Gwen Ifill Should Step Down

The recent disclosure that PBS anchor and journalist Gwen Ifill has a book coming out on the emergence of Black power in the politics which centers on the candidacy of Barack Obama should disqualify her from being the moderator and questioner at the vice presidential debate scheduled for Thursday October 2, 2008 in St. Louis.

According to a story published on World Net Daily Ifill spent a great deal of time with Obama in researching for this book. The book is scheduled to be released in January at the same time as the Inaugural festivities. It is only in her and the publishers' interest to see an Obama victory which would help fuel sales of her book. this itself creates an appearance of journalistic impropriety.

Since the McCain campaign did not know about this conflict of interest, it could not have made any objection.

This is another reason for removing her or having her step down. She should have disclosed to the Commission on Debates that she was working on this project. She should have declined the opportunity to moderate the debate as her presence would give the appearance of bias. Had she disclosed the project, the McCain Campaign could have then discussed the appropriateness of her involvement. Now one day before the debate, there is this additional blemish on the presentation of the candidates by the press.

It is always interesting t hear the left complain that someone is biased because of his or her religious belief. The left will scream and moan about some judge who actually believes in God. But let there be a real conflict of interest and it is ignored.

It will be interesting to hear the questions that are asked on Thursday.