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

[Bohemian]

FYI: Governor Sarah Palin's 1ST TV INTERVIEW was not with ABC as this article depicts; in fact Governor Sarah Palin's 1ST TV INTERVIEW was with FOX NEWS and Greta Van Susteren and aired this weekend... as was titled Governor Sarah Palin "An American Woman"

[Joe]

I'll reserve judgment until I see whether Palin gets real questions or softballs. ABC has been rather sensationalized and inaccurate in this election, only a notch less sensational than Fox.

If a real journalist like Campbell Brown was conducting the interview, I'd have more confidence in Palin. You don't see Obama hiding from the media that hates him: he faced down Fox News.

If Palin wants to convince me, she'll have to hold her own against more than a teleprompter.

[vida]

WE WILL SEE SHE IS MORE BULL THAN PIT

[Karene]

I agree Thomas, do not give Sarah a pass on the tough questions. She was NEVER vetted by McCain and staff and yet he presumed to place her into this VP slot...one heartbeat away from the Oval Office. She has a LOT to answer for...you have noted almost all of it...I don't think you mentioned those books that she wanted to remove from the Wasilla library though!?! As to the bridge, she actually is for TWO bridges to Nowhere in Alaska.
Drummond1, you CAN save your Barack prayers (He has been vetted by ALL for over 18 months now, like over 20 debates for example) It is Gov. Palin who will need much help...when she actually has to answer questions that are NOT coming from her biggest fans, when she has explain her positions, her true record as mayor & Governor, and her many scandals!

[John]

RE: Thomas Jackson

I had to chuckle when you pointed out that Sarah Palin was mayor of a small city and Governor of a small (population wise) state but you fail to mention that the Democratic PRESIDENTIAL nominee has ZERO governing experience. No budgets, no governing, no managing of the armed forces (national guard), etc... Oh please - the only person getting a pass is the Rock Star, media beloved Barack Obama....

[Mick Dee]

Lets see if she can say anything positive other then bashing Obama with a scripted speech...just like McCain.
She brings nothing to the ticket other then a pretty face and that is not a credential for being vice president. Its about time they let her lose with the media...forget her family...just grill her.

[df44az]

why is so important to asked all the pertinent guestions of Gov. Palin and yet nada of Obama is he a Muslin,he doesn't seem very patriotic, no pin, no salute to the flag what the hell kind of president will he be. where all the criticle investagation of him.

[Moe]

Hey Natasha, I know that McCain pays supporters to post about him on blogs, but you mean to tell me he's now paying Russia to support him, too? Just how desperate are the Republicans?

Source:
http://news.slashdot.org/news/08/06/12/1211204.shtml

[Coffee]

Drummond1,

The media is not pro democrat. They were digging for dirt because she was new and was not making herself available for questions. That's what the media does when a candidate dodges them- they start looking for answers on their own. It's called Journalism, and it's seldom practiced anymore.

Was CNN showing Democratic bias during the DNC when they reported on every one of McCain's attack ads as if they were legitimate news? If I was in the media- I'd WANT McCain / Palin in the White House. Man, it'll be like Bill Clinton all over again. It will be scandal after scandal- we may even see an impeachment if Palin takes over- she's a train wreck and the media just eat that stuff up.

[Christopher]

Will she be carrying her Mentally challenged baby that was born for the only reason to prove her point of not having an abortion even though she never wanted it? Will she be grabbing her future son inlaws balls untill he marrys her pregnant child.

[CRL]

With the media establishment solidly in the black power marxist's pocket and showing no indication they will bother to hide their agenda. I'm rather suprised she is even willing to acknowledge the leftist propaganda machine.

[James W. Procopio, M.A.T.]

Ms. Palin's emergence upon the national scene will undoubtedly precipitate significant interest in the current campaign for the American Presidency.
when matched with a genuine American hero against the team of Barack Obama and Joseph Biden, her performance, whatever it may be, is certain to be marked as historic.
I wish her well.

[Waynev]

Ask all the hard questions of Palin you want, but remember to ask Obama questions regarding: What does a community organizer do? Who did Obama report to while a CO? What agency did he work under, state or US agency? Ask if considers himself to be a good listner? If he answers YES, then ask how could he have sat in church for 20 years listening to hate preaching and do nothing(he either a bad listner or one of poor judgment)? Ask why did he carry on a relationship with Ayers (terrorist) for such a long time? Why hasn't he answered the many questions regarding this association? Why did he vote against the abortion bill that would have saved these children, after all they no longer belong to the mother? Why does he think it is OK to question the character of his opponents but calls it racist when his oppents question his character?

[Carol Kerrett]

It is about time that the Republicans and Sara Palin were going to play ball in this election...just like the others have had to do. She came out blazing at the Republican Convention and just made me feel sick to my stomach. She appears on the scene and feels that she has no dues to pay. Sorry, my dear...you are up for the same scrutiny in this election and nothing is private or out of bounds. If you cannot face the music...go back to Alaska and live your life the way you want to. However, if you are going to be a heartbeat away from the presidency then I want to know that you have something besides a nasty attitude to show us. Don't for one minute think that all women will automatically be for you....we are not all followers of woman power or nothing. Sen Clinton had a great knowledge of all the issues and solutions and so does Barack Obama. The idea is to know what you have in mind for the issues...not your ego. John McCain has not given the solutions and his message is garbled..is yours? We will see what you can do when you start having to answer to the press and you do have to answer to the press, for after all, they are voters in this election as well.

[Back From Iraq]

Certainly the interview will be choreographed in such a manner as to paint Governor Palin as on the fringe of conservative society by the politically correct producers at ABC. They will expect to hear such “scary” responses like; “Yes, I am pro-life and I believe that there is a lucrative abortion industry that lobbies hard for any and all types of abortion, including partial birth abortion.” And certainly they will steer toward an answer like, “Yes, I am a member of the National Rifle Association and I believe in the individual right of law abiding people to bear arms.” And of course they may hear, “Yes, as mayor, and later as governor, I sought for federal funding of projects for my constituents because those projects provided jobs in construction, engineering and services and I thought that the projects would have bettered the community.” And certainly, this one, “No, I don’t want parents to have to send their sons and daughters off to war, but there is a war that was declared against us and I support our efforts in that war. My oldest son is deploying for service in harms way and I hope others pray for him and others as much as I do.” And concerning the economy, “I believe in an open free market economy without restrictions on the one hand and without unfair protections on the other; and no, I would never advocate a Euro-socialist form of government and a redistribution of wealth that would only have a temporary effect on the economy, if at all.”

Well, this will come as a surprise to ABC, but most Americans would agree with those answers; so, I wonder what they will ask her.

[Chris Applegate]

Wow! I was wondering where Super-Mom has been this weekend. I'm sure she is getting a crash course in what to say...but more importantly what not to say.
I sincerely hope she is not given an easy time. She need to answer for many of her comments in her speach. I too am curious about her, what do the republicans call it oh yah, flip-flopping like a fish out of water on the bridge to nowhere. I had heard about the pork money issue and looked into it myself and I was astonished to see that her and her boss/leader running mate are polar opposites on this issue since he went fo rnone and here state got the most pork money of any state. Talk about wasted money! And her extreme religious views are another area of worry!

[Paul H]

I a sick of Republicans using the media as a smoke screen. They are just doing their jobs. The hammered Obama, and rev wright. They even covered the fist bump. With all the alternative sources of news that exist now, it is quite silly to think that the corporately owned media is in cahoots with each other to push an agenda. Well, unless you are Fox...

[Kentucky Thom]

Let me make sure I have got this right...Govenor Palin believes we should drill in the Alaska National wildlife refuge for more oil, does not believe in global warming. The republican talking heads say that we must remember her state does border Russia so she knows a little about how to handle Russia....so I guess if she were to live next to a nuclear reactor would that mean she was an expert on nuclear power? She believes in teaching creationism in our public schools when our country's youth are so far behind educationally to the rest of the world we have to import people from other countries for many technical positions. She knows how to shoot a rifle and field dress a moose according to one of the talking heads. She was the mayor of a very small town in Alaska. Ok now lets review...she clings to her gun and obviously to religion, Hum could this be one of those individuals that Senator Obama was speaking about being from small town America? When are you people going to turn off the television, put down people magazine and wake up! Should your vote allow this lady to be place in a position of power it will set this country back 100 years. Do you really want your children being taught the bible in school? Do you want this right wing bible toting X beauty queen one heart beat from leading your country in the 21st century? Maybe we could get Jerry Farwell to be Secretary of State also. I know there are a whole lot of ignorant people in this country and the scary part is far too many of them can identify with what she says. I will agree with one comment one of her supporters said, " God had better bless America if this Bible thumping Pentecostal pro lifer gets elected.

[Contessa]

Make no mistake- The Republican ticket hand-picked Sarah Palin only because McCain was told if he picked either Ridge or Leiberman, he would for sure lose the election. Palin is such an extreme, right-wing Christian conservative- She clearly does not have the "executive experience" to be hand-pick as a VP nominee. Voters beware- the conservative right continues to sneak their agenda in, as always.

[Orel Stevenson]

Truly, let us hope this will be an honest effort to see where Palin stands on the issues.

[Paul Thomas]

I hope ABC asked her questions about homosexuality and lesbianism. I also hope ABC asks her questions about abortion. That should cover a lot of the immoral issues that the democrats support. Next, ABC should ask her about freedoms being stripped from the American people because of 9/11. ABC should ask her about rehabilitation verses retribution judicial systems. That should cover a lot of the immoral issues that republicans support. As far as the war goes in Iraq, I am neither for it nor against it, but if we are going to continue to be at war, why fight it like we did Vietnam? I bet she could answer that one.

[Jermacd]

Not good enough. The damage has been done.

[Barbyrah]

Let me take a guess: One of the "locations" will be the hearth and home camera shot of a crack-of-dawn teary-eyed good-bye to her son going off to war. And the sympathy/patriotism vote...goes wild. (Doesn't anyone think the "coincidence" re: the timing of these interviews is more than a little suspect?)
Mr Gibson, please: Don't go there. Please, do not allow the media to be used in this way.
Please.

[Rick F]

Hopefully there will be questions about why the republican party wants the country to stay a capitalist state and let free market solve the issues rather than becoming a social state and turning all control over to the government, which seems to be what Obama wants.

[DarrenT]

Personal questions? When Sara Palin took the stage at the RNC she spent the first 20 minutes talking about how great her family is and how her personal life has shaped her into the person she's become. So, if the only thing you bring to the table is your background (anti-abortion, creationist, religious conservative) don't cry foul when reporters and the American public question the very thing you and the Republican party champion about yourself.