Washington Week

Each week, the country's top reporters join moderator Gwen Ifill for an in-depth discussion of the week's top news from Washington and around the world. The longest-running news and public affairs program on PBS, "Washington Week and National Journal" features journalists -- not pundits -- lending insight and perspective to the week's important news stories. Now, Ifill brings "Washington Week" online.

Ifill was online Thursday, June 29, at Noon ET to take questions and comments.

Ifill is moderator and managing editor of "Washington Week" and senior correspondent for "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer." Ifill spent several years as a "Washington Week" panelist before taking over the moderator's chair in October 1999. Before coming to PBS, she spent five years at NBC News as chief congressional and political correspondent. Her reports appeared on "NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw," "Today," "Meet the Press" and MSNBC. Ifill joined NBC News from The New York Times where she covered the White House and politics. She also covered national and local affairs for The Washington Post, Baltimore Evening Sun, and Boston Herald American.

" Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and National Journal ," airs on WETA/Channel 26, Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. ( check local listings ).

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Washington, D.C.: Gwen,

First of all, thank you for bringing a calm, thoughful, sophisticated view of politics to the airwaves every Friday.

My question is: Where do you see the Democratic Party going with its brand new religious embrace? I happen to agree that Democrats need to show America that they are just as religious as the GOP. I just hope that Democrats don't go too far trying to woo voters. Frankly, the religion of the Christian Right scares me. It's the other 75 percent that Democrats need to impress.

Gwen Ifill: Hi everybody

The Democratic party's "brand new religious embrace?"

I hardly think holding one conference where people speak out loud about faith constitutes a sign that the Dems are heading off on some wildly divergent path. Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, "far right" or "far left," it's probably wise to play wait and see with this one.

And thanks for your nice compliment too.

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Bethesda, Md.: Now that even a Reagan Justice Department official, Bruce Fein, has brought up impeachment as a means to combat the president's de facto abolition of Congress (using signing statements), do you think the mainstream media will acknowledge the large portion of the public that has been clamoring for such hearings for years?

Gwen Ifill: Last I checked, it's not up to the media to call for or hold hearings. That still takes the leadership of Congress, which -- right now -- isn't exactly clamoring for impeachment. I'm not sure the majority of Americans are either.

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Bethesda, Md.: Gwen, during his recent stop in Austria, the President fielded the following from a reporter: "So my question to you is why do you think that you've failed so badly to convince Europeans, to win their heads and hearts and minds?"

The directness in that question would be unheard of here in the States. It's as if the journalist is unaware that this man is Sovereign and must be continually genuflected to. Similarly in Great Britain, reporters have the misguided notion that the Prime Minister should somehow answer to the people. They actually get -cross- with him when he doesn't! Do you think we will EVER teach those countries how democracy is supposed to work? They seem to have so much to learn. Thanks.

Gwen Ifill: And what was the President's answer? Was it more illuminating because of the way the question was phrased?

My job as a journalist is not only to pose questions, but also to try to elicit actual answers. In my experience, "getting cross" with the person I am questioning has never yielded that desired result.

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Baltimore, Md.: Is the IRS allowed the same access to SWIFT transactions as the NSA?

Gwen Ifill: Don't know. I have not seen any mention of the IRS in these stories about the monitoring of bank transactions.

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Sayonara Summit: So a near lame-duck president is taking a completely lame-duck Prime Minister on a tour of Graceland.

Glad there's no problems that need to be solved or anything.

Gwen Ifill: You know, Presidents do a lot of things with their days. If I thought going to Graceland (or raising money for candidates, or going running with an Iraqi amputee, or giving awards to outstanding teachers) meant that nothing else gets done, I would just stop voting.

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Washington, D.C.: Dearest Gwen: Would you please consider having Rachael Ray lookalike Ceci Connally on to discuss her great reports about the Mexican election? I was just there and her reports are far better than what you get in Mexico. Why does she appear on Fox? Yuk.

Gwen Ifill: Our pal Ceci is doing fabulous work blogging the Mexican elections for the Washington Post. May I also recommend the reporter's notebook my colleague Ray Suarez is filing for the Online NewsHour? http://www.pbs.org/newshour/

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Troy, Mich.: Hello Gwen,

When do you think the NYT, and other media types will push back and explain that it was not only the Times that disclosed the SWIFT data gathering. I've yet to hear of a senator asking for the WSJ to have their credentials pulled. Is anyone reporting on this hypocricy?

Gwen Ifill: It is being reported, kind of, but I agree that this part of the story has been overlooked.

That probably reflects the difficulty news outlets seem to have in defending their work, without stooping to what appears to be partisan pushback

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Arlington, Va.: Spector and other Senators seem to be floating a "border security first" compromise -- is it gaining any supporters among the GOP in the House?

Gwen Ifill: I think this is one of those "wait and see" moments. There appear to be folks on all sides of this debate who do not seem to have an interest in compromise.

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Pine Bluff, Ark.: Is America ready to elect a female for President in 2008?

Gwen Ifill: See "wait and see" above.

I am willing to be surprised on that one.

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San Francisco, Calif.: Hello, Ms. Ifill, and thanks for taking my question today. Your chats are great!

Who are you rooting for in the Barbara Walters vs. Star Jones Reynolds smackdown? And do you think Rosie O'Donnell is a good choice to (as it now turns out) replace Star on The View?

Gwen Ifill: I LOVE this question...especially since I never, ever watch The View.

But I would hazard that one should never, ever bet against Barbara Walters.

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Fairfax, Va.: After the special election in San Diego, does anyone still think the Dems will take the House? I agree with Howard Dean's "50 state" approach, that this is going to take time and patience, and Rahm Emanuel's bluster of this being a "historic opportunity" is off the mark and short-sighted.

Gwen Ifill: Everybody's looking for A Sign to predict what will happen in November. I myself was in Connecticut recently covering the Lieberman and Shays challenges. But this is where predicting runs into trouble. It turns out the voters have the final say.

Sorry, Rahm.

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Oxford, Miss.: I've lived 45 minutes from Graceland for three years and still haven't had the chance to go!

Maybe it's because I contributed to Kerry/Edwards.

Gwen Ifill: Hey, you've GOT to go to Graceland. Plug a little Paul Simon in your IPod for a soundtrack, and you will know you are in America.

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Alpharetta, Ga.: In the past, Democrats have talked about single women as a major base constituency, and they've got numerical power as there are upwards of forty million single women of voting age. It's true that they probably are socially liberal, and also economically likely to sympathize with Dem. policies, however in 2000, the "waitress mom" was considered a swing voter. Could you picture Republicans courting single women to minimalize losses?

Gwen Ifill: I've never been a fan of grouping blocs of voters in this way. I no more believe that most single women are liberal, than I do that most married men are Republicans.

I know, I know...I bet you have a poll...

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Washington, D.C.: Generally on Washington-based news roundtables there is precious little in the way of follow-up to past stories. Yesterday we learned the man responsible for the bombing of the sacred mosque in Iraq which started a major round of civil 'strife,' if you will, in that country. At the time, it was a huge story, quite rightly so. Now we find out that he is a Tunisian. I think it would be excellent for your television journalists to do a follow up to this story and what it all means, since no doubt at the time we were all asking ourselves, 'who could be behind this atrocity?'

Gwen Ifill: I have to say I agree with you that we do not do enough follow-up. Speaking only for Washington Week, I can only say that, most weeks, we barely have the time to look at the news at hand. Looking back is a luxury.

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Lincoln, R.I.: Hello Ms. Ifill,

I'm wondering why Pres. Bush has recently been demanding that Congress pass line-item veto legislation. Didn't the Supreme Court strike down the line-item veto law passed during the Clinton administration?

A cynical person might wonder about the timing - four months before the midterm elections -- is he trying to gain some fiscal conservatism cred?

Gwen Ifill: I think you'd be hard pressed to find a President of the United State who has not longed for a line-item veto.

I cannot speak to the timing.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: Do you think Rep. Jack Murtha's outspokenness re Iraq War and veteran issues (and, to a lesser extent, his expressed interest in becoming House Majority Leader, should the Democrats win back the House) will help or harm his reelection campaign here in western PA. this fall? Do you think the Bush administration will be cutting back troop numbers in Iraq significantly by then? Murtha's opponent has been trying to paint him as unpatriotic, which smells to some like Swiftboating run amok.

Gwen Ifill: I have to say, you're in a better position to answer that than I am.

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Washington, D.C.: I'd like to see more National Journal reporters on your show. How come we don't see more? Was that part of the PBS/NJ collaboration?

Gwen Ifill: We use the reporters who best fit the news mix of the week. When those reporters work for the National Journal, we are happy to include them.

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San Marcos, Calif.: Do you believe that the party in power attempts to intimidate the media?

If so, what are the key forms this intimidation takes?

Do you believe that the media are in fact intimidated by these moves?

If so, what is the effect on american democracy?

Gwen Ifill: Interesting questions.

Yes, every politician I have ever covered has attempted to intimidate reporters -- whether by withholding information, or calling the boss to complain, or yelling about us on the floor of the House. Usually it does not work, at least not on us.

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Boston, Mass.: I'm disappointed with Obama myself. I can't stand all this religious grand standing from politicians. I hate it when Republicans do it, and I hate it when Democrates start with it. Now in 2016 will have to choke down Presiden Obama looking into peoples souls and saying they are great, and Jesus told me to invade such and such country. What a sad day, hopefully not to be repeated.

Gwen Ifill: What do you have against a political leader telling us what he believes? Wouldn't you prefer to know?

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Twofer one: Re the border fence: An avant-garde architect in NYC proposed siting a major alternative energy corridor along the U.S.-Mexican border -- solar and wind -- thereby providing a monitored easement, getting two uses for one eyesore, revenue for security, jobs, and energy alternatives, all in one! Too good to be true?

Gwen Ifill: On whose property? And who pays?

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San Marcos, Calif.: The Republican party has been very active in pressuring PBS and NPR to reflect a more GOP friendly face. In your opinion, has this pressure been effective? In your opinion -- is such pressure justified?

Gwen Ifill: I don't know if I agree with the premise with the question, but IF that has been happening, I'd say (speaking only for my experience) that it has not worked, and that it would not be justified in any case.

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Louisville, Ky.: What explains the combative nature between a newspaper's audience and the newspaper itself? Or, more generally, the media and the media consumers?

It seems like people are airing the greviances about their government and you feel some need to defend it. I don't even think that's necessary. What we want is someone on our side, not someone to tell us what we believe is foolish.

Gwen Ifill: There is absolutely nothing wrong with debate, or with being held accountable for the things we write. It's not a matter of being defensive. It's a matter of respecting our audience.

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San Marcos, Calif.: Follow up question.

OK, the intimidation techniques don't work on reporters. Do they work on publishing companies and broadcasting companies? Is pressure exerted through threats from big advertisers? Are these effective?

Gwen Ifill: I honestly do not think so, but I can only speak for my experience, and I have never worked on the business side.

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New Hampshire: With all due respect Ms. Ifill, if looking back is a luxury then how in the world is the average American news consumer supposed to get to the truth and be able to make decisions about the future of our country?

Gwen Ifill: Read. Read newspapers and books and magazines. As much as I love my viewers, I would hope they do not depend on my 27 minutes a week to tell them all they need to know.

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Alexandria, Va.: Is President Bush making the case that the terroists pay more attention to what the N.Y. Times publishes than his speeches? He has repeatedly said that the U.S. is tracking financial records but is now up in arms because the times has reported on the same thing.

Gwen Ifill: Good question. Wish I could climb into the President's head and get the answer.

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Anonymous: At this stage in time, do you REALLY believe the voters have the last say?

Gwen Ifill: Only if they keep voting.

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Washington, D.C.: Ms. Ifill,

Did you read Sen. Obama's speech from yesterday? I ask because I found it to be memorizing. I follow him closely, but this seemed to be even above-grade for him. I am interested to see the coverage regarding his message and his fundamental points. I've seen some of the initial reaction, but I wonder if this will be something of a platform that might develop out of progressive (democrat) politics.

Thanks for your reaction.

Gwen Ifill: I don't know what it will yield, but Sen Obama's language, at lease, seemed different.

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Follow up to Obama: To the chatter that mentioned Obama... I urge that person to re-read his entire speech. If you read it closely you can tell that he is not of the "Jesus told me to invade this country" mindset. He makes very clear distinctions. I am a NON believer-not a church-goer at all. Re-read it, with a totally open mind.

Thanks!

Gwen Ifill: Talk amongst yourselves, why don't you?

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Anonymous: How can you say that intimidating the press does not work? Case in point: IRAQ

Gwen Ifill: I am guessing you have a point of view on this, but I am also guessing I would not agree with it.

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Atlanta, Ga.: What did you think of the flag burning debate and vote? It came right down to the wire. But, some say, Senators who supported it for political reasons may have switched their votes if it seemed to actually be able to pass.

Gwen Ifill: It was well-reported in advance exactly how many votes that amendment was going to get, and who was going to vote which way. So I don't know if vote-switching was ever a realistic option.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: Re the Democratic embrace of religion: Could an avowed agnostic ever win the Presidency, or even a Governorship or Senate seat? Seems like that's one of the few groups it's still acceptable for politicians to revile.

Gwen Ifill: I don't know. To me, that almost falls into the same category as can-a-woman-be-elected-president.

No way to know until a serious candidate tries.

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Cortez, Colo.: FWIW, I thought President Bush in his answer to the Austrian journalist missed an opportunity to try to make the U.S. case for why we believe we must impose our will on other countries. It might not help our image but "absurd" was not really an answer.

Gwen Ifill: You actually think that an international conference in Vienna would have been the right place for President Bush to make the case for why "we must impose our will on other countries?"

C'mon, you're joshing me.

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Seward, Neb.: Two questios:

1. Just because a a politician tells you something, what makes you think he actually believes it?

2. Does nothing outrage you?

Gwen Ifill: I think you presume in your question that the stories you read are written by reporters who never ask a follow-up question.

Here is my rule: my job is to do the best I can to get at the truth. If that is not immediately possible, I try again.

That does not mean it always work. As my boss Jim Lehrer likes to say, we are not casting movies here. Our job is to tell the story, not shape it to suit our "outrage."

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Anonymous: Along with reading books and newspapers, may I suggest searching on the Internet?

Gwen Ifill: By all means. If you're participating in this webchat, I'm guessing you already do that.

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Re: Murtha: Good afternoon.

I do too much news-reading for my own good. Did I read somewhere that Murtha attempted to persuade the NYT to not run the article on finanical tracking?

Gwen Ifill: I did not read that, which does not mean it didn't happen. Try as I might, I don't get to every thing, every day.

(I did read that Star Jones story, though. What do you think that means?)

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Gwen Ifill: Sorry I didn't get to more of your questions, but I am SO out of time. Catch us on the air tomorrow night...lots of Supreme Court stuff to talk about.

See you next time.

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