEguy]

I wouldn't assume that Palin knows what Roe vs Wade refers to. However, in light of her bible thumping fundamentalist Christian background one could pretty well assume that she's against a woman's right to choose whether or not to have an abortion.

[movingforequalrights]

what do you know of bible thumping fundamentalist christians? I believe in the right to choose before you get pregnant. it's called birth control, condoms- it's called taking responsibility for your actions. What about the father's right to choose? do you even know that the Roe herself didn't want to get an abortion? she was fooled into believing something else. learn your history before you follow something blindly.

[MossyOak]

Roe v. Wade is off the table. It's a law and will remain so while Obama is president. It's a non-issue.

[TMacChicago]

Sorry, but Ifill's response days after the debate is several days too late. Yes, Palin did blow off Ifill. And Ifill, instead of maintaining steady and constant pressure on the challenge of getting Palin to respond turned a mute mouth to the issue. To say that she had no option denies the fact that she sat in front of the candidates, in front of the camera with a live mic in front of her. She had the chance to train her voice into the mic to try to train the lipsticked pig to hold true to the debate format by answering debate questions. Thanks for nothing, Gwen.

[mitch4822]

Gwen was a disappointment.
She could have interjected and salid something to this effect:
" Gov. Palin will ypu pls anaswer the question," or some other
words.
Gwen was almost useless...­She allowed this lying woman to get away with so much.
We do not need cowards to moderate debates.

[SifSkade]

She could have yoked Palin up, actually. I guess she was worried about bias charges from Monday morning quarterbacks, but those were going to be coming from the people at FOX who would have accused Ifill of bias even if she'd told Joe Biden to "shut the hell up" in the middle of one of his responses, so what did she have to lose? She pretty much let Palin have her head and make stump speeches instead of answering questions, but Palin still didn't fool all of the people all of the time. "Can I call ya Joe?" Sheesh!

[elcojonu]

You sucked Gwen; that's all there is to it.

[wardropper]

There's plenty a moderator can do.
If she wants to.
"Er, forgive me for interrupting, Governor Palin, but we have all agreed that there are some rules to these debates, and we must try to stick to them.
Now, would you like me to repeat the question?"

These moderators are supposed to be chosen because they are good at it.
How come I'm better?

[mathme]

You shouldn't have played these "gatcha" games with "direct questions" and all of that kinda mainstream media stuff.

[ninomalo88]

Can anyone who doesn't know Palin truly say she is a christian (Christ like) when I read the bible it states he / she who desires to be great among you let him/her LEARN TO SERVE. A mantle of humility was the greatest character trait that Jesus showed to others. When I think of Jesus I dont see him slinging mud in the middle of a political race. Hiding out and not being transparent. I see him pointing out all the lies and hypocrosy of rulers and pharisees and actually going to the people with the greatest needs. Just becausePalin like Mr Bush claims to be a christian and I dont question him on that but What I definetely have a BIG issue with is his inability to bring people together and his stubbornes to continue to do things his way no matter what chaos or questions of trust came out of it. Face it his administration has been one mess after another!!!! and now some think Ms. Palin can walk on water. I see Bush all over again in her. Thats my piece. In His service!

[thebigpicturelookatit]

How can YOU say that? Sure it's easy to cast your own doubt and nay saying on people isn't it? Jesus would not have done that either though. You should leave Jesus out of this. He was one of a kind and no one would be like him again. Clearly you must have realized that from reading your Bible or maybe not and you just want to cast blame. Either way I'll still sleep good at night.
Also you may want to think about this. Your blaming politicians for misleading people. Really they are politicians they all do it. Obama goes to church too, but it was a racially charged extremist church. Hey who's counting that though. This is why you should have left Jesus out of this after all he would not have been there either. Of course he would not have been trying to negotiate with people either. If you had read your Bible he was a humble man who had no need to negotiate with his enemies he knew his outcome and chose to follow through with it. I'm just saying maybe you should take your blinders off and look at the big picture

[BatMasterson]

the big picture if you want to look at it is that the majority of the Bible is fiction. Everything in it should be taken with a grain of salt including what Jesus would do or say.

Oh yeah, all churches are extremist so you might want to leave that out any and all further arguments. Finally, the fact that you say, "I'm just saying maybe you should take your blinders off and look at the big picture," is quite ironic.

[Miss Lola]

Big picture:

Keep YOUR politics out of MY government.

The minute you decide to let YOUR religious values dictate aspects of MY life, I DO have a say about your church.

Sarah, having spells cast over her to protect her from witchcraft for a successful political campaign?
Terrifying.

Sarah, sitting in church, listening to her pastor rail that the Jews in Israel brought the violence they are going through onto themselves because they have not accepted Jesus Christ?

DEPLORABLE. And,hypocrite that SHE is, goes on and on about how we must defend our friend, Israel.

At least Obama finally divorced himself from Wright. Haven't heard sister Sarah do that yet...

[anniegirl9]

There really isn't much she could have done. A moderator is restricted to the rules of the debate. I highly doubt it would have been allowable for her to interrupt a candidate. There are clear rules and time restrictions. The moderator asks the question. The candidate has the alloted time to answer. She could have and would have cut in if a candidate went over time, but she would not have been allowed to intrude on their the given time.

Her only recourse would have been to repeate the question again - as was done during the presidential debate. Maybe it would have been worth trying once on one of those questions where Palin said "lets return to Energy" just to see if she would say "let's return to Energy" once more, but doing it too much would have taken away from asking more questions.
It was obvious - as with all her interviews - that Palin is only going to answer the questions she likes. At least this way, those who really paid attention got to see that and they got to hear one candidate seriously addressing the questions (Biden).

[chaz69]

I love and respect Gwen Ifill, but she did not do her job during the debates. And maybe, just maybe, the pre-emptive strike of the right-wingers had an effect on her willingness to engage Palin to insist that she answer the debate questions. What if Obama decides tonight that he's going to ignore the questions posed to him or ignore McCain's assertions? There would a tremendous outcry. Ifill was remiss in her responsibility as moderator.

[Joulanda]

Could not agree more. I also believe that the questions she asked which by the way were questions that she (Ifill) came up with, neglected to ask Sarah the one question that many of us women wanted an answer to, and that was Sarah's position on Roe V Wade. How completely irresponsible as a moderator. Not holding her accountable for answering the questions was not exceptable. Poor Poor job Gwen Ifill.

[btorres]

a maverick is a cow or steer or bull that just does what it wants. it doesnt follow the herd. it grazes alone. it just eats, and defecates.
I agree with her. Sarah Palin is a maverick.

[IneptitudePrideB4Fall]

This is a little off-topic. Sorry, Folks.

McCain/Palin complained about Gwen Ifill as interviewer at Veep debate, so what about Bob Schieffer being interviewer at last presidential debate???

Bob Schieffer's brother, Tom Schieffer, is an ardent Bush friend, former business partner, supporter.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
John Thomas "Tom" Schieffer ------ appointed by President George W. Bush ---- United States Ambassador to Japan - assumed office 2005 and served as U.S. Ambassador to Australia from 2001 to 2005.

(Tom) Schieffer is a friend and former business partner of President George W. Bush. His only brother is CBS News reporter and host of Face the Nation Bob Schieffer. In 1989, Schieffer became a partner of George W. Bush and Edward W. Rose in Ballpark Development, the company that bought the Texas Rangers baseball club. He invested US$1.4 million in the venture, and was responsible for the operations of the company as well as the building of The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas. By the time Bush was elected Republican Governor of Texas in 1994, Schieffer was identified as a political supporter.

We're talking REAL bias here.

[Joulanda]

Well stated. I'm not impressed with the person (Maverick) who believes they are great because they go against the majority. I'm impressed with the person who can LEAD the majority, and just saying you are a leader does'nt make you one.

[thebigpicturelookatit]

Instead of that shouldn't you look for someone that can lead both the majority and the minority. Someone that can bring the two together instead pushing them apart which is what both parties do? I mean it makes sense to me.

[Miss Lola]

Yep, being a "maverick" for the sake of being different is...

D-U-M-B.

Pound your chest, McCain, and tell the world you are a maverick, but vote with the worst president 90% of the time....

[thebigpicturelookatit]

Perhaps you should not be trying to sway people by doing what the media does and only picking out clips and sound bites to fit your need and desired effect. Maybe if we all fully informed people of issues the country would be a better place. Take your blinders off and pause and look.... The world is a lot bigger than you maybe you need to look at the big picture too.

n.
1. An unbranded range animal, especially a calf that has become separated from its mother, traditionally considered the property of the first person who brands it.
2. One that refuses to abide by the dictates of or resists adherence to a group; a dissenter.
adj.
Being independent in thought and action or exhibiting such independence: maverick politicians; a maverick decision.

[Provit2me]

Let me start by saying I luv Gwen. But, I think there could have been some holding back on her part. I've seen her kick b*tt before and this was not it. So, in the short of it she (Gwenn) gave Palin enough rope to hang herself and that way now one could point the finger and say she was bias and being a one of those terrible news anchores (bad news people, bad. You ask hard questions)

[DS3M]

Think about it though, she kicks butt, the Right wing Machine goes into overdrive froth mode.

She's writing an Obama (AHEM*Black Politicians*) Book! Shes in the Obama Tank!!!

Blah blah blah. See how insanity makes rational debate impossible?