How did she do? Assessments split along party lines.
The same holds true for how viewers perceive Gibson's aggressiveness in the questions he put to Palin. Some say Gibson was too easy and others feel he was not respectful enough.
I tend to agree with BostonHerald.com's Jessica Heslam, who writes about the interview in "With Sarah Palin at the plate, Charlie Gibson throws hard."
Heslam also provides a little descriptive set-up that captures the scene nicely:
During the interview, an eager Palin leaned forward, almost like a student seeking to pass a test, as Gibson fired away while peering over his glasses.Heslam's commentary only covers Thursday's broadcast. The Washington Post's Tom Shales reviews last night's segments as well, and adds commentary from James Carville and the McCain campaign. And Shales provides a possible answer to a question I've asked myself: "Why did they pick Charlie Gibson to do the first Sarah Palin interview?"Gibson asked Palin if she agreed with the Bush doctrine and Palin appeared confused, and asked for clarification. “The Bush doctrine, as I understand it, is that we have the right of anticipatory self-defense,” Gibson said.
The doctrine, however, includes several other terrorism-related foreign policy principles of the administration formed in reaction to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
Gibson asked he if she’s ever met a foreign head of state. “I have not,” Palin said.
He asked what insight into Russian actions “does the proximity of the state give you?”
Palin said “you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska.”
Gibson went into the interview sessions with something of a dark cloud over his head. Palin has been so fastidiously guarded by party bosses and hacks, it was almost insulting for Gibson to be chosen by them as the journalist to be granted the first major TV interview. There was the implication, however unfair, that they felt Gibson would be less rigorous a questioner than NBC's Williams or CBS anchor Katie Couric or, of course, anybody from "60 Minutes."This interview is crucial to the McCain campaign because Palin's lack of foreign policy experience is a sticking point for many. Throughout the discussion, Palin talked tough on the war in Iraq and global terrorism; but did she change any minds or provide any clues as to how she'd function as VP?Of all the anchors, Gibson seems most to embody the sort of homespun, Middle American values of which Palin is supposedly the living embodiment; that could be another reason he got the nod.
My colleague Amy Zalman, who writes on terrorism issues, examines Palin's statements and interprets how her views may impact her abilities as "an important ambassador of American intentions in the broader world." Amy also explains why effective leadership requires imagination to achieve reform - and why Palin's "apparent lack of curiosity about the world beyond her own" may be a significant impediment in her quest for the vice presidency.
Comments
Media bias @ its finest. Gibson is a condescending bully and did I mention biased.
Plain and simple this politician is NOT ready to take the second seat for the betterment of this country. I only saw bits and pieces of the interviews and the questions I did hear and were somewhat answered proved she IS not ready for the job. I have nothing against a female at all they are quite a few women who are more than qualified in government to be vice-president, Palin is NOT one of them. Mr. Gibson is a true professional and the questions that were asked were more than fair. It was a JOB interview, WE as her employers want to know that Mrs. Palin is ready to help lead us. She is not in touch with most of America. McCain only chose her in hopes of getting women to vote for him, I certainly hope that any woman who is registered to vote saw this interview and has the ability to be objective and review Mrs. Palin’s record realizes, McCain-Palin are NOT the answer for America.
Typical biased media!!! No further comment required!!!
palin , just what america needs, as for experience, just compare her to obama, all obama can say is bush bush bush, stop hiding behind a bush, and change change change, the only change obama will make is he will change the name of the white house to the cribbbbbbb
Vote for the issues you support. If you, in your heart, support to overturn Roe vs. Wade, a decision her daughter was able to choose just a month ago, then vote for her. Her views on homosexuality, the war in Iraq, keeping the $230 million that that the government allotted for the bridge to somewhere…then vote for her. Just remember, more people live in Fort Worth, TX than the entire state she governed. Don’t voe red and blue – vote what is true to you.
I think this sums up the campaign perfectly…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nMuR1TFq1s
I will not be voting for Sarah Palin. We disagree on nearly every issue. Further, I do not believe being mayor of a podunk, one stoplight Alaska town or even governor of Alaska for the short time she has been in that position provides the experience needed to be vice-president at this critical point in our country’s history.
On the other hand, Charlie Rose showed his true piggy colors in that interview. He didn’t have to humiliate her to demonstrate her lack of experience. The manner in which he performed the interview was cheap, mean, disrespectful and something he would never have done to a man. We women like to fool ourselves into thinking that the world has changed, but what I see is the same old good ol’ boys network that kept me out of shop class forty years ago and keeps me from advancing in my career today.
As a middle aged independent working mother, I was somewhat disappointed with C.Gibson’s interview with S.Palin. While the questions were completely legitimate and fair, I found myself at the end of the interview disappointed with the tone.An example, when questioning her about the Bush doctrine.He sited the DATE that it was presented by Bush!Does C. Gibson have this date etched in his PERMAMENT memory, discussed at cocktail parties reguarly, or was this a “gotcha” for this woman? I really expected Charlie to conduct a fair interview.J.Biden is perfectly capable of debating her on his own, without the help of Mr. Gibson.
I only saw the Friday night segment. I am still searching the internet to see if anyone else objected to the introduction to the interview, which was clearly designed to put Palin in a negative light right up front. Also, the break away during the question about gun rights and gun violence to a victim on a stretcher. Too much media spin for my taste.
Jesse2727: You need to get your facts straight and give the credit she deserves and is due her title. She is Governor of Alaska. Not a mayor of a town. Check her record as governor before you turn and smear a person with more executive and decision making experience than Obama. Community organizer, WHAT’S THAT compared to actual experience. 145 days in the senate versus at least two years as governor and yes a couple years as mayor of a podunk town.
I will never again listen to Charlie Gibson. I really thought he was one of the good guys of news media – obviously, I was mistaken. I will forever turn off Charlie Gibson’s newscasts. You are a jerk, Charlie!
I will never listen to Charlie Gibson again. What a jerk!
Charlie
you are a mean man. What a horrible interview with Gov. Palin. There you are for Obama that calls her a pig and remember the finger he gave Hillary during the debate.How many passes are you going to give him? He is an angry black man and that is the reason he attended Rev. Wright’s church. It fed his angry for20 years. I’ll never watch you again.
You owe us all an apology or take it to your grave.
The “Bush Doctrine” question was plain unprofessional. Mr. Gibson didn’t know enough about the “Bush Doctrine” to field a question about it. Mr. Gibson had to answer Governor Palin’s question about the specifics, with yet another question. Either Charlie Gibson was unprepared to talk about the “Bush Doctrine,” or he was so intent on leading the interview or both, that when Ms. Palin asked for the clarification Charlie blew it. By tossing what everyone could tell was an erroneous question back into her lap, Mr. Gibson looked at least like a lazy journalist. So, I’m not surprised Charlie Gibson misquoted the prayer either. Sarah Palin did an excellent job of articulating her take on the “Bush Doctrine.” And, that’s what she was called upon to do. Don’t do your homework, it’ll show. Oh, and I’m onboard with the demeaning camera techniques too. I had to do a double take just to see whether they hadn’t sawed the legs off Ms. Palin’s chair: http://theseedsof9-11.com
I used to think that Charlie Gibson was a nice guy and likeable journalist. You have to be a complete bias idiot not to see that he was aggressively attacking her with REHEARSED and COACHED combative questioning in an effort to dis-credit and help his democratic buddies! I will never watch his news again.
Come on folks …. let’s get a bit serious here. The interview shows extremely cursory, simplistic, rehearsed answers to tough and what were meant to be thought-provoking questions. The objective was to get her to reveal her mind to us so we can feel comfortable in letting her have the reins to the Presidency of this nation if the need should arise. And she gave the kind of answers that any average high-school student could prepare for and almost regurgitate for a test! And not particularly well at that. Where are the “real” answers, you ask? Well – how could there be any? Experience in foreign affairs comes with travel (or living in different lands), mixing with – at a personal level – with people from different parts of the world. Understanding their culture, their politics, forms of government and how they think and act and what their core values are etc. And the nuances that differentiate different ethnic communities, groups and cultures. Not a cute Spring-break trip to Cancun or even a semester-abroad in some European capital!
We live in a complicated world – and 8 years of simplistic answers from a simplistic, puerile mind have lead us to where we are today in this world – the laughing stock of almost everyone. Let’s try to put some substance back into the Executive government to help us tackle the real issues facing us today – Global terrorism, extremism, economic chaos, protection of the country’s language, culture and borders and a myriad other issues.
Charley Gibson based questions early in interview on complete distortions – misquotes that misrepresented what Gov Palin had said and a Bush Doctrine of Gibson’s own making. I have read several subsequent articles by people considered experts on foreigh affairs and current political events say they couldn’t answer that question because no one such Bush Doctrine has been ‘annunciated’ Setting his condesending demeanor aside Gisbon lost all credibility along with ABC with that interview. All the more reason to applaud Gov Palin’s ability to keep her cool and answer truthfully and coherently while in hostile territory. Unlike Obama who with George Stephanapolis got his words put into his stuttering mouth for him.
Vote NO on Gibson/ABC Vote YES to McCain/Palin ‘08
Sarah Palin was greatly disrespected by Chalie Gibson…I am ashamed to say that I liked Mr. Gibson, but not anymore! Mrs. Palin is what this great Country is about! We need smaller government and she is a step in the right direction! I Vote For Palin, McCain!
Notice in a copy of the full transcript here: http://marklevinshow.com/gibson-interview/
what they edited out! They made sure that some of her best comments were deleted.
For example, “seeing Russia from Alaska” was the tip of the iceberg. The important stuff she said was deleted to make her look trivial.
Sarah Palin if elected would be a heart beat away from becoming the most inexperienced president in history. Barack Obama is an election away from doing the same.
Oh poor little defenseless woman, they questioned her too hard. BOO HOO. Just because she’s a women doesn’t mean she should get tough interviews. If she is going to be the vp of this country she has to handle being bombarded with tough questions.
I will never trust an idiot like charlie gibson or give weight to any thing he says…he’s DONE!