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

[NotJoeSixPack]

It was the moderator's job to get the debaters back on track. Ifill didn't even try because she was so worried about looking biased because of her book deal. Someone else should have moderated the debate and told Palin, or Biden if he needed it, "Answer the @!#$ question." Palin lucked out. It would have been much uglier if she had to actually debate. This was not a debate.

I wonder if Palin even understands what the word "Maverick" means. I think she just knows it from watching "Top Gun." Soon she'll be referring to McCain as "Goose" and Obama as "Iceman."

[Tallllama]

1st 2 sentences, sure. But perhaps it turned out that Gwen unwillingly gave Palin just enough rope to hang herself with MORE people than those that were suddenly convinced that she's the real deal just because she didn't fall down or clam up. If Palin had actually gone 'off' script, it's possible she would have done *better*. Now we'll never know. She got so much confidence from 'getting away' with everything she tried, it was full speed ahead.

[piggybackmom]

I am so glad that "Meet the Press" used the SNL clip of the debate.
This just shows the absurdity of the Palin/McCain campaign.
SchizoMcCain's contribution to dumbing down America is Palin.

[huffingOff]

Palin punked out of the challenge, dismissed the moderator and the format and, instead of answering questions, launched into long boasts about her own track record. On top of that, she chose to admonish Biden (in a very vindictive, rude and sarcastic tone, no less) for "going into the past" when he spoke of McCain's track record. Palin's forced (and, imho failed) attempts at exuding charm showed even she knew she needed something extra to have a chance at getting away with all this. I don't think Ifill erred in allowing Palin to show herself this way. Rather, I think she did us a service.

This combination of arrogance and weakness, not to mention the use of gimmicky mannerisms to try to make it acceptable, had to remind everyone of the reason for their dissatisfaction with the current administration. Ifill correctly saw fit to credit the American public with the ability to recognize this in Palin.

[Aleka4]

the problem is, a lot of people were completely taken in, in no small part because the pundits saw no criticism from moderator= did nothing wrong=smooth sailing = win!

Don't forget that imo more than half of america does not think for themselves. They think whatever the pundits tell them to think.

[fran-pan]

she wasn't going to answer questions that she didn't know the answer to.. that so- called charm and
charisma must be inthe eye of the beholder and in the eye of journalists that are hoping to get an
interview. she is an air-head a complete air head and distraction from the important issues that need to be talked about. the msm is beginning to be a disgrace paying so much to a empty headed parrot.

[Knowledgeseeker]

please send Palin back to Alaska

[Vurz]

I believe the Republican party made rules like "you can't ask follow up questions" or they were going to take their ball and go home.

[wdw101]

no just ifill can't ask follow up questions.­......the come back would be "how is that pro zerobama book going"....­.... it is too easy to say......b­ut very funny

[nomobull]

ONLY FOR GOMORONS

[NevadaDem]

Yeah...it sure looks like our girl, Sarah does not like to take direction. That is kind of a scary thought since she is running for the Number Two job...not the Bigh Kahuna.

[txgal44]

That's alright Gwen. She'll be gone before you know it.

[SwingVoter]

It appears Fox "News" in collaboration with the GOP and McCain's campaign have pledged to unleash an all-out smear assault on our campaign.

The only way we can help fight Fox "News" and Bush-McCain wrong headed policies is to donate what ever we can to help the Obama/Biden campaign.

Please give whatever you can. This is a turning point in the 2008 Presidential election. You do not want to wake up November 5, 2008 and regret not having done enough.

http://barackobama.com

[wdw101]

"It appears Fox News in collaboration with the GOP and McCain's campaign have pledged to unleash an all-out smear assault on our campaign" good glad to hear that

[conservativesoncrack]

Keating Five my dear. And, I am sure there is more where that came from.

[bushgirlsgone]

.

Did Palin Lie in the Debate About Not Having Health Insurance?

Last Thursday night Sarah Palin said, “About times and Todd and our marriage in our past where we didn't have health insurance and we know what other Americans are going through as they sit around the kitchen table and try to figure out how are they going to pay out-of-pocket for health care?”

Now let me translate, because--unless you’re a Republican (which means you didn’t watch the debate to listen to her—doesn’t she look so cute?), or unless you understand ‘tongues’--what she said is nearly unintellgible: She said there were “times…in our past (during their marriage) where we didn’t have health insurance…”

OK, exactly when was that?

According to public records, Sarah Heath and Todd Palin were married on August 29, 1988. Sometime in 1988, long before their first child Trak was born (in April of 1989 – yes, it appears she too was pregnant before she got married), Todd began working for British Petroleum and joined the United Steelworkers. As one of the largest and most successful unions in America, I’m pretty ‘gosh darn’ sure they have what the people of Alaska refer to as a “Health Care Plan”.

Good thing he worked for a strong union, isn’t it?

After Sarah became Governor, Todd stopped working for BP for a while, but they would have had health insurance through her employment with the State of Alaska.

Did she lie? O you betcha.

[ObamaSheeple]

Wow, good point. I totally missed that. It is far too difficult to keep up with all the lies. I just assume when Republicans' lips move, they are lying.

[dizmo4]

Ifill was really caught in a difficult situation. Had she pressed Palin to answer the question, the right would have made an even bigger deal of her book than they had already. It would have been a liberal media hit job on Palin.

The fundamental problem with "debates" is that they are not debates. Unless candidates are allowed to question one another, its all just stump speeches. Biden basically did the same except his delivery is infinitely better.

[wdw101]

that's why ifill should not have been the moderator

[conservativesoncrack]

She did fine. Only wing nuts believe this crap. The questions were fair and your girl could not/would not answer them. Either course shows that she is not VP material.

[lippy33]

that;s why she should have sat out and let someone else do it.

[zoozey]

ifill did not follow up. I don't understand, close to the beginning, when twice Palin said she was going to talk about taxes when taxes had not even come up--why Ifill just said, "ok, if you want to talk about taxes,we'll talk about taxes."

They never returned to the original subject. Just the fact that Biden could even follow Palin'd bizarre little stump speech with coherent comebacks, is amazing.

The only reason we have to suffer thru the neocon's lust-fest over Palin is because Ifill let Palin control the whole thing. So clear Ifill was intimidated by them prior to the debate. I'm so sick of the fraidy cat media palying T-Ball with this kindergartner

[harriettubman]

ARROGANCE was the theme of the Bush administration and it continues with the McCain ticket too. Yet McCain doesn't want to be tied to Bush any longer. NOT!!! Arrogance and sarcasm are what make up Sarah Palin too. I have no more sympathy for this Type A, career driven female with 5 kids she seems to put second.

[wdw101]

McCain has my vote

[AZTrueBlue]

WHY?

[Buffkat00]

I'm sorry you'll be throwing your vote away.

[EileneLepht]

Well he IS a Maverick..­.He and Palin are going to bring a NEW kind of ARROGANCE to Washington.

[deb46]

Gwen was a very good moderator that continued to try and get palin on point but that is the point she is not smart enough to do anything but a scripted stump speech and I am glad that Biden was himself and showed his experience. I have yet to hear a straight answer from her. She is really good though at dancing a little sidestep and hoping that america is not intelligent enough to catch the fact that she is incompent for the job she is applying for . Next applicant please....­..........­...

[santamonica39]

I disagree that there is "little a moderator can do". She is the moderator and it was her job to pin Palin down for not answering the questions. She could have humiliated her by continuing to go back and insist that she actually answer the question that was asked.

[wdw101]

and the come back would be "how is that pro zerobama book going"

[AZTrueBlue]

huh?