Let Bill Moyers Question Palin

On Friday, the anniversary of John F. Kennedy's 1960 speech and Q-and-A session addressing concerns about his religion, I called upon Sarah Palin to have a similar open forum in which she can be questioned about what appear to be her potentially dangerous religious views.

In his interviews with Gov. Palin last week, Charlie Gibson touched ever-so-slightly on those religious views, but did not follow up on her previous indications that she considers the "War on Terror" a holy war or ask the truly critical questions, such as whether she believes in "the Rapture," thinks (as her former pastor said while she nodded in agreement) the "Last Days" are coming soon and Alaska will be a refuge for those fleeing the Lower 48, that America is a "Christian Nation," and so on. People in the church in which Ms. Palin grew up and still visits speak in tongues. What are her views on this practice?

Such questions are entirely appropriate. Citizens are free to believe whatever they want, but in the case of those who offer themselves for high public office, voters have a right--a need--to know about beliefs that could impact public policy decisions.

Sarah Palin's second interview is scheduled for Tuesday with Sean Hannity of Fox News. We can hope he will surprise everyone and attempt to act as if Fox were a real news organization by asking her the questions that need to be asked. But who's going to hold her or his breath on that one?

If only Tim Russert were still with us . . .

But there is an answer. Bill Moyers, a deeply religious Christian who attempts to be a genuine Jesus follower, should interview Gov. Plain on her religious views. It could either be done as an individual event or as a part of a series of four interviews on religion that Moyers would do with each of the major party candidates for national office.

John McCain and the Republican campaign surely don't want to let anyone like Bill Moyers close enough to Sarah Palin to ask her any questions about her beliefs and how they might impact her governmental decisions. But the candidate's handlers should at least be put in the position of having to give reasons why they won't allow it, and sufficient public pressure might force the campaign to agree to such an interview.

Let's start the drumbeat for a Palin interview by Bill Moyers and keep it going until the McCain-Palin campaign responds.

Historian Robert S. McElvaine is Elizabeth Chisholm Professor of Arts & Letters at Millsaps College. His latest book is Grand Theft Jesus: The Hijacking of Religion in America .}

Comments

[Zanti]

Great idea! Let's pour on the pressure. If Palin refuses to talk to Moyers, the public will demand to know what she's afraid to reveal. They will be relentless in that regard. And, should she consent to an interview, the public will surely be disgusted by what they hear, and Palin's support will go down to five, maybe six, percent of voters. At best.

Certainly, Palin shows every sign of being an End Times believer. Observe her humble, simple lifestyle, her total lack of concern for power, fame, celebrity, or sun tan, and the general lack of enthusiasm she shows for the material world and material things. No doubt, if given the chance, she'd push the button and blow everything up. She has the look of one who would.

I think we really need to turn up the volume on this perfectly understandable and rational (and not the least bit hysterical or comically literal-minded) concern. Because it can only improve the left's image with the general public. Besides, we still have one or two toes we haven't shot off yet. This year, I mean.

[goldnchyl]

Tum, tum, tum, tum.... tum, tum, tum, tum ....

what? it's my drumbeat

[belikejeanvaljean]

I would love to see Moyers interview Palin and McCain, as well as Obama and Biden, on anything! Especially Palin, though. Unfortunately it will never happen.

[Amplexis]

No one should be questioned about their religious beliefs.

Legislation they would write or support, and executive decisions they would make are game.

We're not interviewing a pastor.

[dctackett]

would make?... so, after the fact?...
so citizens electing leaders should not know what a candidate will say about their beliefs (believe, not know)? so we shouldn't be allowed to know that someone thinks the world is ending and that they must go to war with those that don't believe as they are or that they must support, with military power, certain kinds of people... and that most of your fellow citizens are deserving of slavery or slaughter, because they're "evil" (don't believe what you do)... so, it's cool if they think that the real world doesn't matter, because their magical super being will make everything better if they decide that they need to nuke a few places on the earth?

[smags72]

'We're not interviewing a pastor.'

So all those people ragging on Obama for what 'his pastor' has said over the past 20 years is game, but questioning Palin on her own beliefs, that could affect public policy, is not? Hypocrisy.

[jesuslovesObama]

I think she's skipping this due to the investigation, not the hurricaine.

[identify]

In an ideal world...great idea. Come on, do you really think the McCain/Palin circus sideshow will invite serious scrutiny and questions that would require honest answer? Where a person who can't be BS'ed is driving the interview? Nah, let's continue with the interviewers on the 'friendly' list.. Sean Hannity for instance.. that ought to be a real non-interview.. 'Tell me more about your husband's Iron Dog snowmobile race victories, Sarah..'.. this country is in dire trouble...

but i agree, Bill Moyers would be perfect.

[Dissident Dexter]

The very MENTION of religion should eliminate a person's eligebility to run for public office. It's called a "personal relationship with jeebus" for a reason. I don't want to know who, what, or how someone worships any more than i want to know about thier sex lives.

[dctackett]

so, you don't want to know if someone thinks that it would be perfectly fine to start dropping nukes around to destroy the enemy and enslave or slaughter some of their "evil" (hasn't submitted to my beliefs) fellow citizens, because, in the end their magical super being will make everything better?

[Felicty]

Great idea! There's noone better versed on biblical matters AND politics than Bill.

[alvarndc]

I was VERY disappointed that Gibson did not address: 1. the Alaska Independence Party issue and 2. the reckless judgement dispplayed by Palin in flying from Texas to Alaska AFTER rupture of her membranes ("breaking her water").

I would suggest these are related -- apparently Todd Palin stated the reason she had to fly back to Alaska was that their son had to be born in Alaska (?). I am not sure I understand why Texas is not an appropriate place to be born; of course, I am not a member of a secessionist party.

These are questions that Bill Moyers could certainly bring up in a manner that would not be demeaned as sexist, but rather as questions of judgement.

[rwt1138]

I wouldn't try to tie Todd's comment to his membership in the AIP. There is an episode of King of the Hill where Hank finds out he wasn't born in Texas, but rather in New York City. This has a significant impact on his life and the perceptions of his friends, as he is now less of a Texan for it. While the episode was obviously milking it to extremes, it was playing off of a real cultural bias of Texans and New Yorkers. For a little perspective, if King of the Hill was set in Alaska, Hank would have found out he'd been born in Texas, and been similarly chagrined.

[goldnchyl]

For me, the question about Palin's questionable sojourn, knowing the child was special needs, is why give the speech, travel to Washington to take a flight to AK, THEN, rather than going to the hospital in Anchorage, traveling 600 more miles to a small hospital in Wasilla. The whole story wreaks.

[HeidiRenee]

I think that just having Bill Moyer interview Obama and allow him to flesh out his abortion answer from the Saddleback forum would be brilliant. That was when the tide turned for him and people flocked to McCain/Palin - Bill would be able to give Obama a larger framework to explain himself and help the thinking Christians to understand that LIFE is far bigger than the small pin hole that right wing Christians view things through.

I doubt either McCain or Palin would have the courage to sit down with Mr. Moyers, but it would be a brilliant move for Obama/Biden.

[goldnchyl]

"That was when the tide turned for him and people flocked to McCain/Palin ..."

Palin wasn't even on the ticket at that point. The tide didn't turn until she was tapped. But, as the flash dies down and reality sinks in, the tide will, indeed, turn again in Obama's favor.

Obama/Biden '08

[RoveRoveRoveYourBoat]

...consider her volume of homework (repackaging) for that interview!

[INDmind]

Let Sean hannity question Barack Obama.

[tjntn]

Obama has already sat down with O'Reilly and shown that he can answer ideologues. No need to do it again with Hannity. What is needed is to have someone that actually wants to discover the candidates stand on issues and how they decide on issues. Moyers would be an excellent questioner.

[ElBruce]

I think Bill O'Reilly was good enough for now, unless Hannity has a unique approach on it.

Although clearly "Lefty," Bill Moyers is also well known for being a great interviewer about religion and other humanities-oriented topics. He's about one of the only people I could think of who could thoroughly explore Palin's belief system with some sensitivity and without getting judgemental about it.

[RiseHillary]

I doubt that Bill Moyers would play gottcha with Palin or 0bama. He is nonpartisan and has no agenda other than honesty in broadcasting, and he has already made a name for himself and established he has intergrity. I have loved Bill Moyers since his days as editor of Newsday, LI............Maybe it would be a good idea, but for the Constitution which provides for separation of church and state and no religious test for our elected officials.

[silverball]

...an outstanding idea....a venue for ALL of the candidates to be apart of....and the MOST QUALIFIED individual to ask the questions....truly and outstanding idea....how can we get this done???

i doubt that mccain would agree....too much straight talk (and questions from moyer)....

[drkazmd65]

An absolutely fantastic idea - let Bill have a no-holds-barred intereview with each of (in whatever order) Palin, McCain, Biden & Obama. He would do a thorough, honest, forthright, and respectful job of it.

So of course,... neither Palin or McCain would agree to such a public disclosure of their wingnut (Palin) or opportunistic (McCain) religious beliefs.

[Dynamohum]

Bill Moyers has been a single voice that has risen against the tide over and over. I believe he is one of the only reporter/i­nvestigato­rs that has any integrity. As a matter of fact, he apparently has more in his pinky finger than the rest of the MSM combined.

Truly an investigative reporter who digs deep for details and truth. Great idea!!!