Gwen Ifill: Bearer of Brevity and Levity

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Please remember when questioning Governor Palin that she puts her skirt on the same way Senator Clinton does and therefore she should be treated no different during this debate than Senator Clinton was during her many debates. And no softball questions like Sean Hannity threw at Gov. Palin

Jim Groves of WA 4:42PM September 30, 2008

Now lets see how many times has Joe been on stage with anyone of the media asking questions which are attempts to back him into a corner? Last time I checked, he has zero interviews on the air that I can think of. I may have missed one.
Now, otherwise, I only hear of Joe sticking his foot in his mouth regularly. All of you who are looking for Palin to fail better hope Joe does not fall on his face during the debate.
I am totally amazed at the continued attacks on Palin. This woman has come a long way in a short amount of time. She is intelligent, a problem solver for her state and is not afraid to stand up to a challenge. Most of all, she is not part of the old-boy network. We are suffering through a serious financial problem created by that old-boy network.
We seriously need people who represent us. I believe Sarah Palin will do that.

Bill Brown of NY 4:42PM September 30, 2008

We are sure a question will be asked regarding the repeal of Roe vs Wade...
PLEASE include this question to both candidates...
"Do you support contraception?"
If so, "What have you done or, will you do to ensure to ensure access to it?"
Thank you for your great work.

Ginni Treadwell, Spokesperson for The Grandmother's Coalition of All America of VT 4:40PM September 30, 2008

No Gotcha questions and be FAIR. Seems media tries
to be a Managed Media outlet instead of balanced and
unbiased.
These debates tend to show the flaws of the candidates
as well as the Media moderator.

E Hathawy of MO 3:48PM September 30, 2008

Happy Birthday!
People who are not familiar with you, and I suspect there are many, will have a great awakening Thursday evening. I am among the many who are *thrilled* that you are the moderator for this debate.
I suspect that your ratings will spike after your handling of these two unusual candidates, each with their own pluses and minuses.
Please do what you do best and be strong. I believe that you will show yourself to be the best moderator, by far, of the four debates.
Good luck

Lee Burker of CA 3:45PM September 30, 2008

A DEBATE IS A DEBATE AND NOTHING ELSE. NO SPECIAL TREATMENT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ANY CANDIDATE BECAUSE OF THEIR GENDER, RACE, CREED, CULTURE, AGE ETC.

JANET of NY 3:23PM September 30, 2008

Ms. Ifill, I remember watching you on NBC/MSNBC and I thought you were wonderful.
I'm sure you've watched the 2006 debates that Gov. Panel participated in and see that she comes across as capable. Don't let her regurgitate talking points and not answer the questions that you ask.
Is this going to be your largest audience ever? Congratulations!

Edarling Fields of VA 3:09PM September 30, 2008

As a independed voter, I need to know were Senator Biden and Gov Palin stand on the issues that's not only affects me but the United States, please do not treat her any different then any one else. Be tough on Him as well as her, this election is far to important to the nation if not the world.

dave of VA 1:47PM September 30, 2008

Unfortunately, many voters are not sincerely interested in Governor's qualifications for the Vice Presidency or the Presidency. These voters are thinking with their feelings. They feel that Palin relates to the average person. They feel that she is a maverick fighting corruption. I believe that Governor Palin would have to appear as less than any of these "qualifications" to sway the undecided voter.

of MA 12:51PM September 30, 2008

A lot of time rightfully has been spent on her lack of foreign policy experience or rather the lack thereof. What I would like to also hear is her responses to accusations of Favoritism, firing people she didn't like, giving important portfolios to friends who were not qualified("I like cows" on a friend's resume getting them an agriculture dept.post), her blocking troopergate and her pettiness, her judgement conducting business on private accounts , something about getting her house zoning changed...and so forth.

sukhdeep kaur of NY 11:43AM September 30, 2008