[oldhardhead]

Originally Posted by Arius

Palin looks like a moose in the headlights of a freight train

I'll bet you say that to all the girls.

Originally Posted by Arius

No matter that Lehrer runs a conservative news broadcast that attracts conservative viewers that HE owns in part with other conservatives. He was fine to be a moderator. I love the logic.

So, a liberal moderated the McCain Obama debate. We weren't talking about that. Are you referring to The NEWSHOUR with Jim Lehrer? No one has mentioned that. A "conservative news broadcast?" On PBS? "conservative"? Are you joking? You are kidding, right?

Here's what Jim Lehrer has said:

Last week, in an interview with me about his goals as moderator of the first presidential debate, PBS anchorman Jim Lehrer said, "Fairness and the appearance of fairness are critical, because everything must appear to be absolutely straight and driven by the views of these people who want to be president, rather than by some agenda that the moderator may have."

Let me be clear, my interview with Lehrer took place on Sept. 23, and Lehrer was talking about himself as moderator, not Ifill. I did not even know about Ifill's book and potential conflict at the time.

But Lehrer is absolutely right about the way in which the moderator has to be perceived for the debates to serve their purpose of providing citizens with information that they can trust about the candidates.

At least Jim Lehrer understands.

Debate moderator Gwen Ifill at center of controversy over Obama book

You still haven't addressed the issue. Conflict of interest.

As someone who has written a non-fiction book, I know access can make or break the project. If Obama gave her access, as she says that he did, then they were essentially in business together -- him in telling her story, and her in recording and then reporting it.

Her other potential conflict is the one that commentators at the conservative Web sites have emphasized -- the vast difference between the value of the book should Obama be elected president versus him being defeated. I do not know how Ifill can convince some viewers that the difference doesn't matter to her.

I'm trying to explain it in a way you can understand...

1. Suppose someone who worked for PBS wrote a gushing biography of Barack Obama. They are going to release the book on inaguration day.
   
2. Suppose someone who worked for Rush Limbaugh wrote a gushing biography of John McCain. They are going to release the book on inaguration day.

Don't they both have a conflict of interest if they were to be moderator, or does that only apply to the Conservative??