# Gwen Ifill to release book featuring Obama in January. WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 1, 2008, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966 "2008-10-01T04:11:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/301 "2008-10-06T16:09:18Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I missed the debate (sad story, I came home from work on Thursday and our cat was injured…attacked by a dog…bite wounds and a broken leg…but it looks like he will make a full recovery). > > Did Sarah Palin literally say at one point that she wasn’t going to answer a question Gwen Ifill asked her? First, I hope kitty does make a full recovery. Second, Palin said roughly “I won’t answer the questions the way you want me to” and then she started talking about something that wasn’t in the question. For example, one time she just said she’d rather talk about energy, so she did. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/302 "2008-10-06T16:11:12Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I missed the debate (sad story, I came home from work on Thursday and our cat was injured…attacked by a dog…bite wounds and a broken leg…but it looks like he will make a full recovery). > > Did Sarah Palin literally say at one point that she wasn’t going to answer a question Gwen Ifill asked her? [Here](http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/02/debate.transcript/) is a transcript. I think this is the passage you’re referring to. (bolding mine) > [@](#): > > IFILL: Would you like to have an opportunity to answer that before we move on? > > PALIN: I’m still on the tax thing because I want to correct you on that again. And I want to let you know what I did as a mayor and as a governor. **And I may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear,** but I’m going to talk straight to the American people and let them know my track record also. As mayor, every year I was in office I did reduce taxes. I eliminated personal property taxes and eliminated small business inventory taxes and as governor we suspended our state fuel tax. We did all of those things knowing that that is how our economy would be heated up. Now, as for John McCain’s adherence to rules and regulations and pushing for even harder and tougher regulations, that is another thing that he is known for though. Look at the tobacco industry. Look at campaign finance reform. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/303 "2008-10-06T17:12:42Z")
> [@Oy](#): > > … I am very surprised to see that article in the Columbia Journalism Review, and can only assume they are referring to the appearance of conflict, rather than the reality of it. … The title says it all, > [@](#): > > Drudge Raises a Point > By Liz Cox Barrett Wed 1 Oct 2008 01:40 PM they were responding to the “last minute discovery” that Ifill was moderating the debate, which as it’s been shown was OLD NEWS when Drudge “discovered” it. I find it really difficult to believe that the Columbia Journalism Review wasn’t aware that Ifill was writing the book or was the pick to moderate the debate before October 1st. I’d think that a journalism review would be up on that kinda stuff. :dubious: Oh, wait a minute, it’s right there in **magellan01** ’s [link](http://www.cjr.org/the_kicker/drudge_raises_a_point.php) > [@](#): > > … We’ve also set aside several other related questions that are being raised in various places online, on cable, and elsewhere, including: why is this becoming a “thing” now, when Ifill’s book was reported on well before Ifill was selected as the moderator, and the McCain campaign might have raised this earlier if it bothered them? … so where’s the Columbia Journalism Review’s article about their concerns about Ifill moderating the debate before Drudge made it an issue? And why do they want to set aside the question of why this is becoming a “thing” now? Isn’t that the elephant in the room? CMC +fnord! BTW **magellan01** RE “… I got wind of it, before it made it onto any radio or TV show …” congrats on being on the crest of the spin wave! So if you didn’t get wind of this through the broadcast media where did you find out about it? Drudge maybe? Hmmm, I wonder just how many [McCain points](http://www.johnmccain.com/actioncenter/bloginteract/bloginteract.aspx) a thread like this is worth? ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/304 "2008-10-07T04:22:56Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > The celebrity I was referring to in the OP that would increase sales was Obama’s, not hers. Scanario A: he wins. Scanario B: he loses. In scenario A she sells more books and makes more money. I really don’t see how that is disputable. > > Good luck with your move. Thanks, **magellan**. I’m not going to be around much in the next two weeks or so, as I have to really ramp it up. My move is going to be on the 13th, and what with packing before and unpacking afterwards, I’m going to be pretty darned busy. This would come along less than a month before the election, wouldn’t it? :rolleyes: Just wanted to say, so you wouldn’t think I’m running away. I’ll try to drop by now and then, but don’t count of it. Best wishes all, and the words of Ahnold, “I’ll be bahck.” ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/305 "2008-10-07T06:54:01Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > The title says it all,they were responding to the “last minute discovery” that Ifill was moderating the debate, which as it’s been shown was OLD NEWS when Drudge “discovered” it. I find it really difficult to believe that the Columbia Journalism Review wasn’t aware that Ifill was writing the book or was the pick to moderate the debate before October 1st. > I’d think that a journalism review would be up on that kinda stuff. :dubious: Oh, wait a minute, it’s right there in **magellan01** ’s [link](http://www.cjr.org/the_kicker/drudge_raises_a_point.php)so where’s the Columbia Journalism Review’s article about their concerns about Ifill moderating the debate before Drudge made it an issue? And why do they want to set aside the question of why this is becoming a “thing” now? Isn’t that the elephant in the room? > > CMC +fnord! > BTW **magellan01** RE “… I got wind of it, before it made it onto any radio or TV show …” congrats on being on the crest of the spin wave! So if you didn’t get wind of this through the broadcast media where did you find out about it? Drudge maybe? > > Hmmm, I wonder just how many [McCain points](http://www.johnmccain.com/actioncenter/bloginteract/bloginteract.aspx) a thread like this is worth? So, I guess you don’t have an actual point. Or an opinion to offer on the subject. Or anything of substance. Gotcha. One question: was your unintelligible point about Drudge intended to be proof of the veracity of news-breaking articles there, such as their breaking the Monica Lewinsky scandal that lead to Bill Clinton being impeached? If so, you may want to edit your writing for better clarity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966.md?page=15)