Ifill 'conflict' continues as debate held

There's "no comment" from the White House on the controversy over the fact the moderator of the only
vice-presidential debate during the 2008 presidential campaign, Gwen Ifill of the PBS program "Washington Week," is writing a
book, "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama," that is projected to be released on
Inauguration Day.

Gwen Ifill

But the president is perhaps the only one not expressing an opinion on the dispute. At today's press briefing at the
White House, Les Kinsolving, WND's correspondent there, tried to ask about the issue, drawing an analogy
incorporating the president's love of baseball.

"Since I'm sure you know about the president's years of leadership in baseball, could you tell us, do you
believe that if he learned that a World Series umpire had just written a book commending the other team that
he would tolerate this? Or would he ask for a new umpire?" said Kinsolving.

"Would tolerate what exactly?" said Tony Fratto, deputy press secretary.

"Would he tolerate the umpire writing a book commending the other team? Or would he ask for a new
umpire?" Kinsolving elaborated.

"I have to apologize, Les, because I've hardly been able to even note that it's still baseball season, and I
haven't had that conversation with the president. So I don't know what his view would be," Fratto said.

"Does the White House believe that nationally syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin was wrong to write,
'There is nothing moderate' about moderator Ifill? Or do you agree with Michelle?" Kinsolving continued.

"Your questions are far too complicated for me today, Les. I don't know what my view on that would be,
nor the president's," he said.

Questions have been raised by a variety of observers about Ifill's impartiality, especially because of the
apparent financial interest she has in the outcome of the election.

"This cannot be denied," said Fox News' Washington Managing Editor Brit Hume. "She has written a
book, the 'Age of Obama' is in the title and is the premise of the book. The release date is on Inauguration
Day. This gives her an unmistakable financial stake in the outcome of the election."

He added: "A book about the 'Age of Obama' is worth a lot more if Obama becomes president than if he
doesn't. Gwen is a pro and she will overcome it, but there it is."

Frank Fahrenkopf of the Commission on Presidential Debates said the issue "doesn't concern us."

He admitted Ifill did not share the information with the commission but said because it's "not just on
Obama, it covers a whole expanse of new black politicians," there wouldn't be a conflict.

Others disagreed with him. Lis Cox Barrett wrote in the Columbia Journalism Review that while Ifill has done "solid, important journalism" and "likely" will be a neutral moderator, "conflict of interest is often
about appearances."

She wrote, "There appears, to us, to be a conflict in Ifill moderating [the] vice presidential debate. Here's
why:

"Ifill's upcoming book is called 'The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.' It,
apparently, 'surveys the American political landscpae, shedding new light on the impact of Barack Obama's
stunning presidential campaign and introducing the emerging young African American politicans [like Newark
Mayor Corey Booker and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick] forging a bold new path to political
power.'
"The book apparently will be published on January 20th, 2009, Inauguration Day.
"It stands to reason that a book with such a title would sell better if a certain person is inaugurated on
that day."

While some of the rhetoric is "political noise," she wrote, "the financial part seems real. Gwen?"

But she said she got no response.

WND reported earlier
this week about the planned book and followed up with a report on critics concerned about the perception
Ifill now has a financial stake in the outcome of an election.

Ifill hasn't responded to a WND request for comment, but she admitted to the Associated Press that she
did not tell the Commission on Presidential Debates about the book.

"If Barack Obama is not elected, by Jan. 20, 2009, the 'Age of Obama' will be over," said former U.S.
Rep. John Hostettler, R-Ind. "She definitely has a vested interest in Obama being elected.

"There's not a lot of demand out there for books about the 'Age of Mondale' or the 'Age of Kerry,'" he
quipped.

While McCain's staffers confirmed they previously were unaware of the book, the candidate himself
initially said it wasn't much of an issue. Later, however, he said it probably would have been better not to have
a debate moderator who is promoting a book about one side in the debate.

Ifill disregarded any concerns.

"I've got a pretty long track record covering politics and news, so I'm not particularly worried that one-day
blog chatter is going to destroy my reputation," Ifill told AP.

Participants in a forum on the Washington Post clearly believe there's a conflict that should be
addressed:

"Ifill has a personal financial interest in seeing Obama win the election," said one contributor. "She sells
more books if he wins. It is absolutely crazy that she is the moderator. This is a blatant conflict of interest.
This is unethical journalism at its finest."

Said another, "Simple and unbiased. Ifill writes a book. The title has the word 'Obama' on the book. It will
be for sale soon. She profits if Obama wins the presidency on the sale of her new book. … She can
influence the debate … and she should bow [out]."

"If the moderator had written a pro-McCain book, he/she would have already been booted," said a
third.

But Ifill also garnered support.

"I'm suspicious of such people who are blinded by their own partisanship to understand what journalistic
objectivity really is," said one.

That Ifill would choose the subject of black power and black politicians shouldn't surprise. According to
the online NNDB intelligence aggregator, she
participates in the African Methodist Episcopal church, the same denomination to which Black Liberation
Theology proponent James H. Cone belongs.

Obama's longtime former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., has pointed to Cone as a major influence on
his theology.

According to the Schomberg Center
for Research in Black Culture, "Black Liberation Theology is a product of the black power movement of
the 1960s."

A profile of Cone on PBS said
he grew up experiencing "the life-affirming community of the black church alongside the soul-crushing reality
of white racism."

Obama's campaign earlier was bedeviled by similar statements from Wright, who once called on God to
"d***" America and preached diatribes against white America in his support of black liberation theology.

WND also reported Ifill has faced criticism before for perceived disparate treatment of parties or
candidates.

During a vice-presidential candidate debate she moderated in 2004 – when Democrat John
Edwards attacked Republican Dick Cheney's former employer, Halliburton – the vice president said, "I
can respond, Gwen, but it's going to take more than 30 seconds."

"Well, that's all you've got," she told Cheney.

Ifill told the Associated Press Democrats were delighted with her answer, because they "thought I was
being snippy to Cheney." She explained that wasn't her intent.

But she also was cited
in complaints PBS Ombudsman Michael Getler said he received after Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin delivered her nomination acceptance speech at the
Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., earlier this month.

Some viewers complained of a "dismissive" look by Ifill during her report on Palin's speech. According to
Getler, some also said she wore a look of "disgust" while reporting on the Republican candidate.

At that time she said, "I assume there will always be critics and just shut out the noise. It is surprisingly
easy."

A clip of Ifill's comments after Palin's GOP convention speech can be seen here:

PBS viewer Brian Meyers of Granby, Conn., said he was "appalled" by Ifill's commentary directly
following Palin's speech.

"Her attitude was dismissive and the look on her face was one of disgust," Meyers said. "Clearly, she was
agitated by what most critics view as a well-delivered speech. It is quite obvious that Ms. Ifill supports Obama
as she struggled to say anything redemptive about Gov. Palin's performance."

Columnist Michelle Malkin, in a post on her blog, wonders how Ifill can objectively moderate the debate tomorrow night
with the personal interest she has in the election's outcome.

"My dictionary defines 'moderator' as 'the nonpartisan presiding officer of a town meeting.' ... PBS anchor
Gwen Ifill will serve as moderator for the first and only vice presidential debate. The stakes are high. The
Commission on Presidential Debates, with the assent of the two campaigns, decided not to impose any
guidelines on her duties or questions.

"But there is nothing 'moderate' about where Ifill stands on Barack Obama. She's so far in the tank for the
Democrat presidential candidate, her oxygen delivery line is running out," Malkin writes.

Coming to Ifill's defense was Juan Williams, a senior correspondent with National Public Radio.

"I think Gwen has been a terrific journalist," he told Fox News.

But Williams admitted the appearances could cause difficulties.

"She spent a lot of time with Obama. She praises him in the book," he said. "The book's success [is]
invested in Obama. … Suddenly everyone's going to be saying Gwen Ifill is somewhat biased against
Gov. Palin."

Do you have a tough question you'd like to ask the White House? WND's MR. PRESIDENT! forum is your big
chance.