# Palin punts in the interview with Charlie Gibson **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 11, 2008, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178 "2008-09-11T23:06:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/281 "2008-09-14T02:57:34Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Fess up, how many of you actually think it proved that Obama really is a secret Muslim? Ooh, ooh, ooh, mememe!! Oh wait…never mind. But he probably wears muslin. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/282 "2008-09-14T03:06:15Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > The dismissive nature of his questions, his facial expressions. He treated her poorly and I posted an article from API discussing it. It would be intellectually dishonest not to acknowledge this particularly in the face of Obama’s interview where he was corrected for an embarrassing mis-speak. Well then I guess the McCain campaign should be ashamed of themselves for hand picking such a big meanie for their star’s first major interview, shouldn’t they? Really either way, somebody associated with McCain was incompetent somewere… ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/283 "2008-09-14T03:09:53Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Well then I guess the McCain campaign should be ashamed of themselves for hand picking such a big meanie for their star’s first major interview, shouldn’t they? Really either way, somebody associated with McCain was incompetent somewere… You’re trying to excuse ABC because they were hand picked? You think Obama walks around the street waiting for someone with a microphone to show up? How is this an argument for unprofessional behavior? ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/284 "2008-09-14T03:10:40Z")
I cannot imagaine a single candidate in this years’ primaries , Democrat or Republican, who would have that deer-in-the-headlights look if someone were to ask them about their opinion of the Bush Doctrine. Which goes to show how incredibly unprepared Caribou Barbie is for the office of VPOTUS. ---
**Author:** ![BlueOhio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@BlueOhio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueOhio)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/285 "2008-09-14T03:14:49Z")
Frost, are you discounting her family vacation to Mexico? You sound like a hater. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/286 "2008-09-14T03:23:38Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > You’re trying to excuse ABC because they were hand picked? You think Obama walks around the street waiting for someone with a microphone to show up? How is this an argument for unprofessional behavior? I don’t agree with the perception that Gibson was being haughty and dismissive. Or at least any more haughty and dismissive than Gibson usually is. Frankly, though, if the campaign really wanted what they would consider to be a softball interview, they should have gone with Fox. While the major networks have more or less lost their spines in the last 7 years, Fox has always been in the pocket of the GOP, so they should have been the safe choice. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/287 "2008-09-14T03:36:01Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > You’re trying to excuse ABC because they were hand picked? You think Obama walks around the street waiting for someone with a microphone to show up? How is this an argument for unprofessional behavior? I don’t concede the accusation of unprofessional behavior, but even if we assume that, what does it say about the campaign that they were this careless with their pick for interviewer? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/288 "2008-09-14T03:43:43Z")
She’s scheduled for an interview with Sean Hannity. She’s expected to do well. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/289 "2008-09-14T03:45:40Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > She’s scheduled for an interview with Sean Hannity. She’s expected to do well. _snerk_ The biggest danger there is how long it’ll take to separate Hannity’s tongue from her rectum. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/290 "2008-09-14T03:52:29Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > Why can’t some McCain/Palin supporters simply do the following: > > (1) Admit Palin screwed up on that question by trying to bluff her way through something she didn’t know; and > > (2) Admit that response is evidence of a general lack of knowledge in foreign policy; but > > (3) State that Palin’s error and/or lack of knowledge does not mean Obama/Biden should be elected over McCain/Palin because other aspects of the election or public policy are more important? > > I am a Dallas Cowboys fan, but I can admit when a Cowboy blows a play on the field and also when an opposing player makes a great play against the Cowboys… even the Eagles. That does not make me less of a Cowboys fan and does not mean I want the other team to win. > > “Tony Romo shouldn’t have thrown that ball into double coverage. Interception! That was dumb. Go Cowboys!” > > “Donovan McNabb did a great job avoiding the Dallas rush and made a great play out of nothing. Go Cowboys!” > > See, it’s not that hard. > > All the mental gymastics and contortions going on to try to salvage Palin’s botched response are ridiculous. She obviously lacks foreign policy knowledge and experience, but why not just admit her flaw and admit that flaw makes little difference to you in the bigger picture instead of going through all this “damage control” spinning bullshit? > > If Obama or Biden gave a bad answer to some question as evidence of a greater flaw, I’d admit it and move on with the understanding that the candidate’s particular flaw in that one area will not likely sway my vote because other considerations outweigh that flaw in my book. I just want to salute **Bearflag** for a calm and levelheaded post, something that at times is a little rare around here in my very humble opinion. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/291 "2008-09-14T03:58:35Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > The dismissive nature of his questions, his facial expressions. He treated her poorly and I posted an article from API discussing it. It would be intellectually dishonest not to acknowledge this particularly in the face of Obama’s interview where he was corrected for an embarrassing mis-speak. Can you point to a specific question that you found dismissive? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/292 "2008-09-14T04:19:02Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > But he probably wears muslin. And probably looks FABULOUS in it. Good Lord, how I hate tall, slender guys. “Clothes Horses,” me mum calls 'em. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/293 "2008-09-14T04:25:21Z")
Oh, and guys? He WAS lobbing softballs at her! It’s Charlie Gibson’s ONLY PITCH! As me mum ALSO says, “Wake up and smell the coffee!” Yes, **dropmom** speaks almost entirely in aphorisms and cliches. Remember that she taught me to speak before you give me shit when I speak in only aphorisms and cliches because, brother, I have several for all occasions. Mark Twain and Bible quotes, too. Two of me could have a conversation and never utter an original sentence. No need. Smarter people than I already said it. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/294 "2008-09-14T06:16:11Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > I don’t concede the accusation of unprofessional behavior, but even if we assume that, what does it say about the campaign that they were this careless with their pick for interviewer? um… What? Gibson is a seasoned veteran. Do you think they should hire someone to interview themselves? I mean, where do you go from an established network news team? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/295 "2008-09-14T06:23:42Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > “Tony Romo shouldn’t have thrown that ball into double coverage. Interception! That was dumb. Go Cowboys!” If you were of the proper mindset, in this situation you’d say either “The interception proves what a risk taker Romo is, and he should get a bonus for each interception thrown” or “It is unfair that the Eagles took advantage of his accidental bad throw by intercepting the ball.” ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/296 "2008-09-14T06:54:32Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > It looks to me like a place where millions upon millions of peoples’ live have been ruined by the widespread adoption and glamorization of drugs; where criminals freed by liberal judges and correctional systems roam the streets with thirty-five convictions under their belts; where 25% of teenage girls and who knows how many boys have STDs; where crudeness, crassness and belligerence characterizes societal behavior; where AIDS was spread through wholesale gay promiscuity that was so politically protected that, at least in my town, entire city parks were virtually turned over to them at night so they could bang like bunnies with no interference from the authorities; etc., etc. Crime began a significant drop in 1993, and began to level off in 2003. [Cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_the_United_States). I doubt this is the direct result of any president’s actions, but rather of improving economic conditions for the poor under Clinton and worsening conditions under Bush. What is your solution to illegal drug use? The US has the highest rates despite having the strictest laws. [Cite](http://alcoholism.about.com/od/sa/a/drug_use.htm). Perhaps a change of policy might help? Most STDs were spread by widespread straight promiscuity, which has predated either the Republican or Democratic party. > [@](#): > > In other words, millions of people have died as a result of crime, drugs, and AIDS, (not to menion the many more millions of the family members and loved ones of these people whose lives have been ruined too) all of which have flourished as a result of leftie politics in this country. The recent increase in crime rates is more likely the result of rightie politics. Crime doesn’t actually pay very well. (Unless you run Halliburton, of course.) Give them the chance for a job, crime goes down. Screw the poor and crime goes up. Saying crime is a left wing conspiracy is stupid. The reason that abstinence-only education is bullshit is that kids have sex despite politics. You can either pretend that they won’t figure it out, or give them the information they need to prevent STDs. Who is on which side of this argument? > [@](#): > > Now, I’m not saying these things were the goal of leftie politics; what I’m saying is that they are and were the predictable results (AIDS apart, that is). Most of the things you mention that are better now could still have been acheived with a more common-sense approach which may have taken somewhat longer but which would also have resulted in keeping much of what was good in society while still throwing out the bad, and we’d all not only be much better off now, and millions of people would still be alive and millions of their loved ones’ lives wouldn’t have been ruined either. > > So, given that that isn’t possible and that you guys are perfectly happy to turn a blind eye to consequence and throw the baby out with the bathwater when it comes to social change, I’m damned well determined to do whatever I can to stand in the way of you guys being in charge, no matter what it takes, because you can’t be trusted to create social change in ways that don’t fuck things up worse in a lot of other ways. And this solution to sex and drugs is? Why didn’t you give Bush this brilliant solution seven years ago? We’d be in Eden now. Communists thought that they could change human nature through politics. Didn’t seem to work. Your approach is fundamentally different how? ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/297 "2008-09-14T12:20:29Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > It looks to me like a place where millions upon millions of peoples’ live have been ruined by the widespread adoption and glamorization of drugs; where criminals freed by liberal judges and correctional systems roam the streets with thirty-five convictions under their belts; where 25% of teenage girls and who knows how many boys have STDs; where crudeness, crassness and belligerence characterizes societal behavior; where AIDS was spread through wholesale gay promiscuity that was so politically protected that, at least in my town, entire city parks were virtually turned over to them at night so they could bang like bunnies with no interference from the authorities; etc., etc. > > In other words, millions of people have died as a result of crime, drugs, and AIDS, (not to menion the many more millions of the family members and loved ones of these people whose lives have been ruined too) all of which have flourished as a result of leftie politics in this country. > > Now, I’m not saying these things were the goal of leftie politics; what I’m saying is that they are and were the predictable results (AIDS apart, that is). Most of the things you mention that are better now could still have been acheived with a more common-sense approach which may have taken somewhat longer but which would also have resulted in keeping much of what was good in society while still throwing out the bad, and we’d all not only be much better off now, and millions of people would still be alive and millions of their loved ones’ lives wouldn’t have been ruined either. > > So, given that that isn’t possible and that you guys are perfectly happy to turn a blind eye to consequence and throw the baby out with the bathwater when it comes to social change, I’m damned well determined to do whatever I can to stand in the way of you guys being in charge, no matter what it takes, because you can’t be trusted to create social change in ways that don’t fuck things up worse in a lot of other ways. Take a trip with me back to memory lane to the time of Hoover,women were having back ally abortions,the one’s who kept their babies were either shipped out of state or quietly called their sister. There was a lot of incest, child abuse(passed off as good parenting). The press didn’t look into the past of polititions or know, or care about what the religious were doing, If they were religious people it just assumed they were moral people. Jesus was a bleeding heart Liberal, he didn’t like the letter of the law conservatives of his time. He was called a wino, who hung out with sinners. YA, everything was so moral and great! Human nature has never changed there are things better now,some not as good, but the population is many times larger, and more people are going hungry over the world. Plus there is many more ways to spread news then there was in earlier years. Monavis ---
**Author:** ![wmfellows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@wmfellows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wmfellows)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/298 "2008-09-14T12:55:11Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > UPI wrote a story on the [Gibson interview](http://www.upi.com/news/issueoftheday/2008/09/12/ABCs_Gibson_grilled_Palin_hard_but_it_may_backfire/UPI-81241221234472/) that echoes what I’ve said. I didn’t see the Stephanopoulos interview other than to hear about him correcting Obama. It does sound like a clear double standard of interview approach. Gibson clearly was out to embarrass Paulin when the exact opposite was true with Obama. > > Given that Obama has no executive background at all and has spent most of his unfinished first term as Senator running for President it is a double standard to hold a Vice Presidential candidate to the fire while serving softball pitches to the opposing primary candidate. ABC has crossed the line of objective journalism. Oh come on now, stop the bloody faux outrage. Wasn’t any double standard, standard questions mate. Why some American conservatives see the same thing (ed add standard questions): > **[Sarah The Unready](https://www.theatlantic.com/personal/archive/2008/09/sarah-the-unready/55577/)** > > The Atlantic covers news, politics, culture, technology, health, and more, through its articles, podcasts, videos, and flagship magazine. [http://blog.beliefnet.com/crunchycon/2008/09/latest-abc-palin-interview-not.html](http://blog.beliefnet.com/crunchycon/2008/09/latest-abc-palin-interview-not.html) The O Man has been on the scene for a while, mate, of course he gets questioned, like the McC man, differently. You know I think the American right has decided to copy the Old Left, in cry baby politics. Damned unbecoming. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/299 "2008-09-14T12:56:00Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > um… What? Gibson is a seasoned veteran. Do you think they should hire someone to interview themselves? I mean, where do you go from an established network news team? Wait. I thought Gibson was an unprofessional hack with an agenda? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palin-punts-in-the-interview-with-charlie-gibson/463178/300 "2008-09-14T13:21:04Z")
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