# 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:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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 1, 2008, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/41 "2008-10-01T13:30:41Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > To me, this OP speaks to the severe anxiety the GOP has re Palin. If you had Mitt or Rudy in your corner, you wouldn’t be mindfucking non-issues to death. _snort_ Of course they would. It just wouldn’t be quite so obvious to quite so many people. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/42 "2008-10-01T13:41:23Z")
You know, I don’t get it. What’s your goal here, anyway? Ifill has proven herself an extremely capable, fair moderator. Even if she did agree to recuse herself, it’s not like they’re going to cancel the debate or let Sean Hannity moderate. They’ll just substitute Jim Lehrer or Brokaw or someone equally talented and fair. There’s no net win for you there. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/43 "2008-10-01T13:53:40Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > You can skirt the issue if you want, but her impartiality is the very question. I didn’t say she was impartial. My point is that this book presents a bias _into_ the equation. Do you believe she IS biased, or that the APPEARANCE of bias is the problem? > [@](#): > > I think you’d grant that she’d want to sell as many of these books as possible, right? So, are you of the opinion that Obama winning won’t increase book sales? I believe this is a fundamentally stupid argument, that’s the problem. I think she is aware of this issue and I don’t believe she’ll deliberately try to screw up the debate - the _Vice Presidential debate_ - with the hope that it will increase her book sales at the expense of her journalistic reputation. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/44 "2008-10-01T14:06:47Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I believe this is a fundamentally stupid argument, that’s the problem. I think she is aware of this issue and I don’t believe she’ll deliberately try to screw up the debate - the _Vice Presidential debate_ - with the hope that it will increase her book sales at the expense of her journalistic reputation. Honky, please. \ C’mon on, we all _know_ that this sistah’s gonna do Brother O a solid. Anyone got the 411 on if Biden can speak jive? Fo schizzle my nisel! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/45 "2008-10-01T15:58:15Z")
_Slap!_ … And so the abused spouse (the news media) is slapped around again by the right, just to make sure she stays in line. _I promise, I promise, I’m not biased!_ **You are writing a book about Obama, you liberal-loving whore!** _Slap!_ _But I’m not biased! You’ll see! I’ll prove it to you! I’ll be nice and felicitous to all your lies and propaganda and demagoguery! Remember how I made Gore look like a bore and a liar and Kerry look like a coward?_ **I’ll be watching you!** ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/46 "2008-10-01T16:25:44Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > Didn’t the McCain campaign agree to having her as moderator? I assume the book wasn’t written since that decision was made. I just read on Drudge, via Greta VanSustern, that McCain did not know about the book. Though details are thin at this point. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/47 "2008-10-01T16:29:15Z")
> [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](#): > > The book doesn’t seem like a pro-Obama slobberfest (although it’s hard to say, since it is not due to be released until January 2009). The [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) summary of the book says (in part): > > Sounds more like an examination of racial progress and politics in America than like an endorsement of Obama. And even Republicans have said it is a good sign that a black man can be the presidential nominee of a major political party. So (absent further information) I’m not seeing anything overtly partisan here. > > ETA: BTW, I don’t trust WND to do anything but lie and distort the truth. It’s like people coming in here and posting Daily Kos articles as though they were ex cathedra pronouncements from the Pope. I just included the WND mention because that was the only place I found it last night. And it doesn’t matter if it’s not an Obama Slobberfest. The point is that the author of the book benefits financially if he wins, and she’s moderating a debate that can affect that outcome. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/48 "2008-10-01T16:32:18Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > The point is that the author of the book benefits financially if he wins, and she’s moderating a debate that can affect that outcome. Are you privy to the details of her contract with Doubleday? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/49 "2008-10-01T16:33:12Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Yeah, they’re all out to get you. It’s not that you’re a stupid fuck posting a bullshit talking point as a debate. The mods are against you, man. What’s bullshit, tough guy? The FACTS are that she’s moderating a debate and she has a financial interest in Obama winning. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/50 "2008-10-01T16:44:16Z")
We have seen no evidence that she has any financial interst in Obama winning, but even if she did, you have not shown that would have any ability to fix the debate. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/51 "2008-10-01T16:50:31Z")
> [@Carson\_O\_Genic](#): > > OP, I think you should treat this the same way you did the events of early 2004, when Justice Scalia refused to recuse himself from a case involving VP Cheyney. > > I know. Being black and writing about black politicians isn’t the same as hunting ducks together. > > But if you don’t get enough exercise hand waving, maybe making mountains out of molehills will work. I wasn’t a member than. I forget the details of that particular instance, but I do recall Scalia has recused himself from cases in the past. It’s the right thing to do. As they say, it’s not just bias that should be avoided, but the appearance of bias. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/52 "2008-10-01T16:52:18Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > What’s bullshit, tough guy? The FACTS are that she’s moderating a debate and she has a financial interest in Obama winning. Dipshit. The FACT is that she has a book out with Obama’s name on it. Your INFERENCE is that she has a financial interest in him winning, one that is not backed up by the summary of the book. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/53 "2008-10-01T16:54:16Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > You asked a question; it was answered; you labeled the answer “hand waving”. Exactly what response would you have _not_ considered “hand waving”? Post Number 6 was the first one. There are more after that. ---
**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 1, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/54 "2008-10-01T16:55:34Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > We have seen no evidence that she has any financial interst in Obama winning, but even if she did, you have not shown that would have any ability to fix the debate. Ifill is her maiden name. Her married name is Caesar. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/55 "2008-10-01T16:57:54Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > You know, I don’t get it. What’s your goal here, anyway? Ifill has proven herself an extremely capable, fair moderator. Even if she did agree to recuse herself, it’s not like they’re going to cancel the debate or let Sean Hannity moderate. They’ll just substitute Jim Lehrer or Brokaw or someone equally talented and fair. There’s no net win for you there. Sorry. Forget that I’m a conservative and I want McCain to win. Do you not think that is important that a moderator for this election be 1) fair and 2) appear unbiased? And that a moderator having a financial interest in the outcome undercuts that? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/56 "2008-10-01T17:01:21Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Forget that I’m a conservative and I want McCain to win. Do you not think that is important that a moderator for this election be 1) fair and 2) appear unbiased? And that a moderator having a financial interest in the outcome undercuts that? The only reason there might be an appearance of bias would be the result of the right’s pushing a bullshit inference regarding any “financial interest.” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/57 "2008-10-01T17:03:53Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Forget that I’m a conservative and I want McCain to win. Do you not think that is important that a moderator for this election be 1) fair and 2) appear unbiased? And that a moderator having a financial interest in the outcome undercuts that? You have not shown that Ifill is unfair or biased. You have not shown that she has a finacial interest in the outcome. You have not shown that she would have any ability rig the debate in one side’s favor without anybody noticing. Ifill is not a judge. She’s not an official scorekeeper. She’s just asking questions. She will be asking the same questions to both sides. There’s no story here. This is desperate righties looking for an excuse to pull a pathetically unready candidate from a debate. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/58 "2008-10-01T17:08:56Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Do you believe she IS biased, or that the APPEARANCE of bias is the problem? I _think_ she is biased. But I wouldn’t have said boo if it weren’t for the book. I think any moderator has a bias one way or another. The important thing is that we not know what it is. And certainly that that they not have a stake in the debate more than any other American. So now we have the book, which gives her a vested interest in Obama winning. AND the fact that she didn’t turn down moderating the debate, which shows how much she values both unbias and the appearance of unbias. > [@Marley23](#): > > I believe this is a fundamentally stupid argument, that’s the problem. I think she is aware of this issue and I don’t believe she’ll deliberately try to screw up the debate - the _Vice Presidential debate_ - with the hope that it will increase her book sales at the expense of her journalistic reputation. That ship has sailed. This is highly unprofessional. Particularly if someone wishes to be viewed at the pinnacle of those with journalistic integrity. Do you think Russert would have done this? Do you think Brokaw would have? Stephanopolous? And everyone knows where he stands! ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/59 "2008-10-01T17:12:36Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > We have seen no evidence that she has any financial interst in Obama winning, but even if she did, you have not shown that would have any ability to fix the debate. She wrote a book. The more books she sells the more money she makes. If you have evidence that her contract deviates from that norm, feel free to present. Do you even think that to be the case? I would add, even if she were to donate 100% of the sales of this book to a charity, she still has a financial interest in the books outcome. The more successful this one is, the better the deal she can make on the next one. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966/60 "2008-10-01T17:15:31Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > I just read on Drudge, via Greta VanSustern, that McCain did not know about the book. Well, then, either the book is not relevant or McCain has (again) shown his ineptitude at vetting people. Which is it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gwen-ifill-to-release-book-featuring-obama-in-january-wtf/465966.md?page=4)