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Action: Conflict of Interest for VP Debate Moderator, Gwen Ifill (Updated 2x)

by: grlpatriot

Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 11:13:59 AM EDT

PBS's Gwen Ifill has a pro-Obama book scheduled for release on inauguration day, January 20, 2009. She has been openly in support of Obama and has an obvious financial interest in Biden doing well in the debate and Obama winning the election. The McCain campaign did not know about Ifill's book and bias toward Obama. (Is anyone surprised about the media bias toward Obama at this point?)

Matt Weaver at No Quarter has the story and suggests calling the Commission on Presidential Debates at (202) 872-1020 to demand that Ifill's conflict of interest be disclosed and that she be replaced as moderator of Thursday's debate. You can also email Janet H. Brown, Executive Director of the Debates Commission: jb@debates.org.

More over the flip...

grlpatriot :: Action: Conflict of Interest for VP Debate Moderator, Gwen Ifill (Updated 2x)

I just sent an email to Janet Brown. Please copy and use.

Janet H. Brown, Executive Director of the Debates Commission
I am writing you to demand that Gwen Ifill's conflict of interest be disclosed and that she be replaced as moderator of Thursday's VP debate between Biden and Palin. Ms. Ifill has a pro-Obama book scheduled for release on inauguration day, January 20, 2009. She is openly in support of Obama and has an obvious financial interest in Biden doing well in the debate and Obama winning the election. It has been reported that the McCain campaign did not know about Ifill's book or her bias toward Obama. This is an outrage and most certainly favors one candidate over another. You must remedy this situation immediately. Disclose Ifill's conflict of interest and replace her as moderator.
Thank you in advance for swift attention and action in this matter.
- My Real Name

I'm still trying to call but the line is busy. People this is important. Call and email! The bias has got to end!

Crossposted at Red Hot & Blue Politics

[Update 1] At 3:50 PM EST, I was finally able to get through to the Commission by phone. No one answered and my call went into the Comission's voicemail. I was able to leave a message. If you haven't gotten through yet, KEEP calling.

[Update 2] It has been reported that Ifill did NOT disclose her book (The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama) to the Commission on Presidential Debates. Today (10/2), Matt Weaver has a very extensive update to this story with media reaction and video of Ifill in her own words.

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Action: Conflict of Interest for VP Debate Moderator, Gwen Ifill (Updated 2x) | 19 comments

The media bias (0.00 / 0)

toward Obama most not be rewarded and must end.

Alice left me in Wonderland.

by: grlpatriot @ Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 10:16:47 AM CDT

by: you @ soon

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hi grlp (0.00 / 0)

Good luck with that! People should speak out about it and contact PBS. Seriously, I've ahd about enough of pandering to bambi. Would be really nice and democratic and the american way if an unbiased person ran a debate for once!

just sayin

~~~~~~~~~~I Haven't had a President since 2001~~~~~~~~~~~~~

by: PUMA IRISH BRIGADE @ Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 12:00:23 PM CDT

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PUMA Pac (0.00 / 0)

has a prowl today on contacting PBS as well as other media outlets. Like I told New Hampster over at Partizane:

Yes, we need to spread the word. I even emailed this news to pro-Obama folks just so they are aware of it even if they don't support doing anyting about it. Call and email the commission, people, then email your friends, family, co-workers about it. Blog about it.
The media does NOT get to select our president -- the people do!

Alice left me in Wonderland.

by: grlpatriot @ Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 12:33:10 PM CDT

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Ugh, and I love PBS. And I love Gwen Ifil! (0.00 / 0)

Seriously, she will make more money on that book if Obama wins.

She is a really good journalist, a good role model for women. I am so disappointed. This will tarnish the Newshour - one of the last trusted media institutions in our country.

So disappointing. It's heartbreaking! I'm calling my local PBS affiliate.

by: catfish @ Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 14:04:09 PM CDT

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agreed catfish (0.00 / 0)

I mean when PBS goes in the tank I worry:)

i used to watch PBS oftice when I lived in the states. We have nothing ike it here sadly.

OMG!! Bill Clinton is in Ft Pierce Florida now. I just bet my Mum is there in the front row!!She adores him, literally LOL Says he was the best potus ever. She got introduced to him in Irealnd once and wuld'nt let go of his hand ROFL

well, I can't call the PBS but I sure can email them:)

~~~~~~~~~~I Haven't had a President since 2001~~~~~~~~~~~~~

by: PUMA IRISH BRIGADE @ Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 14:17:17 PM CDT

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and NPR News (0.00 / 0)

has been in the BO tank since way back in the primaries...

by: Sharyn @ Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 17:19:27 PM CDT

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all the media seem to be (0.00 / 0)

except FOX. What a wacky world this is! I only get FOC and before Obama I spent my time screaming at the tele when listening to those right wingers all day long. expecially o'rielly an hannity i really hated. NOw, after O-messiah's arrival and the entire media has stopped doing it's job to inform the public and vet candidates. I am now thankful I get fox. and I can say with 100% certainty that I "NEVER" thought words like taht would pass my lips, ever.

~~~~~~~~~~I Haven't had a President since 2001~~~~~~~~~~~~~

by: PUMA IRISH BRIGADE @ Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 17:43:22 PM CDT

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dang it (0.00 / 0)

sorry but FOC=FOX

i am the typo queen!!

~~~~~~~~~~I Haven't had a President since 2001~~~~~~~~~~~~~

by: PUMA IRISH BRIGADE @ Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 17:44:06 PM CDT

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yeh, (0.00 / 0)

even Dianne Rehm had people on her show saying caucuses are way more democratic than primaries. it was pretty shocking to me.

by: Sharyn @ Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 19:53:15 PM CDT

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WTF? (0.00 / 0)

That's just flat out wrong. We truly are living in Bizarro World.

Alice left me in Wonderland.

by: grlpatriot @ Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 20:12:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

hey!! (0.00 / 0)

bizarro world is my line LOL:):):)

but it's true!!

btw, I stole that line from the Buffy Series, i was an addict:) AND had a crush on spike LOL

~~~~~~~~~~I Haven't had a President since 2001~~~~~~~~~~~~~

by: PUMA IRISH BRIGADE @ Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 17:48:14 PM CDT

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It turns out (0.00 / 0)

that Ifill never informed the Commission on Presidential Debates about her book. I wonder why she neglected to disclose that fact.

Alice left me in Wonderland.

by: grlpatriot @ Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 20:14:22 PM CDT

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if (0.00 / 0)

Ifill didn't disclose a conflict of interest, then there's no way she should be moderator for this debate.

As pointed out on one of the Fox shows, that would be like having the author of the biography of Sarah Palin be the moderator. Sounds like a reasonable point, although it's odd as heck that I'm saying Fox has a reasonable point!

by: Sharyn @ Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 10:35:24 AM CDT

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Thanks for posting this email address (0.00 / 0)

and action suggestion. I just sent my email to the commission.

by: lizpolaris @ Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 07:53:54 AM CDT

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Thanks for taking action (0.00 / 0)

Ifill's book deal and obvious conflict of interest made it into the MSM by yesterday afternoon because of the all chatter about it. The word is getting out. Even if she isn't replaced, she will also be scrutinized as much as the candidates. I'm hearing that Ifill stands to make a minimum of $350K on the book if Obama becomes president. She could make 2 to 3x that amount. I say she has a sizable financial stake in putting the fix in during the debate.

Alice left me in Wonderland.

by: grlpatriot @ Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 08:50:40 AM CDT

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I'm finding it amazing to see the (0.00 / 0)

'liberal' blogs scoffing at this obvious media faux-pas. It doesn't matter what party you're from to see the glaringly obvious conflict of interest. All you have to wonder is - how well would her book sell if Obama loses? Thus, what's the incentive to - however inadvertently - favor one candidate?

Even if Ifill wants to try to be impartial, she can't. What amazes me is this: as a professional, why didn't she disqualify herself? Maybe her professional ethics aren't really so good.

by: lizpolaris @ Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 15:01:23 PM CDT

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She is eroding the public trust (0.00 / 0)

which is already so frayed at the edges, hanging on by a thread to the few remaining institutions - one of the being PBS and the Newshour!

by: catfish @ Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 15:35:25 PM CDT

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So true (0.00 / 0)

My new mantra is: the ends do not justify the means. There is a heavy price to pay for what Team Obama will do to bring him to power. Situational ethics is an understatement.

Alice left me in Wonderland.

by: grlpatriot @ Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 16:57:06 PM CDT

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fyi (0.00 / 0)

Gwen Ifill on Gov. Palin's RNC speech:

found at:

http://www.lynettelong.com/my_...

by: Sharyn @ Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 14:52:31 PM CDT

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Action: Conflict of Interest for VP Debate Moderator, Gwen Ifill (Updated 2x) | 19 comments

"Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in. When you stumble, keep faith. When you?re knocked down, get right back up. And NEVER listen to anyone who says you can't or shouldn't go on."
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