ABC gets Sarah Palin's first TV interview

That was quick.

Minutes after we posted the item below about Sarah Palin's nonappearance on the Sunday talk shows came word that the GOP's vice presidential nominee will be interviewed this week by (drum roll, please) Charles Gibson of ABC, the anchor of "World News."

McCain-Palin communications director Jill Hazelbaker told The Times' Maeve Reston that the offer was made Friday, and the details were worked out over the last two days.

"No ground rules on our end, multiple interviews over two days in multiple locations," Hazelbaker said in an e-mail. Palin is expected to be in Alaska this week; her son Track, who enlisted in the Army a year ago, leaves Thursday for Iraq.

[UPDATE: According to top McCain aide Mark Salter, who spoke this afternoon with reporters on a campaign flight from Albuquerque, N.M., to Kansas City, Mo., the interviews will take place in Alaska, probably on Thursday and Friday, and will be aired this week.]

Gibson, 65, is the "elder statesman" of the three network news anchors (the others are CBS' Katie Couric and NBC's Brian Williams).

A self-professed political junkie, he conducted hundreds of interviews on live television as the co-anchor, for nearly two decades, of ABC's "Good Morning America," and he moderated one of the Democratic presidential candidates' debates during the 2008 primary season.

When he took over the anchor job after the death of Peter Jennings two years ago, The Times' Matea Gold made note of his "straightforward, avuncular demeanor."

On his blog last Friday, Gibson had this to say: "Sarah Palin has steered clear of reporters and their questions. Speakers at the Republican convention this week bashed the press and their handling of Palin's family story. At what point does a candidate for higher office have a responsibility to take questions...to interact with reporters?"

ABC has, of late, been in second place in the network news ratings. Watch for a change in that figure this week.

-- Leslie Hoffecker

Photo credit: Heidi Gutman / ABC

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Comments

[Thomas Jackson]

Let's hope Charles asks Ms. Palin some serious questions pertaining to issues like health care, rising unemployment, the housing crisis, the failing economy, national security, etc. and not inane, irrelevant questions about field dressing a moose and how hard it is to be mayor of a town with a population of less than 6,000 people and governor of a state with a population about the size of San Diego.

It would be nice to hear her explain how she was for the bridge to nowhere before she was against it and her explanation of the earmarks she was so proud of obtaining while she was in Alaska but now is so adamantly against.

Keep it real, Charles. Ms. Palin should not get a pass on any of these questions and issues, because if she were to be elected along with McCain, she could very well end up as president of our country if, god forbid, something should happen to McCain.

No free pass for Ms. Palin, please.

[Natasha]

Tres bien, merci!

The "24 hour News-for-Dummies networks" got a slap in their face!!

Poor Campbell Brown.... she did not get this honor!! She will be soooo bent out of shape on Monday night (as usual).

Go Saraaah!!!

[Natasha]

Quote: Posted by: Drummond1

"Hey Cambell Brown baby!!...I think the media should let Palin speak for herself. Obviously, after last nights exercise in the proverbial "slam-dunk" she is quite capable of delivering a defense. The pressure put on the Republican Tucker by the media was uncalled for. Tucker, as well as the rest of the Republican party, cannot be held accountable at a time when the entire nation let alone Republican representatives were in a stage of discovery in regards to the VP nominational pick by Senator John McCain.

Let me tell you something CNN.. And the National Enquirer too.. If you think that your biased pro Democratic political views will even be considered on election day..keep digging your graves. Every action by the media as to unfair,unequal opinion by commentators(or so called Journalists) that have a personal agenda, and readily participate in invasive private and personal probing,will only take away from the Democratic Partys American Patriotism and sense of fair play.

God Bless America.. God Bless John McCain,, Sarah and Trig too... and god bless Barack Obama. After the beating last night he could use a little help."

Posted by: Drummond1 | September 04, 2008 at 08:05 AM

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/09/campbell-brown.html?cid=129044476#comments

[lois]

In america a sucker is born every minute!

[lcva]

Big surprise. Under Disney, ABC has turned into a watered down version of Fox News. Gibson and Stephanopoulos made sure none of the Democratic candidates got to address any issues of substance during their nationally televised debate. ABC's where McCain fled to after CNN had the temerity to ask him to substantiate only one of his bogus claims about Sarah Palin's fitness for the Vice Presidency during the Republican convention. And the campaign can be sure that Ms. Palin's first interview will be full of warm, fuzzy softball questions about her maternal fortitude and faith in God (tho' not, surely, about whether she intends to try and use national office to advance her religious agenda, i.e. the mandatory teaching of "Creation Science" in schools). What a joke.

[Skylar Fortham]

Why do I get the feeling that Sarah Palin is a right-wing, doomsday Manchurian Candidate? When I see her I think of “The Dead Zone’s” shiny eyed, Greg Stillman, “The missiles are in the air. Praise Jesus.”
It’s not just her fundamentalist Christian faith, or that she’s not worried about Global Warming. It’s the fact that certain members of the National Republican Party came to Wasilla to help her win her first mayoral election in a town of 5500. This is unheard of in local politics and speaks to her history of being groomed by a faction of the Conservative base of the Party. For what? To be a charismatic lever to pull for their interests, sure, like her hero George Bush. But I can’t help feeling that its something even more dangerous. Like Stillman, she’s already used her children as political cannon fodder. Her Down Syndrome baby was 3 days old when she snapped herself back to the Governors office. Her teenaged daughter didn’t need to be the focus of international scrutiny but Palin outed her when some bloggers suggested that the baby wasn’t hers. Most parents would pass on a job offer that put their child in such harms way.
There’s something wrong there and if the old man gets into office, he’d better get a food taster and we’d better duck and cover.

[paul]

It would be nice to hear the Press ask Sen Obama some tough questions too. Like what is Sen Obama's relationship with Convicted Felon Rezko and the Purchase of Land? What is Sen Obama's relations with Terrorist Bill Ayers? Was is it good judgement to spend 20 years in a Racist Church (Rev Wright)? Why is Crime out of control in Chicago?

I'd like to see tough questions to both Candidates and not just the Republicans.

[MJC]

THE PEOPLE OF ALASKA NEEDS YOUR HELP!
PLEASE TAKE A LOOK, THEN FIND A WAY TO HELP!
http://www.palinsalaska.com/

[Rick]

Drummond1:

Did you read the part that said 'If you are under 13 years of age you may read this message board, but you may not participate'?

Your post is just unabashed boosterism. Why does it seem that so few Americans actually care about the issues instead of the personalities? Do you not care about your country?

[Manolete]

CNN's vicious attack dog Campbell Brown must be very disappointed , but she will find a bone to chew on.

Go Sarah Go!
Hillary supporters for Sarah!

[Sally]

I've read a description by Gibson about his ideas for the interview and I think it could turn out to be a puff piece. Here are some things I'd like to know:

Why does Palin believe, contrary to overwhelming number of climate scientists, that humanity has no role in global warming.

Does she still believe that Creationism should be taught in schools.

What books did she want to ban (well-documented in her local paper) from the Wasilla public library. Why did she think she should decide what books people should read.

What did she do as the mayor of Wasilla? What makes her certain that her responsibilities (she's on record saying her job wasn't "rocket science") exceeded those of Obama as a community organizer. According to the Wall Street Journal, her major accomplishment--a sports center--has legal issues. What about all those earmarks, including some on John McCain's hit list.

Does she know that Jesus was a community organizer as were the men and women whose activities resulted in the American Revolution. Community organizers are agents of change.

[Mi Le]

I don't care about her family, religion, or her hobbies.

She needs to tell us (the public she will be serving - her constituents) what she believes and how she would govern, especially since she is a HEARTBEAT away from the Presidency...
- Would she work to outlaw abortion - overturn Roe vs. Wade?
- Would she deny same sex partnerships the same rights as heterosexual partnerships?
- What did she do in Alaska on health-care? Her ideas about National Health-care, Medicare?
- Home foreclosures - the deficit, social security; taxes, living wages, etc.?
- Her role of church and state?
- Her vision for US Foreign Policy?

Charlie, now you have a chance to redeem yourself. Do NOT ask bitter, partisan, cheap shot questions about family skeletons, OR, fawn and gush/fluff nonsense. DO follow-up by comparing her record on these issues with what she says while she's talking to the American public.

Palin/McCain '08 - must show the USA they are elected to SERVE the USA not the Republican-base/GOP/RNP.

[acarponzo]

It is ironic that the man who made Obama decide, not a good idea to debate Hillary again, or maybe anybody. Who can forget, capital gains tax increase net negative for revenue. But today, Obama may, That's a big MAY, keep tax cuts for the "RICH" in place if we are in a recession. Extend the Bush tax cuts, uh...uh...MAYBE if you vote for me! Ah the polls they are a changing! http://www.bop-o-ram.com The numbers are gettin ginteresting ant Team Obama vs Team McCain? This weekend looks like ti may go to Team Obama! 30,000 plus bops today!!!!

[abby0802]

I hope that C. Gibson has the guts to ask the really critical questions:
on her extreme positions:
no abortion, ever, even if the child/woman's life is at risk, or in cases of rape/incest
abstinence only education
creationism to be taught in school instead of evolution
her denigration of community work (including those done by churches?)
her husband's work with the oil industry
her husband's membership in some fringe group that advocates Alaska's seceding from the union and her speeches/appearances at some of their meetings
her willingness to accept pork -- the bridge to nowhere -- until such a stink was made that she realized it would never be built
her close association with Sen. Stevens (under investigation for corruption)
the investigation of her involvement in the firing of a trooper who was divorcing her sister
her getting the chief of police of Wasilla fired because she didn't like him
her actual experience? how effective was she?
how extreme her views are compared to mainstream Americans and Christians?

You folks are the newspeople -- go out and do your job!

No rah-rah session for someone who wants to be a heart beat away from the presidency

[scootmandubious]

Sarah Palin was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it.

Palin also remains, and always was, a champion of earmarks.

If you want the fully sourced story (everything is documented), here it is:

http://scootmandubious.blogspot.com/2008/09/debunking-lies-of-mccain-palin-bridge.html

[Robert Goethals]

It's frightening that Gov. Palin continues to excuse herself from hard and spontaneous questioning by print and television journalists alike. More so, when her first interview is so carefully stage-managed that it feels less like honest journalism than political merchandising. Perhaps this journalistic model suits the interests of moguls who sit atop the cold, isolating summits of media power, but conscientious Americans, curious to learn exactly how capable this unknown and untested governor actually is, are the big losers.

[Netminder]

I thought Campbell Brown ask a fair question.
The fact that Tucker couldn't answer it says alot.
(ie: None of us know very much about Palin)

[Mary]

I think Campbell Brown did her job the way it is supposed to be done. If all reporters kept asking the questions until they got passed the talking points of both parties, the country would be better for it.

[dragonfly777]

Yeah Charles no free passes from the press like you have given Obama. We want you to really crunch down on her and not let the press give her softballs and heap praise upon her as you did Barry, That's OK Charles she will hold her own and not whimper and cry about you being sexist as some do about being racist when they don't think you gave them a good deal! GO SARAH!!

McCain/Palin 08

[Walter Smith]

Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin attempted to quietly have her daughter Bristol get married before news of her pregnancy leaked out, the NATIONAL ENQUIRER is reporting exclusively in its new issue.

Palin planned for the wedding to take place right after the Republican National Convention and then she was going to announce the pregnancy.

But Bristol, 17, refused to go along with the plan and that sparked a mother-daughter showdown over the failed coverup.

The ultra-conservative governor’s announcement about her daughter’s pregnancy came hours after The ENQUIRER informed her representatives and family members of Levi Johnston, the father of Bristol’s child, that we were aware of the pregnancy and were going to break the news.

In a preemptive strike Palin released the news, creating political shockwaves.

The ENQUIRER has also learned that Palin’s family is embroiled in a vicious war that is now exposing her darkest secrets, threatening to destroy her political career.

Palin’s ongoing war with her ex brother-in-law Mike Wooten, a state trooper, has caused multiple sources to come forward with shocking allegations about the governor.

Details of those allegations, the family feud, and Palin’s attempt to cover up her teen daughter’s pregnancy are in the new issue of The ENQUIRER.

[Randy Becker]

Natasha, where was your voice when the media was bashing Hilary Clinton? I’ll bet you were nowhere to be found. But then again, the republic-cons were never ones who thought fairness was a virtue.

BTW, the news media is hardly liberal. There are at least eight times as many wingnut news/talk shows as there progressive shows. The few progressive shows that exist are not lacking for listeners but for advertising as the corporations have decided to black list the progressive shows because they like the policies right where they are.

That’s were, you know, they get richer and we, (the other 99% of the population), get poorer.

Wake up America before its to late.

RandyB

[Dan Sample]

If I remember it was Charles in Charge and King George who tried to fry Obama in the terrible thing they called a debate!

Why am I not surprised that the Republicans pick Charles in Charge to throw softball questions!!

Come on Charles play hardball!!!!

[Maria]

Charlie:
I have watched you exclusively and trust you. My daughter is a 2006 Princeton graduate and I am a second generation Mexican American who has not finished college (yet!). Please ask her the hard questions. I know you will be fair and I am so uneasy about the possibility of a McCain victory that I am comforted by the fact that you will get to finally ask Sarah Palin some questions. You speak for all of us - thank you, Charlie.

[Mickey007]

I'm glad to see that Sarah turned a deaf ear to the Obama biased news media. To say she took undeserved pokes at Obama's community organizer position is nonsense. It was Obama who first called her the mayor of a small town without reference to the fact that she is the Alaskan Governor. That's like calling Obama a community organizer and not a US Senator. By the way, who hired him for the job as community organizer and what were his accomplishment??

[Jasmine]

Yes, Charles, ask Gov Palin tough questions. She can handle it. I agree only Obama should get a pass by the media. After all, he is their "anointed one". We are not worthy, we are not worthy.

[noah]

Thoreau compared moose hunting to shooting a horse in your neighbor's pasture. I've seen moose up close. They don't even run away. Moose hunters say the real challenge is to shoot one close to the road so you don't have far to go to your vehicle.

[Landrum]

(Drum roll please) However, my comments are actually the appropriate place for the opinion I express, not via a "non-bias" newspaper. I can't believe Palin would actually grant ANY major media opinion spout an interview. She should only allow CSPAN that right since they will actually interview her as opposed to creating bread and circuses for the uninformed masses that choose not to be informed. Don't forget... Obama is only "present." McCain may waffle, but at least he can make a decision.

[time for change]

Gov Palin has livened up this election. She should be asked the hard questions but somehow I believe she will handle herself quite well. She reminds me of the book What If Everyone Lived Next Door to Jesus? (Hannibalbooks.com) She will bring a lively discussion of what things really matter in the USA today and what things don't. I'm looking foward to the interviews.

[Karl]

Just like Gibson repeatedly viciously attacked Obama during the ABC hosted debate, Gibson will repeatedly ask soft questions and laugh and giggle with Palin. He will ask a couple of carefully scripted pseudo "hard" questions that she will have advance preparation for.

God help us.

[WW Terry]

Gee do you think you can write honest reporting about Sarah? I hope can be fair, but I have no expectations of unbias reporting. One would think Gov Palin geting the agreement signed for the 40 Billion dollar gas pipeline would be big news but no even though for 35 years it was talked about but nothing was done. Mental midgets like Nancy Petoise, Barry Obama and others opposed any energy progress in America. What are they thinking ? Caio!

[baz]

It's good to see that someone will be interviewing her, but I suspect Gibson will be too scared to ask real probing questions... not that Gibson would ever ask a Republican a tough question.
But more importantly, it won't be broadcast live.
As a video editor, I know how tape can be manipulated.
I can make anyone say anything. And I suspect anything controversial, any glaring mistakes by Palin will be cut out.

If anyone watched today's talk shows, it's amazing how different McCain is questioned, than Obama or Biden.
Obama & Biden - - very adversarial in the questioning.
McCain - softball.

We're not going to know what Palin thinks, until after the Media gets McCain/Palin elected.

[Abbe]

I think Sarah Palin did very well for a nursing mother, and Trigger is really cute. It is too bad he had to be shoved off on pregnant Bristol Bay Palin. Luckily she did not have to upchuck as I used to do so constantly. It is sad that her friend Levi does not want children as he posted on his blog.

[Scy]

ROFL! yeah, with any number of strict requirements and pre-approved questions. Why won't this coward face the press? oh that's right . . . they might be mean to her. Guess those terrorists won't be mean to her either. I bet she's the type that thinks you can call "time out" during a war. Elect this coward and you deserve what you get.

[Merryl F. Goldman]

About time she came out from behind her good old boys! Eventually she would have to face the music. I wonder how much prepping she has gotten? Now she will have to answer some questions without a telepromter. Let's see if she lies through her pretty teeth!

[carlos castro]

This is the problem that we have in this country trying who is fisrt in the news bu no one looks in to the situation that we are going thru people loosing homes,and no one looks like to care, hope Obama says that he has the formula, hope he becomes a president, to see how he is going to ad 2 plus 2 and get four.

[RRT-MD]

Tom Jackson says:
"It would be nice to hear her explain how she was for the bridge to nowhere before she was against it and her explanation of the earmarks she was so proud of obtaining while she was in Alaska but now is so adamantly against."

If you had paid attention, you would have realized that Ms Palin's constituency as Mayor and as Governor were different - and thus her actions were different. And, as Vice President, her actions would change to reflect a national constituency. Of course, for those whose only constituency is themselves or their political party, changes like this never happen!

[RLG19]

Simply put: I was waiting for the GOP to get energized, but it wasn't happening. Thank you, Sarah Palin. The base is consolidated nowwith the 'maverick' - ah, make that two mavericks. I do believe that something good will happen now after several surprisingly poor years of meandering.

[TF]

What housing crisis, Mr. Jackson... Oh, you mean where buyers thought they could get into houses with adjustable rates that would never go up, spend the difference to live beyond their means and then expect the government (insert democrats here) to bail them out. Why should I have my tax dollars used for a bailout caused by stupid mistakes of home buyers? Does that mean even though I don't need a bailout I should get a piece of the bailout too? Isn't that the Marxist thing to do!

[Greg in Indiana]

One thing you don't understand about conservatives. We want them to ask her the questions that you listed. Health care and the housing crisis is simple. Taxes will go up to cover the cost of these two. If you are for paying for them out of YOUR pocket, then OK. Falling economy is all based on the cost of energy. If we put more resources into the market and energy cost drop, then the economy will improve. National Security is a pretty broad topic, since you didn't narrow it down I will only say that what we have been doing for the last 7 years (with the exception of securing the border), what needs to be fixed? Sorry, I don't know how to field dress a moose, but I sure know how to shoot one. Semper Fi.

[Cataloo]

With all due respect Drummond1, Natasha you're responding in the wrong place -- keep your uneducated, flat-earth, right-wing wacko comments to the Fox News Channel articles where they belong -- and leave the adults to this discussion.

[stephen]

Palin needs to be questioned vigorously, what are her views on the many issues that we face, I trust Mr. Gibson will refrain from the inanities that he and Mr. Stephanopolus engaged in during the Philadelphia debate. Those questions if posed to Governor Palin would be deemed sexist, inflammatory, liberal elitism or as they were then, embarrassing. Palin could one day have control of the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, as well as the largest economy. it is important that we have a deep understanding of her and her abilities,

[bjlanford]

Wonderful! I eagerly anticipate the interview of Governor Palin. What a breath of fresh air for politics. If only every member of Congress and the Senate could remember that they were elected to represent all the people and not the few. Thanks Governor Palin for being the great American that you are.

Bren

[Steve007]

No free pass for Ms. Palin, please.

Posted by: Thomas Jackson

So Tom, you feel she shoud be treated differently than The Anointed One,for whom the cheerleading old media is solidly in the tank?

[Ron West]

What I would like to know from Gov. Palin is why she didn't get into the race for President as Obama did? Her resume back then would have been much cleaner than today. She has convinced half the country in less than a week that she is capable of being the leader of the free world. She would have had no trouble apparently raising any money and if she only needed a week to get the nod then not much money or organization would have been necessary. No scandals back then. No family issues to deal with. No young child to parade around the country with. If she is the Republican answer, then why didn't the GOP good ol' boys pluck her out of Alaska sooner and put her on Hannity's show or have Rush drool on the airwaves back then. Got to be a reason why a woman thought to be the GOP Hillary has just now surfaced and is being allowed to overshadow their nominee. Dare you to ask this Charlie!

[DemocratforPeace]

Sarah went to a state school. Hillary and Obama went to good private schools. We need an accredidation program for our elected officials.

It is good to see that authorities like Gibson finally have a chance to determine her qualifications for us.

I am a democrat for Obama.

[Ann Locasio]

I agree with Thomas Jackson. There is a great deal we need to know about Sarah Palin and a great deal more that needs explanation, especially from someone a hair's width away from the Presidency. As Mr. Jackson points out, the health care crisis, the housing crisis, rising unemployment, the failing economy, and national security all need to be addressed. We do not need more name-calling. We need more information.

[Los]

I really hope there is some substance to these interviews and Mr. Gibson doesn't let Gov. Palin get away with the same old "Lower taxes/cut spending/fight lobbyists/USA USA USA" tripe that seems to be the only thing coming out of the McCain camp these days.

[kazekanazawa]

Mr. Gibson, Please don't let her get a easy pass like Barak Obama has got from all the journalists so far, especially from NBC anchors.

[Rob Nel]

Let's all give a warm welcome to the Ayatollah Palin! God be willing

[Ken]

Interesting that Palin won't talk to the press, but wait, her son is leaving for Iraq this week, the same time as it has been decided to let her talk to ABC. Of course the McBush/Palin campaign wouldn't politicize something like that would they.... ( Karl Rove, you can come out from behind the curtains).