The attack on Gwen Ifill is racism, pure and simple

[ruggerson]

As a white guy, I know I'm not tuned into every racist occurrence that happens in everyday life.

But this completely orchestrated, Worldnetdaily and Drudge-inspired, last minute howling is such blatant race baiting that even the most out of touch voter should be able to put two and two together.

Drudge had Ifill's face splashed all over his website for two days - the underlying, not so subtle message being - hey, the BLACK chick who's moderating the debate is predisposed to the BLACK guy running for President.

And she's writing a book about BLACK people.

I loathe the rightwing.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Well DUH!

[ruggerson]

4. Another thoughtful reply from the guy who spends his entire life here

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. STFU noob.

[ruggerson]

8. Another thoughtful reply from the guy who spends his entire life here

[Lifetimedem]

2. Of course it is

It is also an excuse for any flubs their girl makes .... they are playing the role...so they do not care if they hurt or insult the integrity of Gwen

[BOSSHOG]

3. Good Point

so only white males should moderate debates (in the world of the inclusive gop.)

[FlyingSquirrel]

6. Only white males should run for president.

Or VP, unless the opposition party ticked off a lot of women in which case you can choose a female (but make sure she is UNTOUCHABLE).

[Jade Fox]

7. Agree. And really, what is the point?

What is the right getting out of this tirade except alienating a lot of people with their racist desperation and temporary distraction?

The Republicans aren't happy unless Palin is "questioned" as Sean Hannity did it: He asked the question, provided the answer, and then listened as Palin repeated the answer.

[BOSSHOG]

9. That sean, what a guy

what a professional, what a fucking jerkoff. Yo sean why do you and your kind fear the fairness doctrine? Job Security? Its obvious you and your kind can't make a living any other way.

[stillcool]

12. It's a pre-emptive shot...

designed to signal to Gwen Ifill to go easy on Sarah, and also should Sarah fall flat on her face they will say it's because Gwen made her do it.

[Jade Fox]

17. Yes, I forgot about those tried and true....

Republican ploys.

I do, however, think fewer and fewer Americans are buying those kind of ploys these days. As always, the Rovian Republicans are overplaying their hand.

[AZ Criminal JD]

10. Your charge is stupid, pure and simple.

Ifill did not write a book about black people, it is about Obama -- hence the title. The advertisement on amazon.com says it is about Obama. She was asked by the Presidential Debate Commission to disclose any conflicts of interest. She neglected to tell them about the book. That was dumb or something else.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. Oh good lord.

I suppose you were upset about how Jim Lehrer's books about white politicians made him biased against McCain, right?

[BOSSHOG]

13. Your countercharge is stupid, pure and simple

You strike me as a classic dittohead. May I suggest some intellectual curiousity instead of listening to right wing swill in the land of cotton.

[stillcool]

14. It is not about Obama..

it is about black politicians. You haven't changed at all since the primaries have been over. I can see clearly now why that is.

[EffieBlack]

19. The book is NOT about Obama

Your defense of the racist, right wing smear is worse than stupid. It's pathetic.

[AZ Criminal JD]

33. I haven't read the book. You haven't either

I just read Ifills' ad on amazon.com.

[knowledgeispwr]

21. Obama is included, but it isn't *about* Obama

It's about a new generation of black politicians, so of course Obama is going to be mentioned. There will probably be a whole chapter about him, but it isn't about him.

[pnwmom]

23. What do you mean "stupid"? The book is about the past and current generations

of black politicians, not about Obama specificially. You cite Amazon, but you seem to have missed this:

"Ifill argues that the Black political structure formed during the Civil Rights movement is giving way to a generation of men and women who are the direct beneficiaries of the struggles of the 1960s. She offers incisive, detailed profiles of such prominent leaders as Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and U.S. Congressman Artur Davis of Alabama, and also covers up-and-coming figures from across the nation. Drawing on interviews with power brokers like Senator Obama, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Vernon Jordan, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, and many others, as well as her own razor-sharp observations and analysis of such issues as generational conflict and the "black enough" conundrum, Ifill shows why this is a pivotal moment in American history."

[AZ Criminal JD]

40. Nice editing job on the amazon ad.

But if anyone wants to know the full ad they can go to amazon and check it out.

[pnwmom]

42. I left nothing out that changes my point. The book is not about

Obama specifically, it's about two generations of politicians, and Obama is just one of the politicians discussed.

[AspenRose]

25. The chapter (yes, CHAPTER) about Obama hasn't even been written yet.

The book isn't due out until January, regardless of who wins the election.

[AZ Criminal JD]

36. The chapter has been written

Don't be silly. The only thing that hasn't been written is the actual election results. If you think the chapter has not been written you know nothing about book publishing and printing. I have had three books published and I know a little about the publishing lag time that is needed. Not "due out until January"? Wow. It is coming out on Inauguration Day. Isn't that a coincidence!

[AspenRose]

44. Take it up with Gwen, then

Ifill said Wednesday that she hasn't even written her chapter on Obama for the book "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama," which is to be published by Doubleday on Jan. 20, 2009, the day a new president is inaugurated.

"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 said. "The proof is in the pudding. They can watch the debate tomorrow night and make their own decisions about whether or not I've done my job."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/01/ifill-on-race-and-rightwi_n_131041.html

[WorseBeforeBetter]

28. If the McCain campaign can't keep up with what a PBS journalist is doing...

can they really be trusted to keep up with national and foreign affairs?

When did Ifill announce her book and when did the McCain camp agree to her as moderator?

[JackBeck]

30. "Ifill Book Public Weeks Before McCain Agreed To Have Her Moderate VP Debate"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judd-legum/ifill-book-public-weeks-b_b_130834.html

Your post is filled with just as many lies as a McCain campaign ad.

[AZ Criminal JD]

34. Then why didn't she report it as requested

The Presidential Debate Commission requested the information.

[JackBeck]

38. Because the book is about Black Politicians, not just about Obama.

Who is also a Black politician, as well as Mr. Oreo Throwing Michael Steele.

As others have tried to tell you here, the book's not exclusively about Obama, regardless of what you apparently have read..

[EffieBlack]

15. Sadly, some Democrats - including some right here - have bought into the smear. nt

[EffieBlack]

16. Delete - dupe

[BuyingThyme]

18. Yep.

[JackBeck]

20. On The View this morning...

(we DVR it so I can yell at Elizabeth during dinner)

When this topic came up, all Whoopie could say was, "Listen. Can we just talk as a Black woman to a White one right now..."

Eliza-blech got all scrambly, as usual, furiously trying to give the vibe that "she gets it", even though she clearly has no clue.

Yes. It is racist.

[EstimatedProphet]

22. Remember this point:

When they say that black people vote for Obama because he is black, then what they are really saying is that as white people, they are voting for McCain because he is white.

[madinmaryland]

24. Olbermann commenting she is writing about Michael Steele and JC Watts,

who are republicans.

The hypocracy of the reich wing repub party.

[AspenRose]

27. Colin Powell's in the book too

I think it'd be strange if Condi weren't in it, since she's friends with her.

[Solomon]

31. People like Michael Steele, Lynn Swann,

Alan Keyes prove the point that blacks don't vote for the black guy just because he's black. None of those guys got a significant black vote . Wonder why?

[Ozma]

26. Yes, as if Black women cannot be intellectually honest!!!!! It's pure racism!

I cannot understand racism, but I know it when I see it.

[kitkat65]

29. And I'd like to point out the Gwen is an Vagina-American

I just hope she doesn't go all easy on Palin because of it.

[bridgit]

32. Oh, McCain was just crying about Gwen writing a book on Obama...

Suc a cry baby that old John :cry: The whole world is just so unfair to John Sydney McCain III :( ------------->:rofl: :nopity:

[Window]

35. Mother made em...

motherfuck em.

[chat_noir]

37. at least one FReeper

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2096085/replies?c=399

al baby has Scooby Doo on his FReeper page...

[BlooInBloo]

39. Yup. Just white folks projecting their racism onto black folks. Again.

[fishwax]

41. absolutely n/t

[RhodaGrits]

43. I cut off communications with a RW acquaintance who has

been exchanging jabs with me about the pres race when he sent me this about Gwen moderating:

"Subject: this 'debate' is gg to b a F'n joke. i can only hope that enuf
folks get to see thru this black bitch's bias for her 1/2 breed bro.. U
F B ! ! !"

It's about inflaming the racists and its working. Fortunately they are still in the minority and our side is coming out in droves to support an Obama-Biden ticket.

They are getting more desperate, more angry and less circumspect about their underlying bigotry. This was disgusting.