Is anyone really surprised at this point?

Yes, it turns out that the moderator for the Vice Presidential debate is releasing a book on Inauguration Day that “that aims to “shed new light” on Democratic candidate Barack Obama and other “emerging young African American politicians” who are “forging a bold new path to political power.”

“Gwen Ifill of the Public Broadcasting Service program “Washington Week” is promoting “The Breakthrough,” in which she argues the “black political structure” of the civil rights movement is giving way to men and women who have benefited from the struggles over racial equality.”

To continue with her “credits”

“…she has faced criticism previously for not treating candidates of both major parties the same.

During a vice-presidential candidate debate she moderated in 2004 – when Democrat John Edwards attacked Republican Dick Cheney’s former employer, Halliburton – the vice president said, “I can respond, Gwen, but it’s going to take more than 30 seconds.”

“Well, that’s all you’ve got,” she told Cheney.

Ifill told the Associated Press Democrats were delighted with her answer, because they “thought I was being snippy to Cheney.” She explained that wasn’t her intent.”

So, she is proud that the Democrats were happy with her response, because it looked as though she was being snippy.  I thought that the moderator was supposed to ask questions, and then shut up.  Not give “snippy” one liners.

But her story doesn’t end in 2004.  She evidently doesn’t Like Sarah Palin, either.

“…she also was cited in complaints PBS Ombudsman Michael Getler said he received after Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin delivered her nomination acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., earlier this month.

Some viewers complained of a “dismissive” look by Ifill during her report on Palin’s speech. According to Getler, some also said she wore a look of “disgust” while reporting on the Republican candidate.”

So, if you were looking forward to a fair debate, I think that you were hoping for too much.  Which begs the question, why do the Republicans always seem to roll over when deciding debate rules, and then try to jump through the hoops that the libs set out for them?  Why are they constantly exposing themselves on shows that they know will be at the least biased and at the most hostile?  Why go on “The View”, “Saturday Night Live”, etc.  Why get interviewed by Gibson and Couric?  I know that our future president will encounter people more hostile than reporters, but why do the Republicans feel the need to voluntarily face these hostiles before the election?  I don’t see the Dems exposing themselves in a similar fashion.

Let’s not forget the photo shoot for the Atlantic, where the photographer was obviously never vetted by anyone with a clue.  The photographer doctored the photos for her website, making McCain look like a blood thirsty vampire. Her previous “claim to fame” was when she tortured toddlers for an Anti-Bush photo shoot.  The Republicans never should have allowed this photographer access to McCain.  Given her history, it should have been obvious that McCain would not get a unbiased shoot.

Update:  Michelle Malkin has this issue on her site.  She includes video of Ifill at the Republican convention, so you can make up your own mind about were “dismissive” look.

Update:  Apparently, the McCain camp did not know about the Ifill’s book until midnight, last night. They were evidently notified about the book when Greta Van Susteren emailed them, in an attempt to get their opinion on the matter.

And here is the link to Amazon’s page for Ifill’s book.

And some of the articles written by Ifill:  “On the Road With Barack Obama”, “The Obamas:  Portrait of an American Family”, and “Michelle Obama: Beside Barack”.  Whatever happened to the idea of an unbiased moderator?

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