Vetting Gwen Ifill

Gwen Ifill is the author of the forthcoming book, “The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama." Ifill is a professional and accomplished journalist, respected within her profession and held in high regard by many in the political arena she covers with passion and reliable and objective analysis.

That is why the flap from some in the Republican Party who are raising questions about her objectivity as moderator of tonight's vice presidential debate, because she is writing a book on Black political progress that reasonably must consider Barack Obama, is disingenuine, at best, but characteristically hypocritical and repugnant. Afterall, this is the Party that tolerated the presidential campaign tactic that made Willie Horton famous.

There is no reason to believe that Gwen Ifill will be anything other than professional and objective. The Republicans, insinuating that Ifill will be swayed by racial considerations in favor of the Obama ticket, reveal their own racism and bigotry. As Keith Olberman pointed out, no one has raised the question of whether Ifill would be biased toward Sarah Palin because she is a woman. Worse is the conservatives willingness to insert race into the debate when their true concern is to protect Sarah Palin, who has so far appeared as a lightweight dancing around the ring in this heavyweight contest.

As moderator of PBS's Friday night political round up program, "Washington Week," and senior correspondent for "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," Ifill regularly brings in depth analysis to the forefront with integrity and balance. It is evident, particularly on "Washington Week," that the only preference Ifill favors is toward great reporting and insight, and she presses to get the best and most complete analysis of a story or issue from the journalists surrounding her on each program.

Watching Gwen Ifill revel in her passion, reviewing America's political drama each week, is as satisfying as considering the various points of view contributed by her guests.

Gwen Ifill is unrivaled in her fire in the belly for getting the story and getting it right. In that regard, she brings to mind a titan of politcal junkie's who appreciated her talent and made a way for Gwen to enter the ranks at PBS, the late Tim Russert. She will perform with integrity tonight moderating the debate, and tomorrow night at the helm of her weekly show.

Personal notes...

I have watched Gwen Ifill for years, reading her at least twenty years ago when she wrote for a newspaper in my hometown of Baltimore. I have met other professional journalists who praise her, and a few years ago, I enjoyed hearing testimony about Gwen in her early days when she wrote for the Black newspaper, the Boston Banner, from publisher Melvin B. Miller.

I have met and talked with Gwen Ifill on two occasions, at a formal talk she gave at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT. several years ago, where she impressed the audience with her authentic journalist's heart and stories from her experiences working in news media. The other time was by surprise, one humid summer night at a crowded festival in a New Haven park, where Ifill stood on a dusty patch of ground up against a fence, and under the bright camera lights, conducting an interview with Ned Lamont, who was campaigning in his ultimate successful challenge of Sen. Joe Liberman in the Democratic primary two years ago.

Ifill took time to talk with me and an associate after her interview, sharing more of her genuine enthusiasm for reporting--in studio or even better out among people, where she liked to hear how the every day person interprets the politcal events of the day. She was tired, hot, perspiriing like everyone else, and loving the moment, exuding the same real excitement she does on tv. But unlike many things on the tube, Gwen Ifill was and is for real.