Obama to appear on O'Reilly factor

[Ender]

link

In an attempt at counter-programming John McCain's nomination acceptance speech, Barack Obama has agreed to appear tomorrow on The O'Reilly Factor, a popular programme on Rupert Murdoch's Fox News channel.

The Obama interview comes after months of behind-the-scenes peacemaking between the candidate and the Fox News chief Roger Ailes -- talks brokered by Murdoch himself. Widespread Democratic concern over the Murdoch channel's conservative slant had fuelled a de facto boycott of Fox News by the Obama camp.

Ailes told the Washington Post that Obama's concern during their face-to-face meeting was simple. "I just want to know if I'm going to get a fair shake from Fox News channel," he recalled the Democratic senator saying.

No matter how Obama handles an encounter with Bill O'Reilly, a programme host with a penchant for putting guests on the spot, the interview is sure to distract some attention from McCain's acceptance speech.

McCain embarked on effort to pull focus from Obama's convention speech last week, running a congratulatory advert that featured the Republican nominee speaking directly into the camera to his opponent.

While Obama warms to Fox News, no signs of a similar détente are appearing at the MSNBC network, which McCain and other high-profile Republicans have accused of favouring the Democratic nominee.

McCain's campaign manager, Rick Davis, wrote a letter to the president of MSNBC parent network NBC to protest against what he called "irresponsible" coverage of the Republican candidate.

Ailes described both MSNBC and CNN as "in the tank" for Obama, a notion disputed by executives at both stations.

I see this as a smart move on Obama's part

1) Despite O'Reilly's views, at the end of the day the guy is a broadcaster. With his high profile guests he plays nice rather then burn them and never get access again. So there might be one or two hard questions, by and large it will be kid gloves. After the fact O'Reilly will distort it like always, but for the time it fulfill sits most important part, which is
2) Steals spotlight from McCain. This plus the start of the NFL season is really gonna hurt his ability to stand and deliver like Obama did. Obama got an 8 point boost from the convention, Republicans need to close that gap with theirs. That is now even less likely.
3) Fulfills promise made months ago; I'll be surprised if that doesn't get brought up
4) While it won't necessarily win over any O'Reilly factor watchers, it can and likely will have the net effect of making him less scary to them. That means the attempts to drive them to the polls in November will have to work harder because they won't be as knee jerk.

So I expect him to go on, slam daily kos or just the media in general on the topic of a "clean campaign", smile and play nice. Should be entertaining to watch.

[General Zod]

3) Fulfills promise made months ago; I'll be surprised if that doesn't get brought up

Which promise was this?

[Anguirus]

The Obama interview comes after months of behind-the-scenes peacemaking between the candidate and the Fox News chief Roger Ailes -- talks brokered by Murdoch himself.

Someone sees which way the wind is blowing.

[Jadeite]

Fox executives are businessmen first, Republicans second. Obama makes great news, and they want in on it, so hopefully this "truce" between them and the Obama campaign leads to more balanced coverage in the future in exchange for greater access.

[SirNitram]

Fox executives are businessmen first, Republicans second. Obama makes great news, and they want in on it, so hopefully this "truce" between them and the Obama campaign leads to more balanced coverage in the future in exchange for greater access.

Honestly, I truly doubt Fox will balance things in the overall. They might put on the kid gloves until Obama become tarnished(Then they will be back on the conspiracy theory bandwagon as before), but it'll still be the same stupidity. I really have lost faith in the idea that 24 hour cable news execs actually follow profits, or why would they keep right wing commentators with such bad ratings(Glenn Beck is a nice example, from his Neilsen ratings.)?

[Coyote]

I think you folks are being naive if you think O'Reilly will play nice with Obama. Are you kidding? Obama's had the "liberal media" totally "in the tank" for him since day one-- Fox has to prove that they aren't the "liberal media" by going after him. And if by some chance they can goad Mr. Cool (Obama) into an outburst of some sort, that will bring ratings.

O'Reilly will needle the fuck out of him, because if Obama dares to defend himself, it'll be "Obama = Angry Black Man/Black Rage [comin' to rapes yer White Wimmins!]". If Obama doesn't defend himself, then he "won't have the backbone to be President".

It doesn't matter if Obama conducts himself with perfect professionalism-- one little thing and Fox will paint him as one of the above: Urkel, or OJ.

[Jadeite]

Honestly, I truly doubt Fox will balance things in the overall. They might put on the kid gloves until Obama become tarnished(Then they will be back on the conspiracy theory bandwagon as before)

Of course they will, but a short term gain of better coverage before going back to negative is still better than entirely negative.

, but it'll still be the same stupidity. I really have lost faith in the idea that 24 hour cable news execs actually follow profits, or why would they keep right wing commentators with such bad ratings(Glenn Beck is a nice example, from his Neilsen ratings.)?

I would imagine its because they make enough profit they can afford to keep low rating shows around, or because Murdoch decreed it. I was reading about Murdoch last night, and while he's still a racist old scumbag, he's apparently becoming slightly more liberal thanks to his wife and interaction with her friends.

[SirNitram]

I think I wasn't clear. I'm not talking exclusively about Fox. Other networks too; the example I gave was from CNN Headline News. Don't ask me why 'Headline news' has a commentary retard on it.

[Lord Poe]

One reason I can't stand to watch O'Reily is because of the usual bullshit he pulls; not alowing someone to answer the question he's just asked them without talking over them. I'd hope Obama calls him on it each time its employed.

[Lord Poe]

One reason I can't stand to watch O'Reily is because of the usual bullshit he pulls; not allowing someone to answer the question he's just asked them without talking over them. I'd hope Obama calls him on it each time its employed.

[CmdrWilkens]

Here is the problem. Being a regular Fox News viewer is a stronger indiction of intention to vote Republican than membership in the Republican party. Seriously I get that its the idea of "sellign yourself as bipartisan" but there is virtually nobody watching FoxNews who is going to be swayed and certainly not by a single appearence or two when the entire rest of the time the channel is dedicated to replacing Rs with Ds for politicians who screw up and repeating RNC talking points as often as possible.

[Jadeite]

I think I wasn't clear. I'm not talking exclusively about Fox. Other networks too; the example I gave was from CNN Headline News. Don't ask me why 'Headline news' has a commentary retard on it.

Ah, I don't watch the networks, I figured you were talking about Fox.

[Surlethe]

Here is the problem. Being a regular Fox News viewer is a stronger indiction of intention to vote Republican than membership in the Republican party. Seriously I get that its the idea of "sellign yourself as bipartisan" but there is virtually nobody watching FoxNews who is going to be swayed and certainly not by a single appearence or two when the entire rest of the time the channel is dedicated to replacing Rs with Ds for politicians who screw up and repeating RNC talking points as often as possible.

Obama isn't trying to appeal to Fox News watchers; he's trying to appeal to the American political center. It makes sense; not only does it reinforce his image as a post-partisan politician, it is also a counterblow in the center to the McCain campaign. Not only does it drag attention away from McCain's speech, it also comes right on the heels of McCain's appointment of a far-right-wing fundamentalist VP candidate: a blatant attempt to appeal to his base and get out their vote. Obama is taking advantage of the tack to the right that represents to continue to sell himself to the center as bipartisan and willing to talk reasonably to anyone.

[Chris OFarrell]

Yeah I have to say this is a good idea on several levels strategiclly.

Much as McCains announcment of his VP was timed to take momentum from Obama after his convention (and THAT backfired something amazing), Obama going head to head with O'Reilly is going to really do the same.

I mean a lot of people will look at the Republican convention and go 'yeah yeah, another convention, whatever'.

But when they hear that Barrak Obama is going to go HEAD TO HEAD with O'Reilly on his home turf, that is going to get a HUGE 'Hey THAT is going to be cool to watch!' response IMO.

Obama is far too smart to not know exactly what he is getting into and frankly, I think there is a better then even money chance Murdoch himself has told Bill to be strong, but NOT cross any lines given that this smells of a strategic olive branch of sorts to Obama.

Because the critical thing about this whole election, IMHO, is that a LOT of McCains supporters are NOT 'Pro McCain' as much as 'Anti-Obama'. This failed with Kerry in 04 and it should fail again for McCain, ESPECIALLY if Obama now starts to really ramp up as I think he is going to, especially when the VP choices go head to head.

Obama here has the chance to really make an 'in your face' impression to a lot of the people who are NOT pro McCain but anti-him. These people watch Fox News and see everythign through there, so now they are going to see Obama, live, with their 'hero'. And I have great confidence he will more then hold his own.

Strategiclly, this is the nightmare for McCain.

[Chris OFarrell]

Not to mention this smacks a lot of Fox hedging its bets just a little bit. If this goes off well, they have rebuilt one bridge they can try to use to operate in an Obama timeframe, presenting themselves as TRYING to be balanced, regardless of the truth.

If McCain wins, they can go with business as usual.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Side bets on how long before Bill-0 cuts his mike?

sorry, it's the first thing that came to mind, when dealing with that dishonest piece of shite.

[Chris OFarrell]

Side bets on how long before Bill-0 cuts his mike?

sorry, it's the first thing that came to mind, when dealing with that dishonest piece of shite.

Zero chance.

Murdoch will be in control of this, make no mistake...and not even Bill would be stupid enough to cross swords with him.

FAR too many people will be watching and it would give the Democratts FAR too much firepower against Fox and the Republicans by extension if he used any of his usual bag of tricks so openly.

Not that this is saying he WON'T try many other tactics of questionable integrity.

[Justforfun000]

Sir Nitram Wrote:

I think I wasn't clear. I'm not talking exclusively about Fox. Other networks too; the example I gave was from CNN Headline News. Don't ask me why 'Headline news' has a commentary retard on it.

That's something I meant to ask a million times over..What is a good news station to watch that's balanced on these political issues? I'm up in Canada, so I'm not sure how fair our own coverage is..like on CTV for example...

[TithonusSyndrome]

Ailes told the Washington Post that Obama's concern during their face-to-face meeting was simple. "I just want to know if I'm going to get a fair shake from Fox News channel," he recalled the Democratic senator saying.

I enjoy this warm and inoffensive Obama charm that still alludes to a point; some networks are worse offenders than others in the ugly political climate that's been built the past decade or so which he aims to fix, and rather than come out guns blazing and fingers pointing, he's suggesting there's reason to believe that this specific network is especially hostile to him.

[General Zod]

That's something I meant to ask a million times over..What is a good news station to watch that's balanced on these political issues? I'm up in Canada, so I'm not sure how fair our own coverage is..like on CTV for example...

Your best bet would probably be to just watch a variety and then decide for yourself based on what you get from each of them.

[Anguirus]

it is also a counterblow in the center to the McCain campaign. Not only does it drag attention away from McCain's speech, it also comes right on the heels of McCain's appointment of a far-right-wing fundamentalist VP candidate

It also comes right after McCain threw a hissy fit and blew off CNN.

[Darth Fanboy]

O'Reilly Is at his best when the person he is interviewing/debating doesn't have as much percieved prestige and/or intelligence as he does. Obama should be able to handle himself accordingly and if he does will give him a boost. I can see a few people against McCain switch to voting for Obama, thinking that they can vote for someone else 4 years later if necessary.

[dragon]

One reason I can't stand to watch O'Reily is because of the usual bullshit he pulls; not alowing someone to answer the question he's just asked them without talking over them. I'd hope Obama calls him on it each time its employed.

Either that or Obama just yawns in his face and then politely asks him what he is babling about and what kind of deluded world he lives in.

[Justforfun000]

Your best bet would probably be to just watch a variety and then decide for yourself based on what you get from each of them.

Yeah I gues. Just wondered though if many here had already come to any conclusions. From what I hear Cnn and Fox are among the worst. This is correct?

[Hillary]

Fox executives are businessmen first, Republicans second. Obama makes great news, and they want in on it, so hopefully this "truce" between them and the Obama campaign leads to more balanced coverage in the future in exchange for greater access.

Honestly, I truly doubt Fox will balance things in the overall. They might put on the kid gloves until Obama become tarnished(Then they will be back on the conspiracy theory bandwagon as before), but it'll still be the same stupidity. I really have lost faith in the idea that 24 hour cable news execs actually follow profits, or why would they keep right wing commentators with such bad ratings(Glenn Beck is a nice example, from his Neilsen ratings.)?

With the greatest of respect, you don't understand how Murdoch works at all, if you think that. The Sun, Murdoch's British newspaper equivalent of Fox, jumped ship from the Tories to Labour when it became obvious Blair was going to be elected in 1997. It is currently in the process of flipping back to the Tories, now David Cameron is looking a good bet for the next election.

Murdoch may have a definite right wing agenda, but he is a businessman first and foremost. Tax and regulatory legislation will always come first with him. And make no mistake, Murdoch is very much in charge of editorial policy on all of his titles/stations.