So far the Charlie Gibson – Sarah Palin interviews have not been particularly surprising in terms of content (questions and answers). But what is clear is Gibson’s aristocratic disdain for the lesser parvenu Palin. Whether this is deliberate or simply “leaking through” only Gibson’s analyst knows for sure, but it is there nevertheless.
What strikes me as ironic in this condescension is that, whatever Palin’s level of preparation, the mainstream media itself has been notably thin, almost ignorant, in its level of discourse throughout this campaign season, concentrating on gotchas and the most routine comments most every man on the street might make.
An example of their shallowness (not from this interview, but so common it is worth noting) is the continuing acceptance by MSM reporters of a strict Sunni-Shia dichotomy when anyone with even a passing knowledge of the subject knows that Sunni and Shia terror groups (and states like Iran) have on many occasions worked with their supposedly-hostile counterparts toward a common end. (It’s much like mafia families). The lack of MSM understanding of Islam in general at this late date is stunning. (If more than five percent even know the rudiments of Shia, I would be stunned, but they play gotcha with politicians on the subject.)
But my question regarding the Gibson interview goes beyond the issue of condescencion and MSM ignorance to the general query of what we learn from such head to heads. I didn’t learn much from O’Reilly-Obama either. I think the reason for this is the overriding concern of the interviewer for his own business (self) interest. As we all know, O’Reilly is one of the biggest egotists on TV. So it’s obvious. But Gibson is no bashful flower either. Not far beneath the surface, when he’s on the air, it’s about him. Most of all I would like to see the candidates left alone, without intermediaries, to debate the issues. Lincoln vs. Douglas… not Lincoln vs. Douglas seen the through the prism of Gibson, Couric, Stephanopoulos, Olbermann or anybody else.
UPDATE: Krauthammer eviscerates Gibson and the NYT fuddy-duddies here.
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