Gwen Ifill was a true journalist: fair (Quadruple Barf Headline from LA Times)

LA Slimes ^ | 3 Oct 08 | JAMES RAINEY

[SkyPilot]

Gwen Ifill was a true journalist: fair

Critics had feared she would favor Biden because she's written a book that spotlights Obama. Those fears were unjustified.

At least one figure on the stage for Thursday night's vice presidential debate reached a high standard for reason, fairness and class.

Gwen Ifill of PBS demonstrated abundant dignity as referee of the much-anticipated debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden.

[netmilsmom]

Fantastic!

People need to see that!

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Thank you.

I haven’t seen the transcript, but I will take your word for it.

Regards.

[ImphClinton]

Bidens and Ifills faces also showed a lot. He was so relieved the first time Ifill cut Palin off and rescued him with a Heads You win Tails You win question.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

I am sure that was a big part of it.

She now had to behave herself.

[Judith Anne]

Which is why she told Biden, when shaking his hand after the debate, "you did great!"

I heard that too. She said it twice. Guess she was still mic'ed.

[savedbygrace]

Good post. Thanks.

[Judith Anne]

And am I the only one who heard her remark to Biden after the debate when both candidates shook her hand? She said, “You did great”.

I heard it. She said it twice.

[webschooner]

She slipped the debate questions beforehand to Biden.

Did you see when Biden accused Palin of something, so Ifil dutifully turned to Palin and said, “what about that?”

Didn’t Ifil call her Sandra Palin or something like that at the end?

Unbiased, my a**!!!

[hunter112]

She cut off Palin three times none for time being over in each case Sarah spoke for less time than Biden just had.

That actually worked to our benefit. I'm sure Sarah was told to let him rattle on in that monotone of his, you can see peoples' eyes glaze over when he speaks. Even Democrats, as I recall from pre-Iowa days!

[mtntop3]

Moderators are journalists, and journalists define "objectivity" as what they themselves are - and they define "liberal" (or, synonym, "progressive") as exactly the same as "objective" except that the term "objective" is...

Indeed - IF THEY HAVE NO HIGHER CALLING THAN THEMSELVES.

And most today, unfortunately, do not.

[GOPJ]

OMG, a liberal thinks a liberal is fair? Stunning.

Even Biden was embarrassed at one point and said something to the effect of, "I'm sure I'm running out of time". But she let him go on and on and on. Never called Biden on time once. But she did call Sarah on time. Three seconds over and Ifill and had her full.

STOP FUNDING PBS UNTIL TAXPAYERS ARE ALSO FORCED TO FUND RUSH, HANNITY AND A 24/7 CONSERVATIVE NETWORK

[GOPJ]

Gov. S. Palin - 1
Ethics at PBS - 0

Bingo

[duckln]

Where's the transcript?

A clincher in the debate was in the closing statements, where Palin thanked Gwen for the opportunity of talking to the American people live, and presenting herself for who she is and not being edited and filtered.

It was a brilliant rebuff of what's been done to her on SNL, and by the edited interviews of Gibson and Couric.

[GOPJ]

Which is why she told Biden, when shaking his hand after the debate, "you did great!"

What did she say to Sarah? If anything.

[ImphClinton]

Sarah was just so good that Ifill couldn’t destroy her.

But in all three cases Biden was really helped. This could have been an absolute disaster for Biden had Palin been given even a normal media biased debate.

But Ifill was over the top selling books.

[Puppage]

What did she say to Sarah? If anything.

"I wish I could stand up"

Nice, huh?

[Antoninus]

I thought Gwen did a fine job, frankly. Fair and balanced and called no attention to herself.

Well done, Ms. Ifill!

[Antoninus]

Gwen was as good as she was ONLY because she had been called out for what she is: SHE IS AN OBAMA SHILL!

Please. She was good in 2004 as well. Obama supporter or no, she showed herself to be a journalist in the best sense of that word.

[Katya]

and her shill status worked in our advantage...she basically backed off.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Right. Ifill tried to herd her around like a sheep to the slaughter, but Palin refused. Ifill did zing Biden one time though:

IFILL: Let me clear something up, Sen. McCain has said he supports caps on carbon emissions. Sen. Obama has said he supports clean coal technology, which I don’t believe you’ve always supported.

BIDEN: I have always supported it. That’s a fact. [rimshot]

[After that, Ifill let them have at it in an ‘anything goes’ free-for-all.]