While interviewing vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin (R), ABC’s Charles Gibson, staring over his glasses, spoke in a condescending tone at times and looked frustrated at other times. It was Palin’s first interview; it might have been Gibson’s also. He appeared to be interrogating Palin, not asking questions in an interview. Unsatisfied with some of the answers he hoped to get from Palin, he obnoxiously insisted on repeating the same questions in a slightly different manner over and over. It was too obvious that Gibson’s primary goal was painting the Republican into a corner.
Fortunately, she handled it well considering the circumstances. The bigger story here, however, is Gibson’s agenda, and less Palin’s performance. Was Charlie only attacking Palin, or did he also hope to score points with his other teleprompter reading colleagues? Perhaps both.
His first question was the very one he’d never ask Barack Obama: did she feel qualified to be v.p. (“Can you look the country in the eye, and say ‘I have the experience and I have the ability to be not just vice-president, but perhaps President of the United State of America?’ “). Good question — for the nominee for President, not Vice-President. Indeed, if this question was legitimate for Palin, why was it not for Obama? (Besides Obama’s party affiliation.)
Later, Gibson asked this genius question:
GIBSON: I’m talking about somebody who’s a head of state, who can negotiate for that country. Ever met one?
PALIN: I have not and I think if you go back in history and if you ask that question of many vice presidents, they may have the same answer that I just gave you.
Of course, Palin is correct. Which vice-president stepped into the White House familiar with heads of state? Al Gore? John Edwards? Dan Quayle?
Now my question for Gibson: Why would a GOVERNOR of any state ever need to MEET with a HEAD OF STATE? You overpaid teleprompter reader.
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Charlie Gibson had a chance to show that he could be fair, balanced, and P.D.S.-free with Sarah Palin’s first major MSM interview.
Looks like he blew it.
Taking quotes out of context.
More on the Gibson/Palin interview at HotAir.
“What liberal media?” — Eric Alterman
Filed under: Crazy liberals, John McCain/Sarah Palin, What Liberal Media? , ABC, Alaska, Charles Gibson, double standards, interview, liberal assholes, media bias, Sarah Palin, vice-president, What Liberal Media?
