Wash. U. - WUSTL OTR: Drudge Accuses VP Moderator Gwen Ifill of Obama Bias

Drudge Accuses VP Moderator Gwen Ifill of Obama Bias

Posted by Dr. Manhattan 10/01/2008 10:01 AM
Category: Tags: gwen ifill, drudge report

The lead story on the oft-conservative website “The Drudge Report” today is that the Vice-Presidential debate moderator and Simmons College grad Gwen Ifill is releasing an “Age of Obama” book on inauguration day. This has everyone all up in arms that the debate moderator will be biased towards Palin, and any “tough” (normal) questions she asks will be clearly demonstrating that bias.

Well, the real story is that her book is NOT called “The Age of Obama” as Matt Drudge would have you believe. It’s called "The Breakthrough," and it’s about the rise of black politicians in general. Hell, Colin Powell has his own chapter. Of course she would be stupid to leave out Obama as the only black candidate every on a major party ticket, but now everyone’s pouncing on her for alleged bias.

Can you write a story about the rise of a particular race’s political power, and not have it be a glowing endorsement of a candidate? Yes, of course you can, and anyone suggesting otherwise is probably two steps away from saying something extremely offensive (“Why is she moderating the debate? She’s black so she’s obviously pro-Obama”). Gwen Ifill serves on the board of the Harvard institute of Politics and the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, I think she’s more than qualified. Critics of her and her book are on some thin ice if they really want to press this critique. Hopefully the Republicans won’t be dumb enough to make this an issue before or after the debate.

+ 15 comments

Anonymous says,

She has given glowing endorsements of Obama and even wrote a puff piece about his family. At the very least she should have to disclose at the beginning of the debate that she wrote a pro-Obama book. Posted 10/01/2008 10:13 AMReply

Anonymous says,

What percentage do you have to be to be considered black? I ask this because Obama's mother is white and his father is 75% arabic - Posted 10/01/2008 10:14 AMReply

Anonymous says,

If you're going to criticize Drudge for failing to list the full name of Ifill's book, you should try not to be a hypocrite by only listing part of the title yourself. The full name of Ifill's book is "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama." According to Ifill's own statements available on video, she speaks of "taking the story of Barack Obama and extending it." All four of the featured politicians (Obama, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and U.S. Congressman Artur Davis of Alabama) are democrats. Posted 10/01/2008 10:21 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Load of crap. I'm a registered democrat, I'm voting for Obama, I think Sarah Palin is a high functioning retard, and I also agree that this woman is clearly biased and should not be "moderating" this debate. Posted 10/01/2008 10:21 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Her book is being released on inauguration day, do you think more people would buy a book about "the rise of black politicians" if a black man was just elected president or just defeated? Posted 10/01/2008 10:22 AMReply

Anonymous says,

It seems that those in the news often do stupid things like this. Why give the GOP fuel? Posted 10/01/2008 10:24 AMReply

Anonymous says,

It seems to me that it would be very simple to relieve her of this moderation - she is reading a list of prepared questions - any dummy can do this - I think.

Also - she is a black women writing about black political figures and someone said it earlier - yeah I think her book sales will be better off if a black(although apparently not a large percentage black)man were to win the election Posted 10/01/2008 10:34 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Watch how fast this woman will pull "The Race Card" from the bottom of the deck as this situation heats up. Posted 10/01/2008 10:48 AMReply

Anonymous says,

But if a white person says she will pull the race card then we are being raciest Posted 10/01/2008 11:02 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Recuse yourself, if you have one iota of journalistic integrity, Ifill!
This election will certainly go down in history--as the most biased, corrupt process ever! This is supposed to be a democracy, not a dictatorship. If Obama is elected, I will be the first to lead a drive to have him impeached! Posted 10/01/2008 11:06 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Can you imagine if the moderator had written a pro-McCain book? Obama would get his "truth squad" together and have him/her arrested. Posted 10/01/2008 11:10 AMReply

Anonymous says,

She has already pulled the race card recently.
She said, when criticized about one of her articles (she doesn't take criticism well at any time)
"they wouldn't have said that if a white man had interviewed an white man".
And the criticism had nothing to do with race.
She has a chip on her shoulder (she's racist) about being black in the first place.
She will be biased, she can't help it.
But, McCain will let her moderate. That's how stupid Republicans are. Posted 10/01/2008 11:26 AMReply

Anonymous says,

Here is the title:
The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama Posted 10/01/2008 11:59 AMReply

Anonymous says,

She was on MEET THE PRESS once and Tim R. answered her question as to whether he would ever have Imus on MEET THE PRESS? When Tim answered..yes, sure I would..she was about ready to scratch his eyes out and the camera caught it.

I've seen her on the NEWSHOUR get just frazzled when discussing race and for some reason everybody else on NEWSHOUR has to travel out of the country for stories, but not Gwen...she's special?

Has anybody....anybody.... ever heard Ifill say one sentence or one thought that you haven't heard countless times by other journalists at one time or another? Generally, she adds zero to the discussion. Posted 10/01/2008 1:50 PMReply