Were you aware of Gwen Ifill's bias?

Question

Gwen Ifill has written a book which is very favorable to Obama. It is scheduled to be released on inauguration day.

Can anyone claim that she was not a mistake to pick for moderator?
Can anyone deny that Biden was given the last word on about 8 out of 10 topics?

Palin was blindsided and STILL won the debate.

Answer 1

I was aware, and I sent a lot of e-mails and phone calls on behalf of PUMA, complaining about this. I think if it weren't for all the people complaining, Gwen would have been a lot more biased like she was so OBVIOUSLY in the 2004 debates

Answer 2

Since this question is nothing but baited rhetorical traps, can you deny McCain approved of Ifill with the knowledge of the book she was writing? But this wasn't a secret, it was well known weeks ago when she was selected with McCain and Obama's joint approval.



"Can anyone claim that she was not a mistake to pick for moderator?"



Let's ask John McCain. Here's what he said on Fox News on Wednesday:

"I think Gwen Ifill is a professional and I think she will do a completely objective job because she is a highly respected professional."



He approved of her in September, and still does. He's trying to have it both ways. If Palin looks bad (as she did) then it must be because of bias. If she looks good, it's because she's a capable candidate. McCain's campaign has no clear direction except to do anything it takes to try and win.



"Can anyone deny that Biden was given the last word on about 8 out of 10 topics?"



Palin was given the opportunity many times, but she had nothing more to say. She wasn't responding to Biden or the questions being asked, just going through her talking points. It's hard to get the last word in when you don't have a cogent response. Ifill went to great lengths to show impartiality, not challenging Palin on her non-answers, challenges that she would have been well within her rights to give as a moderator.



That's why Palin's considered to have lost the debate among independents, not because of moderator bias.

Answer 3

Actually Gwen put Biden on the spot more than Palin. In fact, Palin was allowed to NOT answer the question and Ifill never regulated on her. Remember when Palin avoided one question by changing the topic, "Well I'd like to talk more about the energy plan that..." what kind of moderator lets a debater choose the question she wanted to answer? If anything Palin got the easier road.

Answer 4

Palin did great in the biased position she was in! Gwen Ifil did give Biden the last word on a lot of things, but she cut off Palin that one time when she had 5 seconds left!!

Answer 5

And they say men don't gossip! Inventing a story around distorted facts is also called prevarication - not baldfaced lying, but twisting the truth so entirely that a different story is presented.



You and I don't know what Ifill's book says, it isn't yet public - publishing the book, whatever its content, on Inauguration Day makes no sense.



And then we come to it: after setting the stage with two lies around a known fact (she's writing a book about Obama and others of the new generation of Black politicians) - you're trying to smear a reputation...



I don't know Ifill or Washington, but I know small towns and gossip. Shame on you!



Palin WASN'T blindsided! That's why many commentators thought she "won," because she did so much better than expected. Actually, the conduct on both sides was appreciated...and then you come along...

Answer 6

Just because Gwen happens to be black or have written about Obama does not mean she is bias. And just because Biden is an experienced and intelligent Senator does not mean that he had a clue of the questions being asked. On the other hand, why does Gov. Palin had to study for the debate?

Answer 7

"Gwen Ifill has written a book which is very favorable to Obama. It is scheduled to be released on inauguration day." The Republicans knew or should have known about the book before they chose her. THE REPUBLICANS who know her record trust her. By the way, the book has a chapter on Obama that isn't even written yet. Your assumption that the book is "pro-Obama" isn't fact based. She hasn't "written" a book about Obama. She IS WRITING a book about Blacks in post Civil Rights era politics. Some of them are Republicans, in fact.



"Can anyone claim that she was not a mistake to pick for moderator?" Anyone who knows her record can claim, based on that very record, that picking Ifill was not an error. In fact the REPUBLICANS who NEGOTIATED the entire debate format and moderator did not feel as if her choice was a mistake.

"Can anyone deny that Biden was given the last word on about 8 out of 10 topics?" Each was given the same amount of time to make their points. Palin took longer with her individual answers, and Biden was more concise, so he got the "left-over" time tacked to the end. Those were the rules. He worked it to his advantage, and she did not. That was the result of his superior experience in timing himself. He even made a reference to the "blinking light." What did you think he was talking about?





"Palin was blindsided and STILL won the debate." Twice in that eight word sentence you posit facts not in evidence. First, I saw no evidence that either candidate was "blindsided." No topic was off limits according to the rules, so if she was blindsided, then perhaps her debate prep team simply didn't think broadly enough. Ifill has a reputation for insightful and far ranging questions. Second, you assert that she "won" the debate. She didn't HURT the McCain campaign, but on technical points, she was no where nearly as "on topic" as Biden, and he was technical winner. She was endearing, but not "superior" on her performance.



I predicted that if she came on camera with her shoes tied and she didn't actually drool, she would be declared"winner" by the right. Thank you for the vindication.

Answer 8

Keep dreaming. First off, McCain agreed to use her as a moderator, so it his own damn fault if he agreed to someone who was biased, assuming she was biased. The excuse of him not knowing she written that book on black politics doesn't matter either, a simple wikipedia check would have found out that information, he didn't have any excuse for not knowing about the moderator he agreed to use.



Secondly, the undecided voters have mostly agreed that Biden won the debate. You of course think Palin won because a highly biased observer.



Third, stop making excuses for her. She would have bombed even if Bill O'Reilly was moderator (which btw, Obama wasn't afraid to be interviewed by, he doesn't whine about 'media bias' and still does good). And I'm sure you know she bombed despite claiming otherwise, otherwise you wouldn't be trying to make excuses for her in the first place.

Answer 9

I was concerned about Gwen when I heard she was going to be the moderator but as an independent voter who will vote for McCain/Palin I thought Gwen did an admirable job of remaining very middle of the road. She handled the job well I thought.

Answer 10

Wow, I am so angry with the media for preventing the McCain staff from reading any newspapers and press releases before they agreed on Ifill. How dare the media not take the McCain Campaign's total lack of attention to detail into consideration?



I am glad we have the Society of the Aluminum Foil Hats around to keep the media honest and protect the Republican's undefeated streak in political debates. God bless you!

Answer 11

Are you out of your mind???

I can agree I was not a Fan of the moderator. I thought she did a terrible job but not for the same reason as you. She never pointed out to Palin that she wasn't answering the questions that were asked. She just let Palin spout off about any topic she felt like regardless of what the question was.

Answer 12

Did you hear Ifill’s remark when the debate was over? When Palin went over to congradulate her, Ifill said, “see it wasn’t that hard”. When Biden came over, Ifill said, “You did GREAT”. Unbelievable

Answer 13

Actually Ifill attacked Biden TWICE, claiming he lied- when he did lie! She was pretty good I thought- Kudos to the Obama book writter- she hasn't even written the Obama pages yet. -- maybe its not a bias book and just a opinion on black leaderships.



Vote McCain! Palin!

Bring honesty BACK IN GOV'T!

Answer 14

Gwen was VERY impartial imo. I am a McCain/Palin guy and I can honestly say that Gwen was fair. There is no need to call her out.

Answer 15

You have no idea whether the book is favorable to Obama or not. Its not even been finished!



The book is a series of profiles on this generation of African American politicians and includes Obama along with Michael Steele, JC Watt and others.



There's nothing to suggest Ifill is biased against Palin.

Answer 16

If she was bias then the McCain people shouldn't have OK ed her. Will you call for NBC's liaison to the McCain campaign to be removed as moderator in one of the remaining debates?

Answer 17

Her book was announced back in July, so those choosing her should have known. That being said, I think her questions were easy and expected questions. And she never challenged Palin when Palin dodged so many of the questions. I think Palin was handled with kid gloves.

Answer 18

I'm a hard line Republican, but I've always liked Gwen. I was aware of her book and I wondered if it would affect they way she did her job last night. I think she was completely fair. I'm sure Gov. Palin was aware of it, but it did not phase her a bit.

Answer 19

I was aware of her book and I was concerned about bias. I really don't think she should have been the one to moderate the debate because of this. But- I really thought despite all that she did pretty well. I did not see any obvious favorable treatment towards Biden.



And yes, Palin did win the debate. :)

Answer 20

Fully aware! But Palin still won!!!!

Answer 21

Good point.

McCain was aware, and felt it wouldn't matter.

As it turns out, it didn't

I seriously doubt if Obama's people would have been as magnanimous if the shoe were on the other foot.

Answer 22

Gwen did a great job. She really did.

Answer 23

I think she did well last night.



There were concerns...but she did well.



and I don't support Obama either

Answer 24

She did OK, but Palin did better.

Answer 25

I did, she should have been pulled, she did not clealy go after biden and his record, as they were lots to make mention of

Answer 26

you can go to this website it is really cool ivince.webs.com



click on webcasts



and ivince awards

Answer 27

To a degree but overall she did alright.

Answer 28

Gwen was not bias at all.

Answer 29

Please. It's called a coin toss regarding order to answer questions.



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