Poor Charlie Gibson Will Be Crushed - Either Way
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Charlie Gibson knows. He is an experienced news journalist and his television network has landed the most sought-after interview of the 2008 elections. Charlie Gibson will have the first campaign interview with Governor Sarah Palin. And Charlie Gibson knows that this is not going to go well. Either half the country - or perhaps the whole country - will not like his conversation with Governor Palin.
The Democrats are hoping that Mr Gibson asks the questions that will test Governor Palin’s knowledge and skills. In doing so, Mr Gibson could appear to be the media bully. Senator McCain’s campaign already has cited issues with the main stream media. Intensive follow-up questions and requests for detailed clarification will be mentioned as evidence of media bias. The experience will be brought forth as one of the prime reasons why Governor Palin will be protected from a hostile media. Blame Charlie Gibson.
The Republicans are hoping that Charlie Gibson recognizes the historical significance of the interview. Governor Palin will be answering questions for the very first time as a vice presidential nominee. This is also a nominee who is sending her son to war. Mr Gibson could ask the questions that have been anticipated and for which answers / talking points have been prepared. It could be an interview during which Governor Palin reiterates prepared answers and the interview can be cited as a reference point. The interview will be characterized as ’soft’ journalism. The critics will be quick to cite the questions that should have been asked and follow-up questions that would have tested Governor Palin. And, of course, Charlie Gibson will be blamed.
One might think that the ‘middle of the road’ approach is the safest and the most expedient. Unfortunately, that approach will garner criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. From a journalistic perspective, it will be interesting to see how Mr Gibson, a seasoned television interviewer, navigates this most delicate matter. He may keep in mind the old axiom that ‘no good deed goes unpunished‘. No matter how the interview goes, Mr Gibson will be the target of enormous criticism. Mr Gibson’s peers are preparing already.
Catherine Forsythe
6 Comments
Jeff
September 12th, 2008
at 6:31am
Wouldn’t it be more balanced if Obama had 1/2 the scruitiny that Palin has undergone?
Rick
September 12th, 2008
at 12:26pm
Heck, Jeff, if Obama would receive reasonable mainstream media scrutiny on just ONE of the issues surrounding his long-time associations with felons, terrorists, terrorist organizations, Socialists, and racist clergymen, and why he won’t outright condemn and disavow those persons for their blatantly radical views and actions, then the mainstream media would easily quadruple their value in my assessment. So far, Obama, who is the least qualified and least vetted presidential candidate in memory, has gotten a 100% pass on all of these issues, which are crucial for determining where his political ideology and critical judgment capacity stands. From what I have been able to glean, he’s as bad as, or maybe even worse than, if Capone had left the same home-town of Chicago and ran for the presidency.
Bobzilla
September 12th, 2008
at 6:10pm
I have not seen the entire series of interviews, but the one I saw was handled well by Charlie Gibson. I can’t say that Palin did a very good job of answering Charlie’s question on how to fix the economy. She only stated the problems and effects of our failing economy. She did not answer the question by giving fixes for the failing economy. Charlie did a great job…. Palin, just more of the same failed Bush/Cheney ideas.
Bobzilla
September 12th, 2008
at 6:31pm
Jeff and Rick:
You guys are off topic. I fail to see anything related to Obama in the blog post. It’s about Charlie Gibson’s interview with Palin.
Cliffystones
September 13th, 2008
at 9:10am
Rick! You’re awesome!
“Capone-Mugsy ‘08!!!!!”
At least with Capone we would have the “Devil we know”. Obama scares me $#!t-less in that we really don’t know a single thing about how he’ll behave. And all of the evidence suggests that he’s disingenuous and hiding some agenda, to say the least.
I haven’t seen one post by any of these Obama supporters that can clarify what this dude stands for, and provide why I should simply “trust” him with my country after all of the crap mentioned above that has been completely buried by the MSM.
I envision most Obama supporters as being like those hypnotized masses chanting to Big-Brother in that 1984 Apple MacIntosh commercial . “Hope, Change, Hope, Change, Hope, Change”. Clueless, mindless, automatons. And just so you know, there’s no love lost between me and McCain, especially after that “immigration reform” b-s he tried to pull off in’07. But at least he is as sincere and honest as a “politician” can be on where he stands.
HarryH
September 15th, 2008
at 9:51pm
I thought the interview was tough. Tougher than any interview by mainstream media with Obama. She dodged artfully, as well as any seasoned politician. Her ideas about the economy are as clueless as all of the other candidates and the current administration. Actually, all of the candidates know that the answer to the economic issues we face will be painful and they don’t want to tell us.