A gift for Gwen Ifill
An Ivy League prof responds to the Gwen “Age of Obama” Ifill controversy, no doubt with a tinge of regret in his voice, in an interview with the Boston Herald:
“It’s probably not the greatest thing on Earth that she is in that role and it’s probably going to really force her to be fully even-handed,” Thomas Patterson, professor of government and the press at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, told the Herald yesterday.
“Fully even-handed.”
As opposed to the usual partially (un)even-handed way the ogling Obamedia has operated the past 20 months.
Snort.
Anyway, Professor Patterson better be careful.
As I predicted Tuesday night, expressing even the slightest criticism of Ifill’s vested financial and ideological interest in the outcome of the election will get you labeled a…RACIST!
Speaking of which: You won’t believe (nah, you will believe) the number of e-mails from incensed Obama supporters who complained about this sentence in my column:
“It’s not the color of your skin, sweetie.”
The reference to Obama’s dismissive use of “sweetie” when addressing a female journalist sailed right over their heads.
Ignorant of the allusion, the complainers’ immediately proceeded to attack me for…RACISM!
This one’s for you, Gwen Ifill. Like they say, membership has its privileges:
***
On a related note, several readers send word of another Ifill who’s using the phrase “Age of Obama.” Go figure! It’s Ifill’s cousin, Sherrilyn, (”my brilliant baby cousin,” gushes Gwen). Here’s her piece, “The Relevance of Nooses and Lynching in the Age of Obama.” A sample:
The challenge for 2008 and beyond is for us to embrace the hope represented by the widespread acceptance of public figures like Barack Obama and Colin Powell, while continuing the hard work of sorting through the lingering effects and reality of white supremacy in our society.
And Ifill’s “brilliant baby cousin” weighs in on Sarah Palin (hat tip – Chris R.), whom she calls “offensive to black women:”
The actions and remarks of Palin are something that caught the eye of Sherrilyn Ifill, a University of Maryland law professor who has taught voting rights, equal protection and restorative justice.
“From the first day, Palin presented herself as shooting a bear in the morning, field dressing it, cooking up the breakfast, diapering the babies, passing legislation in the afternoon, cleaning the house, satisfying her husband, etc., etc., etc. And it’s just not true,” she wrote in an e-mail interview. “It’s hard to be an average working mom, really hard. And when women who are privileged present as though they have it all together, it’s offensive to black women.”
She said, “black women are not easily confused by false claims to feminism. When women like Palin lay claims to ‘representing’ average women, I think that black women have a visceral reaction to it.”
Ifill added that Palin “missed her opportunity when she announced Bristol’s pregnancy to explicitly talk about how painful it was to her as a mother – instead of making it as though this too was also part of her perfect life.
“Hillary has the sympathy of women because of what she went through with Bill in front of the whole country. Michelle [Obama] takes pains to be self-deprecating and to talk about her concerns and fear about her girls. She insists that she couldn’t do what she does without the help of her mother. Most importantly, both champion issues that affect the lives of real, average women – universal health care, equal pay, choice, etc. To do so is a recognition that real working women (not political wives or politicians) need olicies that will help them maintain their families. What’s the point of Palin’s brand of feminism if it doesn’t translate into real returns for average women?”
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- Blatant Anti-Palin Bias in the Liberal Media: A Collection (82 Cases) « BUUUUURRRRNING HOT
- Right Angles » Blog Archive » Stakes too high for Ifill to be ‘fully even-handed’
- A GIFT FOR GWEN IFILL « The Florida Patriot
- Obama, You Must Learn To Love Him! « Riggword Weblog
- Gwen Ifill’s “brilliant baby cousin” « The Right Daily
- Was Gwen Ifill tipping her hand? « The Right Daily
- PBS Defines Impartiality - Book In, Bumper Stickers Out | Bitter Knitter
- Preach on, SarahCuda! « The Right Daily
- Michelle Malkin » More things you can’t say in the Age of Obama
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Categories: Media Bias, Race relations, Sarah Palin
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It’s not the color of the skin, it’s the content in the grey matter.
I guess it takes two links to clarify your use of one word.
I make bold, you interpret inference.
Jack Nicholson summed up the Ifills of the world nicely in As Good As It Gets, “What makes it so hard is not that you had it bad, but that you’re that pissed that so many others had it good.”
Get over it, Ifills. *Shaniqua fingers*
That’s not the Michelle Obama that I know.
Does that have anything to do with reparations?
“And when women who are privileged present as though they have it all together, it’s offensive to black women.” What?? Since when has Palin had a “privledged” life with everything handed to her? She’s worked her fanny off to get where she is. Further, doesn’t Ms. Obama try to portray herself as someone who “has it all together”??? She can’t have it both ways here. And isn’t that what the feminists have been preaching all along? You can have it all??? This (typical prtisan black liberal)woman does’t get that Ms. Palin acknowledges her feelings and gratitude towards her family and others who have helped her through not only words, but actions. Most importantly, actions. Nor do most people take their family issues (i.e., Bristol’s pregnancy) to the public forum and expound upon them. Most people are brought up better than Ms. Ifill appears to have been. Palin is not constantly talking about how hard life is and displaying her envy of others as do Sherrilyn and her crowd of professional whiners, Brilliant, my foot. She couldn’t be another affirmative action grad, could she?
Pray for Mrs Palin and the crooked debate she will be challanged with tonight
Michelle Obama “takes pains” to be self-deprecating? Yes, it hurts so much, she must be absolutely screaming on the inside.
Ifill should step aside. It’s the right thing to do.
What a load of dung. puke.
Well then Good Morning my fellow Racist. Being called a Racist by the Time Inc. Clowns is indeed an Honour (I’ll use the English to sound snooty
)
But let us of the Right-as in Correct-have a little empathy here. Gwen Ifill is being forced to appear even handed. That has to be terribly hard for a PBS hack. In fact I was surprised and relieved that didn’t have Oprah Winfrey as moderator. Who but the John McCain team would be dumb enough to settle for this clown and this format?
If Gwen Ifill is a moderator than Michelle Malkin, the Racist, should be too or even three. But as Michael Steele and Clarance Thomas are also racist, or at least race traitors, I am in good company.
I can’t say that I’ve ever prayed for a vice presidential debate candidate before – didn’t seem particularly important or necessary.
I am praying for Sarah today, that God will surround her with angels to filter out the vibes of hate that will be coming at her from Biden, Ifill, and about half of the audience. The fix may be in, but “greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.”
Gwen Ifill’s Debate Questions Leaked
Vive la Resistance!
Wow, can’t you just imagine the crisp bitterness within the Ifil home, around the Thanksgiving dining table?
Oh, wait- sorry. That was racist of me.
If I were in Palin’s shoes; I’d have a copy of Ifill’s book (or a mock-up of it) with me when I walk out on stage, prop it up in front of me without saying a word. Let everyone get a good look at the elephant in the room.
?
No. Just people who happen to be a woman exercising their right to pursue happiness within a family. They work for a living, don’t complain and truly love each other and our country.
There is not ONE thing about politics or the media that is done because it is RIGHT.
I’ve had myfill of Ifills already.
Bold and truthful~! Nor would I put that move past Governor Palin.
Like the way you think, friend.
Palin just needs to say, “Congratulations on your book, Mrs. Ifill.”
Privileged? Her father was a teacher, she needed a beauty contest scholarship to finish college. You want offensive? Bottle the sentiment expressed in your quote and mass market it. THAT’S grade A super-concentrated offensive!
Ifill’s cousin is a Law Professor at the University of Maryland???
Really.
Her diatribe against Governor Palin is incoherent babble.
WTF
I have a nephew who is in Kindergarten who is more articulate and makes more sense.
Well done Socky.
Gwen’s just the tip of the iceberg dumped on Palin/McCain. Look at all these anti-Republican movies “suddenly” coming out, subtly linking McCain with the Bush administration. Most all “united world” type TV “public service” announcements are just veiled socialistic advocates. WCBS-FM radio in New York can’t stop hawking the Springsteen concert supporting Obama (where O where is McCain’s concert??) Gwen is small potatoes. The McCain/Palin have to STOP shying the “S” (socialist) word pertaining to the Dems! Have to! No one should surprised about homeless folks being rounded up to vote — I mean this literally from present exposure, no joke — they’ve notions of living in fresh new townhouses — NOT public housing apartments a few years after Obama gets in. The $$ is going to be NOTHING compared the social engineering to “balance” things of Obama gets in.
James Greenidge
Queens NY
A Thompson man who MUST vote for McCain.
To see Obama’s supports cheer, I wonder: do they all really hate George Bush THAT much??
I take it that being “a University of Maryland law professor” does not count as being “privileged”, as long as you’re also a black liberal.
Young Sherrilyn is quite the little racist isn’t she. Apparently only black women work hard, and only white woman are privileged. Quick, someone tell Oprah she’s the wrong color, and same for Michelle Obama.
How ridiculous.
redundant
What would be great if prior to and during the debate if the station had a full disclosure of Ifill’s book and title running on a ticker at the bottom of the screen.
privileged=white
This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this complaint. Why do people assume Bristol’s pregnancy upsets Gov. Palin? Optimism is so…unbecoming. The nerve of her to embrace the idea of being a grandmother.
Liberals are freaks of nature, not real thinking people. What if a moderator were to have a book coming out about McCain the day of the inauguration? I wonder how the liberals would see it. You know how that would go… So why is this just shrugged off.
I have probably;y watched Ifill once in my life before this, now I know why, nothing but another liberal hack working at another GSE. masquerading as a fair journalist.
Gov Palin should ask for an autographed copy of her obvious slanted Obama book when she starts her opening speech.
Shoot. I interpreted myself.
I guess what Sherrilyn is really saying is that unless you’ve been embarrassed because of some life occurrence, you just can’t say that “nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen”.
She also notes that black women are offended by someone that has it all together. Ummm…excuse me, but isn’t that what the msm has been touting about MS. O? She can do it all and then some.
Oh great, there are 2 of them?
Really? I guess humiliation motivated her to stay with the scumbag.
And those returns would be what…victimhood? Spoken by a “real victim [of white supremacy in our society]“, I suppose. And this from a law professor!
And does restorative justice mean she supports victims’ rights?
slp #5-
You’re close; its a combination of things that includes slave reparations, afirmatative action so that every sphere in the United States mirrors the numerical ethnic makeup, repeal of laws that unfairly target blacks & latinos, and the continued reminder that women/ethnic minorities are perpetual victims in a white male dominated society.
If anyone thinks this is wrong-I just gave you the definition from my Spring 2007 Racial & Ethnic Minorities Sociology Class.
GSP
OK… Busting your a$$ & working everyday as a good mom,wife & having an full time job is offensive to black woman????? WTF?????
Liberals don’t celebrate Thanksgiving; they bemoan and demonize it. Remember, according to them, you and the rest of normal America are “already racist” for celebrating Thanksgiving.
Hehe…”force her to be fully even-handed”. You can just hear the libs and the MSM collectively lament such an outcome.
He’s probably right, though…
Palin’s Feminism is about trully empowering woman, ie being what you want and reaching it thru hard work and with the help of family. Ifill’s Feminism is about what can they do for “me”. ie wanting more than you have and wanting the government to get it for you. And they (liberals) just can’t see that no mater how hard we try to show them.
Michelle Obama self-deprecating? Sure. After all she’s a miserable person living in a miserable country.
I hate the race baiters. I hate the whiners and cryers and those who either say it out loud or are quietly seething with anger that they hate whites and blame us for every bad thing that happens to them.
Who do I get to blame for the stuff that happens to me?
LaShawn Barber, for one, would disagree with you there.
After all we racist xenophobes have to remember those that get to play the race card get extra privileges beyond those granted in the US Constitution. If they had a job instead of free money via welfare or weren’t being shoved to the front of the line ahead of us oppressors for top notch University and College slots turning their brains to mush earning a Black/Womyn Studies degree and then handed do nothing jobs with over inflated salaries to comply with affirmative action laws they might have to get a real job like most working mother’s to assist in making ends meet.
Michelle, speaking of the race card…
Dallas City councilman up to old tricks…
I hope I’m not judged by my cousins. I think lots of people would agree with that sentiment.
Desperate.
In 1958 and maybe 1968 racism was at the level that black people declare it’s at today.
In 2008 there is as much if not more racism coming from black toward white people as there is the other way. White people just don’t whine about it on TV and in papers all day every day. We are not perpetually outraged. Maybe we should be.
Barrack Hussein Obama = The Great Lie
Yard sign
Got his neighbors all upset. Maybe we will see it on PBS. Gwen Ifill can mention it when she pitches her book.
Gwen and Sherrilyn are both Awfill.
Why is it that I am really starting to believe their race is THE most important issue to the majority black people? Someone please try to convince me otherwise.
I am white, but my last relationship was with a beautiful black woman. I remember sitting around a table after dinner with two of her brothers and another male friend. It was Thanksgiving and there must have been 25 people around the house. I was the only white.
We were talking politics. Of course I was the only Republican. I still remember what one of her brothers said when I was talking about who I was going to vote for, he said, “What has he done for black people?” That was THE most important thing to him.
Racial relations in this country are not well served with Black Liberation Theology. For most white people in this country, like me, when B Hussein’s reverend and church were exposed it was GAME OVER. How he has made it to where he is now is way beyond my comprehension (or pay grade lol).
“…instead of making it as though this too was also part of her perfect life.”
At no time did Sarah Palin imply that she had a ‘perfect life’.
1) The world became aware of Hillary Clinton because of the man in her life.
2) The world became aware of Michelle Obama because of the man in her life.
3) The world became aware of Sarah Palin because of her accomplishments.
Right. What do they have to be thankful for anyway…larger government and entitlements? Surely not thanksgiving and praise to God for His blessings…
As far as Ifill goes, add her to the pile who spit upon the message of MLK for their own personal agendas. They are a lazy and misguided breed.
MM is not stupid. Playing stupid does not become her.
There is nothing wrong with Ifill rooting for blacks to succeed. The fact that both Powell and Obama are the first says something.
As usual, I’m in late on this, but I think this is important.
Gwen Ifill compared her situation with Lou Cannon. I don’t even know who Lou Cannon is. Then I read on Newsbusters this
Cannon didn’t moderate a debate?
Cannon never was a questioner at a debate?
Cannon’s books about Reagan came out in 1969…and then the next one came out in 1991. How does this have ANYTHING to do with what Ms. Ifill is doing?
Equal Pay? … Hmmm … I guess that the elitist Ifills are unaware that there is no gender-based pay scale for elected offices such as Mayor and Governor … how much more equal can it get? …
I guess our Michelle needed to preface the “sweetie” comment with a disclaimer of “to paraphrase Barack OBama’s exchanges with journalists” … after all … we shouldn’t expect the sheeple to have to think … gotta spell it out completely for them …
kinda like this dl?
O.B.A.M.A.I.S.A.T.O.O.L.
Saturday Night Live should do a skit on this debate. They can have her book title being shopped thoughout the debate.
We’re dealing with a generation of people who have no tolerance for the fundamentals of Biblical truth. They make their own rules, even in their churches.
I wonder if any questions about race relations will be asked tonight, especially since the Governor is from a state, at least according to Puff Daddy, there are no black people.
B.I.N.G.O.
From the younger Ms. Ifill’s email:
You know, Sarah Palin never said she did that all in one day. And exactly how does a working class family like theirs gets called priviledged. Oh, it must be because she is white — therefore an oppressor and an enemy. By the way Ms. Ifill, exactly what is that specialty you teach called restorative justice? That wouldn’t be reparations for African-Americans (or hell, Kenyan-Americans) would it?
Gwen Ifill, BIASED? I guess if you compare her Obamaffection and compare it to the media, she’s no more biased than they.
Yet another example of liberal exclusion and double-standard. Liberals are elite and enlightened. Just ask them.
I’m gonna scream.
Like Michelle Obama who, thanks to her politically-connected husband, landed a six-figure part-time job in Chicago.
Not, I suppose, like Michelle Obama who has no agenda, no political axe to grind and won’t show her true political colors if she ever became First Lady.
Like more abortions.
AAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!
There is a problem with that when it’s done at the expense of white success.
I read on Drudge that she didn’t inform the commission about her book prior to be selected.
WOW.
I have no problem with any person of any color being successful as long as they do it without handouts.
Liberals be dammed if they be held accountable for ANYTHING the say or do. There’s always a program out there to do it for me, you know.
Conservatives just get up and do it. We’re a resourceful bunch. And we have a conscience, and we watch our mouths and mind our manners. I think it’s all in the rearin’…
On what planet?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
There. Fixed it for ya.
Black Liberal….Oxymoron!
This is exactly what the next 4 years is going to be like if McCain does not stand up for us conservatives. I really think him voting for this “crap sandwich” bill has doomed his campaign. I hope he proves me wrong.
Yep. And whoever it is that is advising him on the talking points needs to be drawn and quartered. Gotta be a Clintonite is sheep’s clothing.
Interesting choice of words. Patterson thinks she will have to be “forced” to be even-handed. That was a bit of a slip. I guess the expectation was that before the book revelation, she didn’t have to.
If anyone had the opportunity, Fred Thompson did a STELLAR job bringing this up on the Early Show this morning. Maggie Rodriguez tried to stop him from mentioning the Ifill controversy, but he said to her “don’t you think it is relevant when the moderator is writing a book about one of the candidates?” (from memory) He recounted all of the attacks on Palin from the media stories, the pregnancy bit, and the email break in.
Rodriquez kept trying to stop him, but he wouldn’t, and she kept saying that “Palin’s performance will stand on its own.”
I guess she is a liberal tool too.
KUDOS to Fred Thompson!!
I think it’s very important for those blacks who’ve been successful without handouts to differentiate from those blacks who have otherwise it hurts them badly.
Has anyone ever noticed black NFL players tend to be Republican?
He’s got my write-in vote.
Let’s see, the Commission on Presidential Debates missed vetting Ifill about her BO book, McCain’s camp missed vetting Ifill about her book, and we’re supposed just accept the fact that people like them and as smart as them, are perfectly capable of deciding a 700b bailout is what this country needs because they said so, and we of the great unwashed masses are too stoopid (sic) to understand, and it’s all so complicated, so we won’t try to explain it to you, because, well, just trust us, because we’re smart and you ain’t.
Puhlease! God needs to do a do over, because this world is “sure gone crazy!”
It is no different than insider trading or taking a fall in a prize fight. If Ifill was an honest journalist, she would have told the committee that she was writing the book, and that the income from that will be directly dependent on the outcome of this election, and the proposed publication date confirms this.
Playing stupid does not become you either.
Oh, does that mean she should have whined about being a victim to get your sympathy? Would that have made it all better?
Frankly, I think conservatives know that Sarah is faltering in these latest interviews because the questions are so bizarre and the interviewers are so rabid. But guess what? There doesn’t seem to be a public groundswell against her. Quite the opposite. EVERYONE I know is rooting for her.
Just sayin’, not all blacks are libs.
Take a look at this guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxhYampIl7A
You forgot to mention gorgeous to boot. I think that’s what really kills them.
its says you’re a typical ignorant racist lib. the ‘first’ at what? to succeed, oh please, how did George Washington Carver become so successful without you good white liberals to care for him? same for Frederick Douglass.
whats racist is you libs who think people of color can’t get anywhere without your help.
I can’t believe people buy obamas crap. We have an 700 billion to 2 trillion dollar bailout passing and Obama wants to spend 800 billion MORE on top of that and they think tax increases on the rich and a partial writhdrawal from Iraq is going to pay more all that? The debt is alread over 11 TRILLION dollars. Are democrats really this stupid???
Guitarguy, Well said.
He may have landed like a thud in the primaries, but thank God he’s the only one out there bothering to tell it like it is to the MSN! Doubt he’ll be invited back on to many more programs. McLame should hire Fred to run the campaign.
I keep waiting for someone on here to Photoshop The One holding a giant wrench or to have his face superimposed on the handle of a screwdriver. Please, oh, please? If I knew how to do it, I would.
Let me see if I have this straight…as long as Sarah Palin is complaining about all that is wrong in her life, she can be accepted (acceptable?). But if she takes it in stride with love and courage, that’s a problem.
Thanks for clarifying this, Gwen, you’re such a brilliant woman.
Nope. Not all.
I think it only applies to liberals. The rest of us have normal sensibilities and logical cognitive function.
BINGO!! Here it is! Thank you YouTube!
Watch Fred Thompson in action!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw_XnRNevOI
The ‘first’ to what? At what?
Wait; Powell & Obama are black? Is there an elephant in the room that no one is speaking of?
If anybody can figure out what the heck Brilliant Baby Cousin is saying, please fill me in.
Unfortunately, African-Americans are fed many lies and end up feasting on them, believing they offer some kind of spiritual or intellectual nutrition. It’s like trying to live on Twinkies.
Listen, Sherrilyn, you don’t need to resort to Mobius strips of illogic to prove you reject the oppressive white patriarchy. Just say it in plain English. You might even enjoy it!
Not that there’s much distinction between the two.
Go ahead and call me a racist. Having Ifill as the moderator is WRONG! If you are forced to be even-handed, then you are the wrong person for the job, no matter what color.
Maggie Rodriquez: “Let’s not go into that now,” and “that’s all the time we have,” over and over again. And Fred just ignores her!!
LOL!
Thanks, 30. Good morning.
“Privileged” my Ass!! Sarah Palin is one of the least privileged women we’ve seen in American Politics and what Ms. Ifil refuses to say is that its precisely because she’s not privileged that they hate her. And I’ll repeat that, the Ifil’s and their ilk hate women like Sarah Palin.
How absolutely horrible would that be for Bristol, to have her mother tell the whole nation it was painful for her? Bristol would probably feel embarrassed and humiliated. Besides, Sarah seems to have a very optimistic attitude about the rest of Bristol’s life, which is a nice change from all this “having a baby will ruin your life” crap some people like to spout off.
The think that pi$$es off the liberals, and in particular, the feminist liberals, is that Palin is every thing they have told us a woman should be, for decades.
The only problem: she is a Republican. Otherwise, she would have been canonized by the press. Much like Øbama has…
Karl Rove said this is an incompetent organization (through his experience with them over the years) on Hannity last night.
Wrong, sweetie. That’s how YOU portray her. Besides, no one eats bears, but we all know the secret code word for bears is thanks to Alcee Hastings. Ah, yes, the blue-eyed devil now has the decoder for blackanese. I suggest you hide in the closet, Mizzzzzzz Ifill, we’re coming for you.
What Sarah should do is bring a big sharpie with her and offer to sign an advanced copy of Ifill’s book when it’s available.
St. Louis Blues..
LOL!!! *Shaniqua fingers*
This just thoroughly entertained the office.
Thanks!