Obama to appear on O'Reilly factor

[The Kernel]

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.

Well said. I thought everyone realized this about Murdoch after he instantly switched sides on the China issue after Beijing threatened his broadcast rights.

That in addition to the offhand comments we've heard from him on the election would seem to indicate that he sees which way the political winds in the US are blowing and is going to at least leave himself open to getting behind Obama.

[Solauren]

If Murdock is as smart, he'll let O'reilly ask tough questions, but order him to have a polite, civilized approach to it.

That way, it's win-win no matter who wins.

Republican Victory;
"Yeah, we had Obama on. We asked him the tough questions the liberal media was afraid too! And look, it worked! He lost!"

Democractic Victory;
"Of course we had President Obama on. It was a pleasure to do so. He wasn't afraid of our questions, and handled himself in a professional manner."

Hell, Murdock could set this up to be the ultimate PR move for FOX no matter which way the election goes.

[Glocksman]

If Murdock is as smart, he'll let O'reilly ask tough questions, but order him to have a polite, civilized approach to it.

That way, it's win-win no matter who wins.

Republican Victory;
"Yeah, we had Obama on. We asked him the tough questions the liberal media was afraid too! And look, it worked! He lost!"

Democractic Victory;
"Of course we had President Obama on. It was a pleasure to do so. He wasn't afraid of our questions, and handled himself in a professional manner."

Hell, Murdock could set this up to be the ultimate PR move for FOX no matter which way the election goes.

True.
To me the most irritating thing about O'Reilly isn't the spin, but the constant interruptions when a guest is replying to a question and the answer is shaping up to be something Bill O doesn't like.

It's a blatant attempt to both rattle the guest and change the subject.

I'll watch it tonight and be pleasantly surprised if Bill O deviates from his SOP and merely gives Obama a tough interview.

[Dark Lord of the Bith]

The first few minutes of the interview is on Youtube. I think Obama handles it really well, and doesn't let O'Reilly cut him off mid-sentence. O'Reilly seemed relatively respectful (though with obviously barbed questions), but Obama's answers and explanations really shined.

[FSTargetDrone]

I believe the interview will be replayed at 01:00 EST this morning, in about 30 minutes from now for anyone who is looking for it.

[Justforfun000]

The first few minutes of the interview is on Youtube. I think Obama handles it really well, and doesn't let O'Reilly cut him off mid-sentence. O'Reilly seemed relatively respectful (though with obviously barbed questions), but Obama's answers and explanations really shined.

I agree. I actually got the impression that Bill kept dragging a little bit of an attitude out regularly just to keep the general view look like he was in tacitly opposed to Obama as his personal choice over McCain, but he actually ended up subtly agreeing with him and accepting the basic answers Obama gave. It'll be interesting to see the remaining portions and how it went.

I am extremely impressed with Obama's charisma. He naturally exudes authority. He also speaks very well and actually has subsance in what he says. That's a pretty hard package to go up against.

I was watching John McCain speak and I'm not impressed. He looks a little manic to me for some reason and that throws me off. He almost looks like he just had work done to his face because it's glowing a little too youthfully in contrast to his hair and frame. I know that sounds odd, but that's what I felt while watching him. I almost felt like I was watching a live cadaver freshly made up make a speech.

I am getting more and more confident that Obama is going to win. I honestly can't see people being fooled by McCain. He's just cut from the same cloth as Bush. Palin was arguably a good choice in many respects, but ultimately a some of the democratic evaluators of the speeches had said, when you focus on the policies you see that underneath that attractive, soccor mom package is someone who believes in Creationism and Abstinance-only education, tried to ban books from schools, etc. etc.

She won't win over any democrats. She's far from a moderate.

[Glocksman]

I taped the show earlier and I'll watch it tomorrow because I was out running errands when it was on, but XM carries Fox News audio only so I listened to part of it in the car.

The little bit I heard (including the part where O'Reilly 'forced' Obama to admit the surge was a success) actually impressed me with both men.

Obama was forced to answer a question in a manner he really didn't want to but was gracious about it and expanded on his answers, and O'Reilly didn't try bullying him at all, instead just being aggressive on his followups.

If the whole series (they're airing it in several segments next week) goes along in the same vein, I hate to admit that Bill is acting like a real reporter.

For once.

If BillO would do the same thing with McCain and Palin, I might wind up a fan.

[Justforfun000]

If the whole series (they're airing it in several segments next week) goes along in the same vein, I hate to admit that Bill is acting like a real reporter.

For once.

If BillO would do the same thing with McCain and Palin, I might wind up a fan.

This is where I believe the charisma factor comes into play though.This is what makes a man an effective President, Statesman, Judge., etc. It's that automatic aura of confidence, competence and authoritativeness that simply overwhelms the average person even when they are initially at odds with them. Obama has it in spades. I think his personality was winning Bill over in spite of himself.

I dearly hope that the two presidential nominees have a head-to-head debate. I think I will enjoy that immensely. I suspect Obama would shred McCain so effectively that he'd lose his temper and fuck himself right in the ass.

Here's hoping.

[Natorgator]

I dearly hope that the two presidential nominees have a head-to-head debate. I think I will enjoy that immensely. I suspect Obama would shred McCain so effectively that he'd lose his temper and fuck himself right in the ass.

Here's hoping.

First debate is September 26.

[Metatwaddle]

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...

Around here the best thing is on the radio, not on TV. NPR has good news coverage and good political discussion shows like Talk of the Nation.

Also, I don't know what American cable stations you get, but MSNBC has a couple of pretty good news/politics/talk shows. Countdown with Keith Olbermann is the best that's out there now, but Rachel Maddow's show airs on Monday at 9 PM and I have really, really high hopes for that one. She's a regular commentator and guest host on Olbermann's show. She's extremely intelligent (she was a Rhodes Scholar) and pretty progressive.

[General Zod]

Obama was forced to answer a question in a manner he really didn't want to but was gracious about it and expanded on his answers, and O'Reilly didn't try bullying him at all, instead just being aggressive on his followups.

Was this a separate question, or are you referring to the thing about the Surge? I'm going to have to see if I can track down a copy on Youtube from the sounds of things.

[Justforfun000]

Metatwaddle Wrote:

Also, I don't know what American cable stations you get, but MSNBC has a couple of pretty good news/politics/talk shows. Countdown with Keith Olbermann is the best that's out there now, but Rachel Maddow's show airs on Monday at 9 PM and I have really, really high hopes for that one. She's a regular commentator and guest host on Olbermann's show. She's extremely intelligent (she was a Rhodes Scholar) and pretty progressive.

I'm not sure either...I'll have to check my programming. I don't have access to the channel that was showing Bill O'Reilly last night with Obama although that might have been just a re-run if it was the night before..

I've heard of Keith Olbermann, so hopefully that means I've seen him on TV. I'll look for the Maddow one now too.

Thanks hon.

[Feil]

I was pleased. You can't take the jackass out of O'Reilly, but in the end it was a hard, aggressive, but fair interview that asked and answered serious questions.

The only thing I didn't like about Obama's end was the "I have a secret plan to end the war in Vietnam" vibe I got from his weaseling around O'Reilly's question of whether or not he would prepare for war with Iran. Everything else was fielded very well.

[Feil]

Ghetto EDIT: youtube link for the first part of the interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJWqNRVbxgQ

[Ender]

From Bill O's blog

Like him or not, you have to give Barack Obama credit for waging a smart, focused campaign. Destroying the Clinton machine was a major achievement and so was putting together a successful convention in Denver. Obama is now firmly a part of U.S. history, no matter what happens in the presidential election.

The problem some Americans continue to have with the Senator is that he is long on charisma but short on detail. This frightens some voters. Who the heck is this guy, anyway? So when Obama finally agreed to speak to me this week, specifics were on my mind.

First, the man. The Barack Obama I witnessed is self-confident, determined and driven. He was acutely aware of his surroundings from the moment he entered the room. He looks you in the eye and touches your shoulder. He understands how to connect one-on-one.

As far as philosophy goes, Senator Obama is convinced that the federal government should be in control of income distribution and, to some extent, should regulate the free marketplace. That is a classic liberal position, and Obama promotes it well.

The Senator also believes that poor Americans have a basic right to free health care and monetary supplements from the government with no strings attached. The American substance abuser, for example, would derive the same benefit as a hard working, laid off worker would. Again, classic liberalism. No judgments made regarding entitlements.

So, if Barack Obama does become president, there will definitely be change. His left-wing base will demand it, and he will come through. You can decide if that's change we should believe in, but keep in mind that the unintended consequences of government interference in the marketplace are impossible to predict. Free markets have a way of chafing under government imposition.

On the foreign policy front, Obama has convinced me that he is tough but cautious. He rose up quickly because he vehemently opposed the Iraq war. But now I see a man who understands the victory that has taken place in Iraq. I don't believe he wants to screw that up. I could be wrong.

After going mano-a-mano with Obama on television, I am also persuaded that he is a sincere guy—that he wants the best for all Americans. He's an ideologue, but not a blind one. He understands that his story is incredible, and, I have come to believe, he is grateful to the American system for allowing it happen.

It is true that we don't know whether Senator Obama has the ability to solve complex problems, but you can say that about all presidential contenders.

Like most politicians, Obama has used guile and good luck to accumulate his power. He can be ruthless, kind, unfair, and generous. In short, he's a real person trying to achieve an unreal position—that of the most powerful person in the world.

God help him.

Who are you and what did you do with Big Papa Bear?

Wait, it isn't just O'Rielly, FOX news accuses McCain of 'outright lies' about Obama's tax positions.

What universe did I wake up in?

[Darth Wong]

I'd surmise that BillO is just hedging his bets, as is the entire network. He's still demonstrating that classic American exceptionalist arrogance, especially with his remark about how it's impossible to know how a free-market economy would respond to the creation of something like a universal health-care program. I feel like I could go blue in the face repeatedly reminding conservatards that we do, in fact, have numerous working examples of universal health-care systems in capitalist economies.

[Chris OFarrell]

You know, i think I underestimated just how critical this could be.

I have a feeling that the Big O is seen by a LOT of the Republican base as a more hardcore Republican then McCain himself, perhaps even Palin for that matter.

And here we have the two O's going head to head in a tough, but fair enough interview. You can see that O'Reilly is NOT cutting him any slack at all, but he is also not trolling, Obama is standing up and putting his position across directly to the Republican base here.

And he is doing it over SEVERAL nights, in a series of TV interviews which are probably going to draw in a LOT of Fox viewers.

McCain might get a spike from his convention, this whole thing may just well utterly cancel it out, crazy as it sounds...

[Koolaidkirby]

From Bill O's blog
Who are you and what did you do with Big Papa Bear?

*snip*

Wait, it isn't just O'Rielly, FOX news accuses McCain of 'outright lies' about Obama's tax positions.

What universe did I wake up in?

wow.... just... wow.... you can have my glasses because now I've seen everything.

[Gandalf]

After this editorial from O'Reilly, his criticisms of Obama will start to carry greater weight.

By saying Obama is right on some issues, he can appear less partisan than he has in the past. Therefore he can increase his viewer base and get some high profile guests who aren't fresh out of GOP Miniluv.

[Illuminatus Primus]

I'd surmise that BillO is just hedging his bets, as is the entire network. He's still demonstrating that classic American exceptionalist arrogance, especially with his remark about how it's impossible to know how a free-market economy would respond to the creation of something like a universal health-care program. I feel like I could go blue in the face repeatedly reminding conservatards that we do, in fact, have numerous working examples of universal health-care systems in capitalist economies.

Not to mention how utterly absurd it is to surmise with blank-faced obliqueness how the economy might react to government interference. Like, uh, burdening the American taxpayer with decades of debt? Like the bailout of Freddie and Fannie going on right now? Is this real?