How in the world can a journalist who is publishing a thoroughly pro-Obama book scheduled to be released on Inauguration Day not have told this fact to the Presidential Debate Commission until like two bays before she was to moderate the VP debate tonight?
Seriously??? That's not right.
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It was publicly announced in July 2008 that Gwen Iffle was writing a book on the influence of black leaders in the civil rights movement and in politics, including Obama. She has been working on the book for several years. The Commission members knew at that time of her book, and they decided to have her be the moderator of the Vice President debates anyway. She is a very respected and objective commentator on several PBS programs.
Maybe it's OK, but I'm bothered by it. I heard one of the Zogby group on the Doug Wright show on KSL in Salt Lake today. They said that she had not publicly disclosed it to the commission until this week. Maybe they knew from other means, but why would she not have stated it on the record for the commission? I understand, too, that concerns have been expressed about her level of involvement with Obama and his campaign - maybe just gathering info for the book, but still...is that the right person to moderate a presidential debate? The other concern I heard expressed about her book is the fact that they announced it's release date as Inauguration Day, and the title if I remember right is along the lines of the "Obama phenomenon." It may be a great book, but it's just a question of...is someone doing this kind of work, sort of "embedded" in the Obama campaign, really the best person they could come up with to so this tonight?
OK, now having watched the debate, I think she did fine. I had a couple minor quibbles, but as I reflected on it I just don't think they're of any significance. Good job, Gwen.
Upon further reflection upon my further reflection, I do have one complaint about Iffle. I think the reason I passed on it last night is that it's not unique to her. It's just that certain questions are asked clearly from a liberal angle, and the same can be said about the choice of questions. Again, because it's not unique to Iffle I had passed it over...but I think it should be said.
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