McCain Campaign Working the Ref in the VP Debate
These attacks against Gwen Ifill are so transparent. I don't know why we're even having a legitimate discussion about their validity. The McCain campaign is desperate to have the moderator of the VP debate go easy on Palin. So they are working her over, ahead of time.
In essence, they are threatening her career if she doesn't act "objectively." And their definition of "objective" is someone who asks very easy questions to Sarah Palin. They have already called the most innocuous foreign policy questions in other interviews "gotcha" questions or "trap-door" questions. They're sending a warning to Ifill. We will try to destroy your reputation as an objective reporter if you're tough on Palin.
The second reason behind this obvious gambit is that if Palin bombs they can say, "See, of course, with that biased moderator she didn't get a fair shake. It wasn't her fault. The deck was stacked against her with all of those 'gotcha' questions from an Obama supporter."
Looking at it this way, you can see why this is a smart political move. They lose nothing and possibly gain easier questions and an excuse if their candidate does not do well. That is why it is up to the media to point out that this is sheer political gamesmanship and not let them get away with this nonsense. Treating this issue as if it has any legitimacy is unacceptable. And, by the way, also completely unfair to Gwen Ifill.
One final thing on this debate. How well the moderator does tonight is going to completely dependent on how she asks follow-up questions. A debate where you just let either side give their talking points on any given issue and move on is a terrible, boring and useless debate. The public only learns how well that candidate has memorized their talking points. Follow up questions are critical. This is what has made Katie Couric's interviews with Sarah Palin so good. Simple, fair follow-up questions to get an understanding of what the candidate actually means.
It will be tragically ironic if Ifill actually mars her reputation as a journalist by not asking pertinent follow-up questions because she has been intimidated by the right-wing into going soft on Palin.
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Good post but I think you are wrong that the McCain camp has nothing to lose by doing this, they do come across as whining little crybabies - something they've been doing regularly and is becoming more and more tiring for people to see. Sure the radical right-wing inbreds who support him and Palin will fall for it, but they don't matter. The people on the fence are the fiscally conservati
One of the reasons I always make a point of watching the Newshour is because you NEVER know the personal bias of ANY of the reporters, including Gwen Ifil. She is a professional journalist and will do her usual exemplary, nonpartisan job. This is another attempt by McCain to intimidate. I don't think Gwen Ifil will allow that to happen.
Dang skippy. I don't see Ifill backing down one inch. She's one of the most fearless journalists I've ever seen.
Agree---just another McSame attempt at intimidation. However, Ifill shoulda recused herself.
She is a world class journalist. That is the primary reason I watch PBS; no bias, no bull, and it's not just sensationalism news.
All of this "cuddling" Sarah Palin nonsense is getting sooo riduclous that I do believe we should impeach her candidacy as vice president! GO OBAMA
If the great majority of dems in Congress didn't have the spheres to impeach Bush, what makes you think they will suddenly grow a spine and impeach Palin? Besides, aint it too early for that, the dems would tell ya!
Do you mean coddling?
This from the same camp that accuses the press of "censoring" Gov. Palin.
On the contrary, they would benefit from MORE censorship -- Palin-dromes are burning up Youtube!
Cenk says, they say "We will try to destroy your reputation as an objective reporter if you're tough on Palin".
I say "prove it". Are you sure they said or even think this, or are you playing Gotcha?
How would Obama like it if a McCain supporter just wrote a book about Obama, would he want them to be a moderator for Biden? Think about it please.
Um...they didn't seem to mind until...ye
Of course they could never say "we will try to destroy your reputation
They didn't seem to mind until yesterday's polls came out. They knew about the book for months, and they approved all debate moderators, as did Obama's campaign.
I agree with a poster above; the McCain camp will lose independents and fence-sitters if they try this tactic. They are desperately looking for any excuse for the debacle that will occur at 9 pm tonight, but the undecided voters are TOO SMART to fall for this. Their base will jump all over it, but so what? The public knows by now that McCain and his camp never take any responsibility for anything that goes wrong in the campaign, and they are sick and tired of it.
In case McCain has forgotten - the american people have approximately 700 billion other problems to worry about other than whether he thinks "life is unfair."
The public will be looking for intelligent solutions to our serious, complex problems tonight. Biden will deliver these. Palin will deliver a few well-timed, vindictive, sarcastic attacks on Obama and Biden, and she'll bat her eyes and look cute doing it. Game over.
Ummmm, the campaign knew of the book prior to agreeing to the moderators. Its not like she wrote the book over the weekend. I know you guys like to hang on to your own "facts", but it is hard when people on the left actually respect real facts.
Ms. Ifill did not write a book about Obama. She wrote a book that examines the intersection of race and politics - not surprising since she is African-American and we have the first African-American nominated to be president of the United States. It is a timely topic and and it will sell books!
Of course, this nonsense is based on the idea that questions Biden can answer are too difficult for Palin! Remember, Biden will be getting the same questions. Shouldn't she be able to handle the same questions as the other VP candidate?
Stop listening to rush.
You completely skipped over prayforme_too's point.
I would like to have Cenk Uygur come back and back up the following statement:
"We will try to destroy your reputation as an objective reporter if you're tough on Palin"
Seriously CENK I'M TALKING TO YOU
I have watched every response McCain and his campaign have given in regards to Gwen moderating this debate.
How Cenk took that out of their responses is so insanse it boggles the mind.
So what do you say Cenk are you a bomb thrower or can you back that up with a shred of evidence.
I think you made up a complete red herring.
I call BS on Cenk and I bet my house he doesn't come on here and back up his silly statements.
There are 2 possibilities for the McCain campaign: They knew about the book, when they agreed to Ifill as a moderator. If that is the case, then they are now hypocrites.
Possiblity #2: They did not know about it, then they are stupid because they did not do their research about the moderator.
Both possibilities are pretty bad for the McCain campaign.
I think it's pretty safe to say, based on the McCain campaign record, that they will blame anyone OTHER than Palin for anything she cannot answer competently. That's what they've been doing...bl
No need to worry about Gwen Ifill. She is the ultimate professional.
She will not be intimidated by Rovian tactics.
She was outspoken during the Imus blowup, and openly criticized her
colleagues that had frequented his show.
She will be a pro.....th
Right-on. The MSM has nothing legitimate to report regarding McCain's candidacy because all McCain does is lie, lie, lie, about EVERYTHING. MSM has to grab hold of something to talk about.
I think the MSM and McCain team have gone too far this time!
Gov. Palin should simply get the very same questions as Joe Biden. Plain and simple. Both candidates should answer the questions to the best of the ability. There is no curve at this level! She wants to be VP of the United States! This is not the cheerleader selection committee.
Yes, but what if she asks "gotcha" questions wired for Biden. Like ... well, anything having to do with civics, history, geography, ...
Thanks Cenk. As always, you are bang-on. It seems MSM never learns. It is always falling into these bogus Republican narratives and carrying their water. I hope Ifill does not choke. This is as much her moment as it is Palin and Biden's. Great insights.
For the McCain campaign, this is another David Letterman moment. They are trading a momentary advantage for a much bigger long term disadvantage. Like Letterman, Gwen Ifill has a national audience that she speaks to everyday. All she has to be is agressively fair and honest about McCain for the rest of the campaign and it should drive his poll numbers down another 5 or 6 points.
I'm laughing and tickled at such a good comment, afgail. RIGHT-ON.
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