Back Out? For What?

Gwen Ifill should not back out as moderator. That is unless we think that because she is a woman, she will automatically side with Gov. Palin. No? So what the real problem then?

This notion of siding with someone like you is really beginning to annoy me. Why should it be assumed that women will automatically favor women, African Americans will automatically favor African-Americans, and the rich will automatically favor the rich? What ever happened to going beyond the surface to support one whose ideals most closely match yours?

Ifill was the moderator of the 2004 Vice Presidential Debates. So why should she back down in 2008? Because she has written a book to highlight the accomplishments of select African Americans in Politics? It is not as if she wrote a book urging Americans to vote for Sen. Obama. Jim Lehrer, who moderated the Presidential Debates, has written various books on politics as well. No one suggested that he back down because he has put some on his personal political views on paper - granted he did not specifically mention any candidates in books. But, where do we draw the line? Ifill knows first-hand how unfair biased can be. As an intern at the Boston Herald, she received a note saying "n——r go home,” according to an article in Time Magazine. One has to experience biased first-hand to truly know how disheartening it can be. Now, I cannot speak on behalf of Ifill nor can I say what lessons she has learned. But, I am willing to bet that she is fully aware of this notion.

Find me one woman who is not elated that women are finally being taken seriously in the world of politics. Find me one African American who is not thrilled that an African American has a real chance at becoming the first African American President. Is that grounds to eliminate them from any formal participation in the presidential race?