The Ifill Tower

Much is being made of V-P debate moderator Gwen Ifill's conflict of interest. For those that don't know by now she has written a pro-Obama book that is going to be released on January 20, 2009 the day of the Presidential inauguration. Thus she has a vested interest in the outcome of the election hence calling her impartiality into question.

The McCain Campaign states it was unaware that Ifill was writing such a book. I say they should keep her as a moderator for two reasons.

First, if Ifill and Biden are seen to be ganging up on Palin it will win Palin sympathy and the Democrats and the liberal media will be heaped with scorn. Not by the Democrats and the liberal media but by everyday Americans.

Second, my roommate is voting Obama. But when he heard that Ifill would be moderating the VP debate at the end of the McCain-Obama debate on Friday he cringed. If Ifill gets a negative reaction from Obama voters then she has a big, big problem.

If Ifill continues to be the story and takes the focus off Palin then I think Ifill will step aside and Jim Lehrer will be called upon to pinch hit at the last minute. That would put him into a terrible position but at least Lehrer knows how to moderate a debate.