Palin And Gibson: "High Noon" In Alaska

(MarketWatch)  This column was written by MarketWatch's Jon Friedman.

---

Hollywood doesn't have to do a sequel of "High Noon," one of the all-time great movies. Charles Gibson and Sarah Palin are doing their best to recreate the dramatic showdown when the hero confronts the villain in Alaska.

But who exactly do you think are the hero and the villain as you watch ABC's broadcast this week of The Interview Heard 'Round the World?

To much of America, journalist Gibson is clearly wearing the black hat. The ABC News anchor's probing questions threaten to expose the inexperience of John McCain's running mate. Palin has become a full-blown pop-culture phenomenon, as America seems to be fascinated with everything from her Alaska roots to her distinctive eyeglasses.

Gibson simply can't win. He is the sophisticated, big-city television anchor. She is the small-town mayor who rose to become a governor and is just doing her best to raise her kids. As Gibson ventures to Alaska to interview Palin on her home tundra -- in her first unscripted appearance since she received the vice-president position on McCain's ticket -- he runs the risk of disappointing every faction in the Western Hemisphere.

If he doesn't reduce her to a quivering mass of jelly, Democrats will attack him for being too soft on a wily politician. On the other hand, if Gibson does indeed drive Palin into a corner, Republicans will shriek that he is a sexist who bullied America's new favorite hockey mom.

If Gibson plays it down the middle, critics like me will dismiss him as a hopeless wimp.

What can he accomplish?

I'd be pleased if Gibson could help me understand what Palin is thinking. How has her life changed since McCain surprised the world and placed her in the spotlight? What does she stand for? What exactly would she tell Russian President Vladimir Putin in a sit-down? And has she ever really wrestled a caribou to the ground with her bare hands?

To many Americans, Palin is the real-life version of Kevin Kline's character in the movie "Dave," an ordinary Joe who has been thrust into the white-hot White House environment. Or, perhaps, she reminds others of "Chance," the accidental political hero of "Being There."

Who will emerge as the more credible TV star? Will it be the scholarly face of "ABC World News with Charles Gibson," who graduated from Princeton University and earns millions of dollars a year, or the former mayor of tiny Wasilla, Alaska, who used to go moose hunting with her father and was nicknamed "Sarah Barracuda" because of her ferocious play on the basketball court?

Go easy on Charlie, Sarah. He's just doing his best.
By Jon Friedman

[antonn2]

CHARLES GIBSON IS A BIASED EASTERN LIBERAL ELITIST, HE HAD A A HATEFUL SMIRK ON HIS FACE DURING THE PALIN''S INTERVIEW.

[hafbakdalask]

I''m a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.
* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you''re "exotic, different."
* Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.
* If your name is Barack you''re a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
* Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you''re a maverick.
*If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district of 750,000 people,spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people.
* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as a governor then you''re qualified to become the country''s second highest ranking executive.
* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family''s values don''t represent America ''s.
* If you''re husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn''t register to vote until age 25.
OK, much clearer now.

[hafbakdalask]

I''m a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.
* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you''re "exotic, different."
* Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.
* If your name is Barack you''re a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
* Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you''re a maverick.
*If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district of 750,000 people,spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people.
* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as a governor then you''re qualified to become the country''s second highest ranking executive.
* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family''s values don''t represent America ''s.
* If you''re husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn''t register to vote until age 25.
OK, much clearer now.

[asr777]

I was born and raised a democrat, and was put off by Gibson interview. I am really tired of the democratic media trying to control the outcome. Don''t offend my intelligence. Gibson''s demeaner and body language was plain rude. Obama will create social programs,and work on health insurance reform, but who do you think will be footing the bill?? The lefties are not the Left''s we used to know. Democratic media, you lost this vote!

[janeteleanor]

Can''t wait until the tables turn on you guys. Just keep it up!!

When are you also going to wake up and realize this Obama is not for America!!! He has you fooled!!

This Oprah is a trip also. What a joke these guys have done on you all.

[dremn1]

real1413,

You are the dipsh*t, if these companies didn''t get bailed out the entire economy would collapse worldwide and you would be out of work assuming you have a job.

Crack babies don''t deserve life. Is that what you are saying? what''s next?

You are an angry judgmental person and I feel sorry for you.

[bookout2]

Charlie Gibson you are and were despicable in your
interview with Sarah Palin. Why don''t you do the
same with that negro Barack Obama? I have to laugh
because abc, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN and all the major
networks having been shamelessly lying to get
Obama in the oval office. You are trying to destroy
Sarah Palin in any way that you can just like you
did with Hilliary.
I really, really hope this backfires in your ugly
face I was in the media for 35 years. I have never
seen such disgracefull reporting in my life.
I was a news junky watching every news show I could.
Now, I never watch any news show, because I get to
angry at all the lies.

[amrt5016]

"Freedom to choose... Hmmm... using your own logic, everything is relative, and if I decide to shoot you or anyone else in the head, then I''''''''m perfectly justified, and no one should be able to say anything negative about my choice. The only differences between this scenario and abortion are that babies are both perfectly innocent and completely defenseless. Brilliant..."

Brilliant??! This guy should have his high school recalled.

[helloall34]

I hadn''t watched ABC news for years. I did for this. However, I had trouble keeping my eyes open. Who is in charge at ABC! It was terrible what idiots! They have the biggest story of the year and they play it in the wee hours of the night! The Charie Gibson guy (oh sorry "Charles") should be reading bedtime stories to kids to help put them to sleep (perhaps that is what he does). No wonder this is who was selected by the republicans to help Sarah get her feet wet. This should have been advertised with everything ABC could push with, primetime, and should have been a decent interview. What a waste of time. No wonder I never turn on ABC, I won''t be doing it again anytime soon.

[newz4i]

Palin is one mean spirited dishonest woman.

If she''s the result of a church goes, some would have second thoughts of attending a service in their town.