It would seem Gwen Ifill has a conflict of interest and the honorable thing to do would be step aside and let someone else moderate Thursday's debate in St. Louis between Republican Sarah Palin and Barack Obama.
Ifill, who hosts Washington week on PBS and is seen as a commentator on many Sunday morning news shows, is writing a pro-Obama book due out in November entitled "The Breakthrough."
Wouldn't it help her book sales if Obama wins? Of course it would.
There is nothing wrong with being for a candidate or having opinions that are pro-Democrat or pro-Republican, you just shouldn't be moderating a debate where you are supposed to be objective.
I am certain that some of the supposed objective Network anchors also have political leanings, but they are bound to keep them to themselves. When they cross the line to advocate, they necessarily have to relinquish some of their duties.
Ifill has been accused of being partisan in the past. She was considered tougher on Republican Vice President Dick Cheney than Democratic Challenger John Edwards in 2004.
She also was accused of being unnecessarily tough on Sarah Palin when everyone else was glowing about her convention speech.
But they were just thoughts, accusations and whispers, now we have proof. The book is about the next generation of African American politicians and how Obama is, according to Ifill, "forging a bold new path to political power."
There is a clear conflict and everyone would understand if Ifill stepped aside. I think she would be admired for wanting to keep the debate and the process pure, without the hint of bias or impropriety. Only ego and self-interest would keep her in the moderator's seat now that the book deal is public.
We'll find out a lot about Gwen Ifill, her character and her agenda, in the next two days.
If she selfishly and stubbornly insists on moderating the debate, we'll find out just how far she carries he bias in the questions, tone and treatment of both the candidates.
Any perceived slight to Sarah Palin or preferential treatment of Joe Biden will forever damage Gwen Ifill's credibility.
9 comments:
Except they have long known that she wrote this book, this is hardly "new", she made it plain as day to people months and months ago. Why cry over spilled milk "now"?
Cannot find news other than parroting what others have already said?
Timing is suspect to whine and make a fuss as this is "old news".
Puh-leez. Rather than side-track the issue, why don't we focus on the fact that Sarah Palin is a combination valley girl and "you betcha" Minnesotan who doesn't know what newspapers she reads, admits to her inexperience, can't name a US Supreme Court case [but said she'd want to deal with that on a local (sic) level], and who is waiting for Putin to call out to her from Russia...equating that with foreign policy experience. And the issue is Gwen? Puh-leez! Gwen shouldn't step down, Sarah should step up...but she can't. McCain did a disservice to himself, his ticket, the process, and especially to Sara Palin, who is a very nice human being who I admire, she's just not yet ready for prime time and is clearly not ready to be a heart beat away from becoming President of the United States of America.
Everyone didn't know about Ifill's book ... however, a duty to DISCLOSE conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest rests squarely on the moderator's shoulders ...Ifill did not do so and her ethics are lack-luster...so, expect questioning "quiz show style" with lots of questions re the constitution, supreme court decisions, reparations etc., etc., etc.
What is this "quiz show" style spin? Any question asked by any person on any subject could be termed "quiz show" style. Hey, if you can't hang with the questions (quizzes), stay out of the debate!
roseann,
I would fully expect any VP candidate to easily answer any question regarding the Constitution or Supreme Court decisions. I would NOT expect you to be able to do so.
To the Dennis' and Anonymus' of the Obama Shame Train, you seem a bit defensive and clueless.
Well, Sara couldn't. I would have said Plessy v Ferguson, which said blacks and whites must be separated, and that that is equal. That is repulsive. But in snow white country, well....guess that wasn't a burning issue for Palin.
It's not really a pro-Obama book per se. It's a book about how race is changing the political landscape after Obama's successes in challenging white-dominated politics.
Clearly, because Gwen is black, she has a conflict of interest. Or maybe because she's a woman, she has a conflict of interest.
"Branchflower Report to the Legislative Council
Page 8 of 263
II Findings
Findings Number One
For the reasons explained in section IV of this report, I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) provides "The legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust.""
The concept of the public trust relates back to the origins of democratic government, and its seminal idea that; within the public, lies the true power and future of a society, therefore, whatever trust the public places in its officials must be respected.
One of the reasons why bribery is regarded as a notorious evil is that it contributes to a culture of corruption in which public trust is eroded.
A famous example of the betrayal of public trust is in the story of Julius Caesar, who was killed by Roman senators who believed they had to act drastically to preserve the republic against his alleged monarchical ambitions. It is an interesting concept, nevertheless.
America can now be not so proud to add another not so famous incident of rape of the public trust.
Sarah Palin, You are not trustworthy.
Distrust is worse than just the absence of trust. It rears its ugly head when you actively expect that the other guy will take advantage of you, when you have reason to suspect that, given a chance, your “friends” will further their own interests and ignore yours
Distrust generates an expectation of potential harm.
Dear Ms. Palin,
Do America and the human species a favor, step down and out of politics, and stop having children.
Citizens for a Better America.
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