Obama to Appear on Fox on Thursday Night

[fencesitter]

Source: NYT

September 2, 2008, 9:27 pm
Obama to Appear on Fox on Thursday Night
By Jeff Zeleny
CHICAGO — Before Senator John McCain delivers his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention on Thursday, Senator Barack Obama will make a marquee appearance of his own.

Call it counter-intuitive. He will appear on “The O’Reilly Factor” on Fox News Channel.

For Mr. Obama, it will be the first time in his presidential candidacy that he’s on Bill O’Reilly’s prime-time program. The appearance is intended to put Mr. Obama before a conservative audience, one week after drawing 40 million TV viewers at his own acceptance speech.

Mr. Obama has had a strained history with the network, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch. Is this a sign of burying the hatchet or simply politically smart programming? Stay tuned.


Read more: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/obama-to-appear-on-fox-on-thursday-night/?hp

---

Why, why, why, ???

[muntrv]

1. Barack, you can talk to Brit Hume or Chris Wallace. You don't have to talk

to the loofah boy.

[Greg K]

2. At least it's not Hannity. nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. Logically, I know that Obama needs to reach as many people as possible, but

a part of me wishes that he wouldn't lend credibility to FNC as a legitimate news outlet. I guess he's not one to hold grudges, but damned if I ain't.

[bluestateguy]

4. He better insist on some ground rules

nt

[WorseBeforeBetter]

38. Like not cutting the mic? (n/t)

[marshall]

70. And knowing when the mic is on

Don't fall into the trap Jesse Jackson fell in.

[zippy890]

59. apparently he did

at a meeting with Murdoch & Ailes


"The talk turned to "The O'Reilly Factor," and Obama said he would appear on the show before the election. Ailes says he told the senator that there would be no "embarrassing or underhanded stuff" in the interview and that if he had any overall concerns about Fox's treatment in the future, he should call Ailes directly. "

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/02/AR2008090202730.html?nav=hcmodule


I can't picture O'Reilly in this scenario.

[peoli]

5. dont worry. O'Reily LOVES him. He is in the closet for Obama.

[Tutonic]

21. I think you're correct.-- O'Reilly and evilmurdoch are likely closeted

Obama supporters. Still can't stomache the man. Ailes and others are straight up morons.

[jhain]

60. That Dude has a crowded closet. n/t

[dabenpb]

6. I think this is a bad move.

It legitimizes O'Reilly as if he is a valid news source. He is better off not appearing than get in front of this clown.

[Divine Discontent]

8. welcome to DU, and you're right

we'll just have to back off and let Barack lead here, but man, why go on HIS show, and not Wallace or the Democrat-wannabe they have hitting him with some tough questions - I think loofa-man is a horribly crazy person - so I don't trust him...


Obama, I wanna believe you know what you're doing (you have so far!) :)

MORE AT www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable

[depakid]

14. It would be a bad move in more ways than one

Aside from enabling and legitimizing Liar O'Rielly, the timing would look petty.

Actually it is petty.

One suspects that this may be in response to McCain's foot stomping cancellation of a Larry King interview over CNN's Campbell Brown doing her job with one of his surrogates (Tucker Bounds):

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYYiw_y2qDI

Reacting like that isn't very smart- though his media advisors (insulated as they are) probably think so.

[dgioia]

71. Agreed

He shouldn't bother he should just refuse to go on due to it being a bad joke of a show.

[dgioia]

73. And another thing

Since he is going on I hope he nails O'Reilly and gets kicked off the show. I think that would seriously be the coolest outcome. Most intelligent people end up getting kicked off the show. Either that or treat it like the total bad joke that it is. I think he should go on the show and immediately rip O'Reilly to shreds.

[Winterblues]

82. Is the O'Really Factor supposed to be a News Show?

I thought it was entirely opinion. And everyone is entitled to an opinion no matter how much one disagrees with that opinion. For some reason that I am unable to understand O'Really is popular and a lot of people (Republicans) are actually looking forward to watching this particular interview.

[desktop]

7. A mistake

No matter how much Obama wants to be the president of all the people, appearing on this propaganda network only helps to translate it as legitimate.

[AlinPA]

9. What's the difference between O'Reilly of Fox "News" and the National Enquirer?

Nothing in my view, so I think an interview with either will only add legitimacy to them.

[stillcool]

12. I wonder what the difference is..

between Fox and CNN. I don't watch either, but from what I read they are related.

[minnesota_liberal]

30. The Enquirer is a poor excuse for a rag. O'Reilly's a poor excuse for a human being.

Also, the Enquirer would work okay as a bird cage liner. O'Reilly probably not.

[Fumesucker]

44. O'Leilly lies constantly while the Equirer sticks to the facts..

At least when they are talking about people who might sue them.

Seriously, the Enquirer is a good bit more believable than a lot of the M$M on quite a few subjects.

[dogfacedboy]

10. Attempt at bringing up Shrill Willie's ratings. It can't fail. n/t

[4lbs]

11. Entering into "enemy" territory...

It may be one of the few times this year that Bill-O actually gets high ratings.

Although some of the brainwashed GOP viewers might think their TVs are busted and that their Faux News has crossed satellite signals. ;)

[insightclopedic]

13. I wouldn't go to Fox

He might as well give an interview to Rush Limbaugh.

[Kelvin Mace]

15. Stupid move

and one that legitimizes Fox.

[gristy]

16. Obama has the left in his pocket, and much of the middle/independents

He's got no more low hanging fruit from those demographics. Now he's going for the last untapped lode. The right. Because this is Obama, and because I believe he will handle himself and O'Reilly extremely well, I support this move.

[Stump]

20. I agree...

He's smart enough to pull it off.

[Voice for Peace]

22. Agree.. think it may be a very smart move.

[Pastiche423]

32. No, he does not have the left in his pocket

Including this Independent.

[MilesColtrane]

58. Who will you be voting for then?

[taddles]

72. Uh...read much?

The text says "left in his pocket" you are an independent therefore by definition not a lefty therefore your voting choice is less than relevant to the voting of the lefties.

[Pastiche423]

75. WRONG!

I have no idea where you got your definition for Independents, but you are dead wrong. The Democratic Party has become too far right for me. It is not the same party that I 1st registered w/thirty six years ago.

There is no Independent Party in my state. I am registered as "OTH", which essentially means no affiliation. I have always been an Liberal Lefty and I am by far not alone.

I am a proud Lefty and I am not in his pocket.

[Rebellious Republican]

77. Well, if you are an undecided independent.....

You have five choices, 1.Obama, 2. McCain, 3. Paul, 4. Write in, 5. Don't vote.

Any of the choices besides Obama, being as far left as you will be able to get at this point and you will have lets say, cut your nose off to spite your face.

Sorry about your bitterness, write in Kucinich if it makes you feel better, its just a wasted vote.

:shrug:

[Pastiche423]

79. How did I show bitterness?

I stated an unemotional fact.

[Rebellious Republican]

80. WRONG!

Looks pretty "emotional" to me, when you use bold face capitalized singular word replies in your subject line for starters.

Bet you perceived my reply as negative and emotional when you saw me use it in the same manner as you. I would be willing to bet it got you fired up before you even had a chance to open up my reply to this and read it, yes.

When you read your text with the use of adjectives like the word "dead" as in "dead wrong" it comes off negative and forceful as to how wrong the poster is.

All in all your post starts off with a very negative tone, the main body of text is is neither positive or neutral. Comes off as bitter, and looks like you used "emotional" terms, just saying how it reads to me.

On edit: Also, you would have been more correct by saying "unemotional opinion" as opposed to "fact". That is your perception of what has happened to the Democratic party since you registered thirty years ago. I am not saying you are incorrect about your opinion the direction of the party as gone, but still, it is just an opinion.

:shrug:

[Demeter]

42. Obama's Smart AND Courageous (And a Good Poker Player, by Repute)

I'll trust his game plan.

[grytpype]

17. Trust him.

He is brilliant and courageous. He is going to make mincemeat out of O'Reilly.

[garthranzz]

18. Rhetorically, it works

If Obama sticks to his message. We know that he's bright, articulate, charismatic, etc.

What happens in these outings? The "host" rants away his or her talking points. Those get heard no matter what.

What about the guest? One of three things happens:

1) The guest gets overwhelmed. He or she loses.

2) The guest gets in a few zingers, objectively wins a smack-down. A lot of these get posted here on DU or C&L or other sites. Our side feels good, their side doesn't see it. (Remember the Kerry - Bush debates? Kerry: You can be consistent and wrong. Nobody remembers that line.) The reason the zingers don't register with the other side is that they're not listening for zingers. They're listening for codewords. (More recently, think Jesse Ventura or Jack Kemp after Wright and Obama's Perfect Union speech.)

A draw

3) The guest engages in a dialogue and gets the host off message. The codewords get changed, slightly, or the frame shifts. A friend once told me that to win you don't have to make your enemy your friend. You just have to neutralize the enmity. If Obama frames the dialogue as - he's a family man, believes in family values; he's religious, believes in freedom of worship - that is, if he gets the values code frame shifted so that he appears reasonable, much of the craziness is in part neutralized. (see the website frameshopisopen.com0

he wins

Is it a risk? Yes. But we know he won't be overwhelmed; we know that loofaboy has to be somewhat respectful - even he can't dis a presidential candidate to his face without it backfiring horribly.

Further, it's in keeping with Obama's change message - a new dialogue - talking with those we disagree. After all, if he can't have a civil conversation with Billo, how can he have one with Putin & co.? (I know, I know.)

The point is, Obama seems reasonable. See, he can get along with foxy loxy. He's not going to turn the pentagon into a madras t-shirt or something.

[Hulk]

19. He just sanctioned the biggest hypocritical slimeball this country has in it's arsenal...

I am deeply saddened that Senator Obama will go on the program with this loud mouth, disgusting low life in any effort to reach the brain dead and geriatric crowd that he spews his hate and twisted truth to.

In effect, Senator Obama is giving this piece of shit recognition that he is someone to be dealt with, when in fact he is one of the reasons this country is so deeply divided and full of hate.

Bad move. Hope this is the last "bad move" for a long time.

[AlinPA]

64. I agree, and it is too bad that he is helping to legitimize Fox "News".

[creeksneakers2]

23. I hope he knows what he's doing

O'Reilly likes to send out staccato accusations without giving guests a chance to answer them. If Barack can pull this off though, he'll upstage McCain on his big night. That would be fine payback for McCain doing everything he could to disrupt Obama, including trying to crowd out an Obama bounce with a wild VP pick.

[True_Blue]

24. I don't usually watch O'Reilly but I'll make an exception this time.

I know Obama will be terrifc!

[secondwind]

25. I hope Obama stands up to him!

Right now, am listening to the traitor Lieberman speaking out against Obama, and it just sickens me. Fred Thompson gave us Dems a real thrashing also..............

WE NEED TO FIGHT BACK, AND FIGHT HARD!!!!

[hasssan1]

35. I AGREE IF WE DON'T FIGHT BACK AND HARD WE WILL LOOSE AGAIN , DNC LISTEN TO US

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY SAKE : DNC AND OBAMA LISTEN TO US


FIGHT BACK HARD

[WorseBeforeBetter]

37. Obama should tell O'Lielly to take a flying phuck...

and not validate him by going on his show. FUX "News" viewers ARE NOT going to be won over by Obama that night, trust me.

[Gato Moteado]

53. fred thompson gave us dems a real thrashing?

you're joking, right? that old corpse couldn't thrash his way out of a wet paper bag.

what planet are you on?

54 posts. i'm gonna have to search your posting history.

very interesting.

[skyounkin]

26. I wouldn't choose to give

this "network" any legitimacy. But I am not in charge of the Obama campaign.

[torbird]

27. Hmmmm

I think it works. Obama, unlike O'Reilly, isn't an impulsive, say-anything hothead. So he'll control the message. But more importantly, Fox is still hurting bad from being shut out of the debates and also from the Democrats' cancellation during the primaries. Fox desperately wants to be see as legitimate, and Bill will be under strict orders to say nothing that could get Obama angry or be offensive to him. O'Reilly and his bosses need this, bad, to get back to the appearance of minimal competence and respectability. I think Bill is going to be nice to Obama, actually, and try to frame "tough" questions that conservatives care about in way that don't make him look like the jackass he is. In my perverse fantasy, O'Reilly might even fall into the trap most people do: he'll actually like talking to Obama for a minute.

Fox certainly carries no torch for McCain, who is a marginal candidate, at best, in their eyes. They can get decent ratings, a media coup (Obama! On FOX!), and Obama can play them just as much as they think they'll play him. Republicans want to find out more about him, I think, and they won't seek him out on their own. But everyone likes to be given reasons to jump ship and come over to the winning side. I don't even know that this is about getting GOP votes, so much as just humanizing a larger-than-life candidate and softening the blow when McCain goes over the cliff in a month.

And that, my friends, is how you destroy the loudmouth rightwingers. Not by shouting louder, but by helping them see the issues in better ways. Obama is the perfect person to do it.

[DaDeacon]

68. Keen Poltical Insight...

Correct in every way, as my grandfather said, "we have to move the conversation off the front porch and to the living room!" Right down to the core. This is the first step. You can't make a monster from a man in front of you. How often have you heard a fundie say "I heard..." or "I have never seen..." ? They aren't as ignorant as we like to believe, we on the left don't present are arguments in their forums and thus they only go of the sound clips the Bill'O s off the world wish to play.

[Frisbee]

28. I see very little upside to this...

and potentially lots of downside to it. But, so far they seem to know what they're doing, so I guess I'll have to trust their instincts.

[Kali]

29. I agree with the sentiment that he shouldn't give that scumbag any legitmacy

but I must admit I want to see how Obama kicks his ass. I presume there will be clips posted on line as I don't have teevee.

[Zhade]

31. If one Fox viewer changes their mind about him, and thus wakes up, it's worth it.

As long as Obama is careful not to give them any ammo against us progressives, that is.

I think he'll impress even that fucknut O'Lielly.

[Ed76638]

33. Obama is pro

He knows what he's doing. Barack won't allow himself to be bullied by the Falafel Master.

[aaroh]

34. You're pro or you're noob. That's Life.

[trthnd4jstc]

36. I would love to watch this. Thursday Night? What time?

Sen. Obama has big cajones. Good Luck Sen. Obama. My prayers are with you. You will be interviewed by one of the best/worst propagandist/liars that the Pukes have.

[otohara]

65. During McCain's Speech

ha,ha, - gee...who should I watch.

[LostinRed]

39. Smart Move

Like it or not O'Reilly has the highest rated show on cable. Somehow, he has convinced people he is objective and independent even though I would guess 80% of his guest are conservatives and the other 20% are Juan Williams "liberals." Hillary did a great job on his show and it helped her. Obama will do a great job, he should insist on an unedited version of his interview.

[toddGA]

40. Here's the story on WaPo

pretty interesting stuff...

[Loudmxr]

41. This is absolutely off the meter brilliant.

BO takes a preemptive strike against McCain the night of his acceptance speech. It forces him to actually be there in the hall rather than do a satellite broadcast from a hurricane site.

It throws chum in the water to the RW nutbags reviewing McCain's speech cause they can't resist talking about BO on Oliely.

All BO has to do is call attention to the convention audience and how it does not look like the audience that watches FOX and let the viewers decide. And a whole bucha other pluses I haven't thought of yet. :smoke:

[harun]

48. It's an aggressive move. If he was ever going to go on there

that time he picked is the best. Hope he gets it out of his system and never does anything with that network ever again.

[Apollo11]

43. From a "news management" point of view - this is a very smart move!

Barack Obama doing a live interview on the O'Reilly Factor will be more interesting to most TV viewers (especially swing voters in battleground states) than John McCain's same old stump speech being read out at the Republican National Convention.

This looks to me like a brilliant move by Barack Obama and David Axelrod.

Here's how they are announcing this on O'Reilly's homepage:

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4:
• Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama enters the No Spin Zone for the first time ever! Don't miss this 'Factor' event!

[stlsaxman]

45. Flat out brilliant move!

Check and Mate!

[Ian_rd]

46. I hope Obama is expecting the stupidest shit imaginable. He needs to be prepared for this ...

"Do you think people like William Ayers love America?"

"I understand that you will raise taxes on me. Do you hate successful people?"

"Do you think Jeremiah Wright was a good choice to marry you and Michelle?"

[sofa king]

47. I disapprove.

And to illustrate my point I'll tell a story I heard from my brother-in-law last night. He gets a haircut at the same place every month, and every month for years on end the TV in the barber shop was tuned to Fox News. Two days ago he went in and noticed something different right off: actual news was being reported on the television.

Turned out the right-wing barbers have switched to MSNBC. Fox's horrible one-sided coverage--helped in large part by Obama's embargo of the network--was enough to shake off even their most ardent supporters.

I think Obama should continue to treat Fox News as what it is: the propaganda wing of a criminal organization aiming to deceive, rather than inform, the public.

[davepc]

49. I hope he has his Ayers and Reziko and Wright responses down, cause thats all he'll be asked about

O'Liely will just try and slime him.

[GinaMaria]

55. And Obama will rise above

He is the better person. He respects himself unlike O'liely. He will show he is a person with Character, something the Faux News viewers don't get to see much of.

[pnorman]

50. Being TV-free for many years, I know of O'Reilly only through the internet (YouTubes & discussion)

He seems to be VERY effective, whenever he can get away with his overbearing intimidation techniques. But I recall a few YouTubes videos (General Clark, for one), where the "target" stood his ground. To a "neutral" observer, O'Reilly LOST on points.

My firm belief is that Obama will not only FIRMLY stand his ground, but will put the press on O'Reilly! (Effortlessly, and without losing his cool!). Most bullies turn out to be COWARDS, and Obama may be the one to "out" that slimey corksucker! For one thing, I think that O'Reilly will be a lot more "cautious" with Obama than he's EVER been before.

I've only been an Obama admirer since around mid-May, but by now I have full confidence in his judgment. I'm really looking forward to viewing the performance!


pnorman

[Doctor_J]

51. This can't accomplish anything positive

No "independents" will be watching. This will convince no one of anything. The best strategy for Dems is to pretend Fox is the enemy.

[Yavin4]

52. He Did Say That He'd Talk To America's Enemies

So, that's one campaign promise that he's keeping.

[semillama]

57. HA! Great response! n/t

[GinaMaria]

54. What to do when you've already

received fire from the gods (intelligence)? Hmmmmm... Steal some of McC's thunder?

[noonwitch]

56. Smart move, on Obama's part

It worked for Hillary, to go on O'Reilly's show. He has a large audience.

[nvme]

61. Brilliant or not

Barack has to appeal to all americans. 50.1 get representation and the other 49.9? What about them? I despise the right as much as they despise us lefties. The indys that may come over do watch fux. Obama needs to appeal to them. Dem's watch Oreilly as well. So Obama steals some fire from Mclame and convinces a few straddles to convert. As a yellow dog, my support wont waiver. I am in it to win it,"by any means necessary!"X.

[AlinPA]

63. The problem is that his appearance helps to legitimize Fox. nt

[snooper2]

62. GOBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!

This will be greatness, mark my words :)



GOBAMA!

[4_TN_TITANS]

66. He meant what he said about talking to the enemies..

I'm afraid of a trap as well, but it could be Billo that falls into the trap.

[SalviaBlue]

67. I wish he would not do that. They should not be given the legitimacy. nt

[and-justice-for-all]

69. Well when 35 million people watch you speak..

you can bet your ass Faux wants some of those numbers. However, I will not watch Faux for anyone.

[NeoConsSuck]

74. Why is he going into that cesspool?

What is to be gained?
1) You are giving them credibility, which they don't deserve.
2) They'll do a hatchet job on you, they are *not* journalists, they're propogandists.
3) You'll never convince a Fox knuckle dragger to vote for you anyway.

[Mad_Dem_X]

76. Not sure if I agree with that, but

hopefully he will kick some conservative ass!

[Honeycombe8]

78. Ummmm....I don't believe O'Reilly will be on the up and up. Why not a real news person? nt

[MinM]

81. This is what you get for trusting the weasels at Fox...

Fox News: Obama: Surge Succeeded Beyond ‘Wildest Dreams’

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/04/obama-surge-succeeded-beyond-wildest-dreams/

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x380899
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x381084

[ItNerd4life]

83. He would lose the election if he didn't do things like this!

If he's afraid of Fox news, the voters wouldn't trust him to be able to stand up against N. Korea and the like.

Obama is doing what we all like about him, talking and negotiating, even with the enemy.

This is smart on his part and for people to disagree with this, just baffles me.