Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2008 > September > 09 > Entry
Gov. Palin on ABC News … what should Charlie G ask?
After fielding puffballs from MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann and hostile interruptions from Fox’s Bill O’Reilly last night, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama turns TV’s center stage over to Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin this week.
The “big get” went to Charles Gibson of ABC News, and we can expect a good deal of interest in the Palin interview that will be spread over four programs and two days.
ABC News has taken pains to say that “nothing is off limits” for this interview. Gibson isn’t really the type to badger Palin about her family life, so I’m betting we won’t hear a lot about Gibson’s pregnant teenage daughter Bristol.
But I’m betting we will hear a few tough questions about Palin’s much-touted credentials as a reformer. The Bridge to Nowhere? That’ll be fair game. Earmarks? That, too.
What would you ask Gov. Palin? Would you whip out a map of the Middle East and ask her to identify all the countries to prove her foreign policy smarts? Send us your questions, and we’ll forward them to ABC News.
Gibson trekked to Alaska on Monday for pre-interview reporting. He is scheduled to sit down with Palin in Fairbanks and Wasilla on Thursday.
Assuming all goes according to plan and Gibson manages to hit his Thursday afternooon deadline, the first portion of the Palin piece will air on “World News” and later that same day on “Nightline.” More will dribble out Friday morning on “Good Morning America,” “World News,” “20/20” and “Nightline.”
Let’s hope she has that much to say. If not, Gibson and ABC News will have devoted lots of time to very little news. But curiosity about Palin seems to be insatiable.
The competition for this first-ever sit-down with the veep nominee was fierce. Everyone who’s anyone in TV news has been begging for Palin since McCain “released” her to the public the day after the Democratic Convention ended in Denver.
I bet Barbara Walters was willing to crawl on her knees to Alaska, but Good Ol’ Charlie got the call.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment Categories: News coverage
Comments
Click here to report comment abuse.
By ArtVanDeLay
September 10, 2008 12:06 AM | Link to this
I would ask her why she has fired so many people throughout her career because she does not agree with them. Troopergate is just one of dozens of incidents.
By p821
September 9, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
What did the Bush administration do well? What would a McCain administration continue? If she says that she hasn't thought that far/still reviewing - is she not ready on day one?
What did the Bush administration do poorly?
If Palin goes on the ". . .I haven't thought of something or doesn't want to dwell on the past" - why not look at mistakes? Does she lack introspection?
If she doesn't mention the relationship with Congress - ask about the relationship with Congress. Whose fault is it that Congress and the president can't find measures to work on together? If she says the Democratic Congress - ask - so Bush didn't have a hand in this impasse? Why after 8 years couldn't he make it right? Does Bush share in the blame of the poor relationship?
Will a McCain administration coerce other countries' leaders not to make a stop by the Senate to visit with Obama, Biden, Clinton et al when they come to visit?
George Bush was governor for five years before he became president. He claimed great success as governor. Not many are giving him high marks for his tenure as president. Why should the American people take another chance on a governor with only 20 months of experience?
Do you believe that education is important? Should children be encouraged to do well in school? What would you tell a child about doing well in school if Obama who graduates at the top of his law school class loses to the guy who graduated 894 out of 899 (and the current incumbent takes joy in his gentleman C's)?
One of McCain's advisors is Phil Gramm. Gramm's been with the campaign. Left the campaign. Returned. Most would reasonably expect that Gramm will have a role of influence in a McCain government. Gramm is widely credited with the legislation that created the housing boom and later the foreclosure meltdown. If Gramm is representative of the quality of people that McCain attracts, why should folks vote for McCain?
McCain wants to reduce government, deregulate various industries. Yet a reduced government contributed to the fiasco known as Katrina. Deregulation is behind the mortgage meltdown. Why do you think deregulation is a something worth pursuing? Would you loosen ties/deregulate prescription drug testing?
Bush claimed to be a uniter, not a divider. He claimed to work across party lines. But in the end he "worked around" Congress with recess appointments and executive orders/administrative bulletins. The expectation is that the Republicans are going to have a much smaller voice in the house and senate. How does McCain intend to "work around" Congress?
McCain has a son in Iraq. You have a son headed there. The military has been "adjusting" its entrance requirements to allow for a more diverse military - this includes those with weight problems, academic problems, social interaction issues (aka criminal records). The number of non-U. S. citizens in the military is also increasing. How does a McCain administration plan to increase the number of high school graduate U. S. citizen without major health/social challenges young people in the military?
By Darla Morgan
September 9, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this
My suggestions for questions for Charlie Gibson to ask Sarah Palin: Will you explain how as a fiscal conservative mayor of Wasilla did you began your term with the city owing no debt and left office with the city owing $22 million in debt?
Which books were you trying to get the librarian in Wasilla to ban from the public library?
Do you plan to support President Bush's policy of allowing warrantless wire taps and torture, or in his words, "enhanced interrogation" of prisoners?