Gwen Ifill rocks!

If anyone has any questions about why the Imus situation is important, just watch Gwen Ifill's comments on Meet the Press today. She was incredible.

And she, oh so politely and in the most ladylike possible way, ripped Tim Russert, David Brooks, John Harwood, and the "media elite" brand new ones for enabling and defending Imus in the years leading up to his comments and in the days before his firing.

And Eugene Robinson, who also appeared was great, too - especially when he joined Gwen in countering the claim made throughout the week that Sharpton and Jackson had foisted themselves onto America as "self-appointed black leaders." They both pointed out that it was not Jackson and Sharpton, but the media who did this, by consistently calling them for comment and inviting them on to every news show whenever a controversy arose.

If it's already been on in your area, PLEASE check it out on the web. It was MAGNIFICENT!

It was also nice to see a news discussion about black people that included some black people in the conversation!

Don't kid yourself, otherwise. I'm glad she appeared and was so eloquent this morning. But, sadly, she is not the role model we might seek in other areas.

so she is fully engaged, for a change. Usually when I watch her I feel as if I'm not getting the joke. She often wears a supercilious smirk, as though she knows something she's not letting us in on (which I'm sure is true). I guess I just don't see the humor. I have never heard her challenge or criticize anything the administration has ever said or done. Not my idea of what a reporter ought be, but good enough for the News Hour's corporate sponsors, I guess.

that the producer is talking to her in her IFB and that's why it looks like she's wearing a 'supercilious smirk'.

they all have the same 'supercilious smirk.' But, I'm guessing at least one of them would have mastered the ability to tune out the IFB or multi-task.

and speculating on something you know nothing about.

You don't tune out the IFB because that's how the producer or director talks to you while on air. Speculation is not fact.

with her dear friend Condi Rice.

Guess we always have to count on Ifill taking something personally before we can count on her voice.

as she spews RW talking points constantly.... So, while she may be worthy of our admiration on this one issue, she is not in other areas. I'm guessing you haven't watched her on PBS in the past (or when she moderated the Dem presidential debate?)

But, I agree, she was excellent this morning.

When I watch Washington Week in Review I am rarely impressed by her.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/

Thanks for the heads up! :)

But I understand she's pals with Condoleeeeeeeza & I don't respect her as a journalist due to her reporting on Bush & Iraq

She's right-wing shill just like everyone else on WW. Her debate "moderation" was sickening.

And she certainly comes off as a Bushco apologist - but it's good she stood up to the Imus white boys club

made David Brooks look like a fool (admittedly not that hard to do). She was excellent.

due to her being a one-time victim of Imus's sharp tongue.

I loved that they pointed out to Timmeh that HIS NEWS DIVISION (which he also produces) is the one who places Sharpton and Jackson in those chairs in front of the camera, not the African American Public or whatever.

not the other way around....that left a thud of silence, didn't it?

The press continually runs to Jackson and Sharpton as if they are the only black people on earth and then trash them for supposedly implying they speak for all black Americans.

The press is just lazy - rather than trying to develop a cadre of informed black commentators, they fall right back into their Rolodex - which apparently has only two people under the "Black People" tab.

After Gwen's discourse he looked at her and said words to the effect, "believe me, there was a lot of loud discussion about this at NBC," and then he went on to say he felt bad for Imus, his wife, the team, etc. Seemed clear to me which side he was on.

Not surprising, if true, because Imus did sell a lot of books for Russert who was on that show just about every week it seemed.

She pointed out the main things on this

-it wasn't that he said it it was that he got caught (people raised a stink about it)
-everyone went on his show and never said a thing about all this
-THAT is why it took a whole week for him to get canned the media rulers liked Imus and liked what he said so they dragged their feet for years to get rid of him.

Russert continually gave "Aw come on" replies often looking right at her. Brooks in particular looked well like David Brooks.

Sorry but she is no better than that.

and have you noticed, it is mostly men defending what Imus did? I find that rather telling. :eyes:

Gwen did a great job and it was good to see her passion come through.