Conflict of interest

[Arius]

Alright, then let's get rid of her. She is obviously biased and will be the reason Palin looks like a moose in the headlights of a freight train. 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.

Now that we all agree, we can cry all day tomorrow about the horrible job she has done and how Palin lost only because an author who wrote about race in the age of Obama was moderating.

Again, no worries about McCain's organization beating home the REDUCTION in time a candidate is allowed to respond to a question. I guess the LESS Palin can talk the better off she'll be. Katie Couric proved that.

One prediction: Palin will not answer a SINGLE impromptu question during the rest of this campaign. Why? Because she is so qualified to be VP...

[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??

[Arius]

Originally Posted by OHH

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

Only Eskimos.

Originally Posted by OHH

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?

You need to do some research. PBS buys the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer from the production company owned by Lehrer and his old partner Robert MacNeil as well as Liberty Media. Liberty Media is a VERY conservative media outlet, and it owns 60% of the NewsHour program.

Originally Posted by OHH

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

You must have missed the time I said "Alright, the let's get rid of her." However, since McCain has said that he has no issue with it, I don't either. I hardly think that we will be talking about Ifill tomorrow.

Technically speaking, you conservatives screwed up. You needed to bring Ifill up TOMORROW (Friday) to deflect the disaster that Palin will bring upon the Republican ticket tonight. Perhaps Katie Couric should have been the moderator...

YouTube - CBS Sarah Palin Interview with Katie...

[oldhardhead]

Please.

Losing the debate again?

This is Liberty Media
Liberty Media Corporation :::

Corporate ProfileLiberty Media Corporation owns interests in a broad range of electronic retailing, media, communications and entertainment businesses. Those interests are attributed to three tracking stock groups: (1) the Liberty Interactive group, which includes Liberty's interests in QVC.com, Provide Commerce, Backcountry.com, BUYSEASONS, Bodybuilding.com, IAC/InterActiveCorp, and Expedia, (2) the Liberty Entertainment Group, which includes Liberty’s interests in the DIRECTV Group, Inc., Starz Entertainment, FUN Technologies, Inc., GSN, LLC, Wildblue Communications, Inc., and Liberty Sports Holdings LLC, and (3) the Liberty Capital group, which includes all businesses, assets and liabilities not attributed to the Interactive Group or the Entertainment Group including our subsidiaries Starz Media, LLC, Atlanta National League Baseball Club, Inc., and TruePosition, Inc., and minority equity investments in Time Warner Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corporation.

It's owned by stockholders.
Liberty Media Corporation :::

I don't see anything "conservative" there. Where is it? Starz Media? Atlanta National League Baseball Club, Inc.? What?

The NEWSHOUR with Jim Lehrer
Online NewsHour | PBS
News with a liberal bias.

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.

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer is produced by their joint production company, MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, which is 65% owned by Liberty Media.

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The production company, not the "conservative news broadcast" is partly owned by Liberty Media, which in turn is owned by the people in the form of shares of stock.

Puh-leeese.

I guess it's only a conservative that can have a conflict of interest.

[Arius]

Again....?

Let's look at the Board of Directors of Liberty Media

John C. Malone (Chairman): contributor to John McCain.

Gregory B. Maffei (CEO): Contributor to John McCain

David Rapley (Director): Contributor to McCain

Larry E. Romrell (Director): Contributor to both Bush (2004) and McCain.

The other four board members either have not contributed or have only contributed the Liberty Media PAC. That PAC has not contributed to any candidates as of yet. No other contributions have been made under the names of these people.

50% of the board of directors has contributed to the McCain campaign. I am sure this makes them quite liberal.

[Sassygrl]

Seriously folks, has anyone ever see Ms. Ifill do an interview? John McCain isn't OK with her as a moderator because the program she hosts is owned by conservatives, it is because she is a PROFESSIONAL. I know that there are not too many people left like that in the news industry, but she is one of them.

[Arius]

Oh, no, I completely understand that Sassy, that is not my contention. The contention that somehow because she should be disqualified because she could make money off the debate is ridiculous only because ALL moderators of such debates stand to do the same. That is my point (although ill made for sure).

[oldhardhead]

I'm not saying that Gwen Ifill isn't a good anchor at PBS. She may have written a good book.

The contention that somehow because she should be disqualified because she could make money off the debate is ridiculous only because ALL moderators of such debates stand to do the same.

The contention IS NOT that "she could make money off the debate". She is probably GETTING PAID to do it.

I'm about to give up in exasperation.

Your example: Jim Lehrer. How does Jim Lehrer stand to make more money if Obama wins? Or are you saying Jim Lehrer stands to make more money if McCain wins? Where is the comparison here?

[Arius]

OHH, then the contention is if she stands to make more money with an Obama win or an Obama loss.

I would think because of the real subject of the book, which is how the civil rights movement has given way to a new type of black leader in government, it would stand to do better if Obama loses. If he wins, the point is moot, there will be no discussion (or very little) on his race with the exception of the "first black man to win...blah blah blah". I would think there would be much more discussion on race if he loses, as the media will go crazy analyzing the white vote, how race kept Obama out, how race played as an issue in his defeat, and so on and so on. All of this would present Ms. Ifill with much more opportunity to promote her book.

I would think that the "controversy" started by the right wing has done more to promote her book that will Obama's plight. I could be wrong, but if I was her manager I would hope for an Obama loss to stimulate the racial discussion.

[oldhardhead]

Originally Posted by Arius

I would think because of the real subject of the book, which is how the civil rights movement has given way to a new type of black leader in government, it would stand to do better if Obama loses.

Bingo! Conflict of interest.

I would think there would be much more discussion on race if he loses, as the media will go crazy analyzing the white vote, how race kept Obama out, how race played as an issue in his defeat, and so on and so on. All of this would present Ms. Ifill with much more opportunity to promote her book.

Checkmate.