Why did President Obama agree to be interviewed by Bill O'Really on FOX? (SuperBowl pre-game)

[Electric Monk]

He has to know FAUX and O'Really are nothing but right wing propaganda, right? What good can come of this?


http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-national/what-to-expect-from-bill-o-reilly-s-super-bowl-interview-of-president-obama

O’Reilly will almost certainly ask about the protests in Egypt and ask why the President has not been more forceful in calling for President Mubarak’s immediate resignation. O’Reilly, in reflecting a common concern of conservatives, might also ask if the President is worried about the Muslim Brotherhood taking over Egypt. The budget deficit and debt ceiling are also likely to be topics of discussion given the pressing nature of each issue in the coming months. If the Congress does not raise the debt ceiling by later March their is a real risk of a government shutdown and/or default on the United States public debt.

While O’Reilly is sure to press President Obama in order to satisfy his conservative audience, the interview is unlikely to get too testy. President Obama ultimately wants to reach out to a large audience with the interview and it will not help him to be overly confrontational with O'Reilly. O’Reilly has gained a reputation as one of the more reasonable personalities at Fox News. Clearly the Obama administration has come to have trust in O’Reilly, and the talk show host likely will not want to squander that trust by going in “attack mode” during the entire interview.

[Swede]

1. Cause a billion people will be watching.

:shrug:

[Electric Monk]

2. Watching O'Really play "Gotcha!"

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Obama can kick Orally's butt.

[AlinPA]

16. Does Fox "news" have a billion people as their audience? Hard to believe. nt

[Swede]

17. No,but the Superbowl does.

[LiberalFighter]

24. Will you be watching the Super Bowl?

[rpannier]

36. A billion people will be watching the interview

I seriously doubt that

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. So people who don't ordinarily watch him will see him

and maybe figure out that he's not the embodiment of evil. And that he's smarter than Bill Orally.

[Mojambo]

5. Isn't this kind of a traditional thing

that the President does an interview with the network that has the game? Thought I read that.

Now why he's doing it with vile scum like O'Reilly, I don't know.

[Pirate Smile]

6. This will be the third Super Bowl in a row where he does this. It is the first time Fox has it. It

is becoming a tradition of his and he does it regardless of TV station. He is not afraid of Fox.

Edit to add - Matt Lauer & Katie Couric were the previous two interviews when NBC & CBS each had the Super Bowl.

[JoePhilly]

26. +1

[cottonseed]

7. He's done this before (O'Reilly) and it wasn't a problem.

He's done fine. He'll do fine.

[Electric Monk]

11. I hope you're right. nt

[monmouth]

14. Their last interview together was quite enjoyable and I was one of

the "liberals" who complimented Billo on the interview. Of course he read it on air with a smile on his face. It's all good.

[Trajan]

8. Methinks you give 'O'Really' too much credit ...

Obama is fearless of FAUX news ....

I guess the bigger question might be : Why are you afraid of him being pressed by right wing ideologues ? ....

Why should Obama be fearful of tough questions ? .... This is an opportunity for Obama to talk some sense into at least the moderates in the FAUX constituency ....

[Electric Monk]

10. O'Really will talk over him instead of letting Obama finish his answers

and no matter what Obama says the right wingers will spin it to try and make it look like O'Really "won".

[Trajan]

13. Cowering before them is hardly endearing ...

Not for Obama, nor for any one here ....

O'Really steps on your comments ? .... Fine: as soon as he allows some breathing space, then proceed where you left off ... DONT let him sidetrack your comments ...

You provide the answers how you see them, and make the statements you wish to say, without any concern whether Billo gets his questions answered .... FUCK Billo ....

[blogslut]

15. If he does I would be surprised

O'Reilly has interviewed president Obama before and the segment was respectful and amazingly pleasant considering the interviewer.

[polmaven]

19. And if he refused to appear with Billo,

the wingers would have a lot of good ammunition to use in arguing that O'Reilly won...."O'Bummer is afraid to let Bill interview him! What is it that he is afraid of?"

[Electric Monk]

21. I suppose there's that, too. Ok, well, I guess my initial question has been answered.

I hope the interview goes well.

[Lint Head]

9. The idiot interviews someone with an IQ.

Maybe he'll ask, "How'd the moon get there?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v1SkpUqYj0

[Enrique]

12. to prove he's not a socialist n/t

[Enrique]

42. i nailed it

if I say so myself... It's what he did exactly, distance himself from "the left".

[treestar]

18. Unlike Palin, he's not afraid to do interviews with opposing viewpoint interviewers

[RBInMaine]

20. I love it. America will see the contrast between a thoughtful statesman and a numb ASSHAT.

[impik]

22. Because it will give many idiots a chance to see their great president the way he really is

and not the way O'Reilly tells them.

[golfguru]

23. All depends on who EDITED the tape we will see n/t

[cherokeeprogressive]

25. It's live. n/t

[golfguru]

33. Oh wow!

That is good!

[Bluenorthwest]

27. He does the Superbowl. This year Fox. He's smart to do so.

The Superbowl is among other things, Big TV Day. I don't like football, don't watch the game, but still, the Superbowl has been a source of income to me, to non athletes I know, performers and the like, it is huge.
I think it is fitting and proper for the President to be a visible part of any big old national day, that our civic life have a thread in the event, if you will. I do not recall other Presidents doing the Superbowl interviews, but I think it is smart politics and also good for the event, for those who watch the event. There's the game, the half time show, the commercials are a big deal, a word from the President is a tradition I would like to see catch on. I may never see it, but people who don't usually see this or maybe any President might very well see it, and that's good on many levels.
All of this, and I could not tell you who the teams are. Sorry about that.

[elleng]

28. Facetime. He's running for reelection.

[Thrill]

29. Because Obama knows how

To handle himself against these clowns. He laughs at these fools

[Junkdrawer]

30. Triangulation requires an extreme opponent. n/t

[spin]

31. Because a good leader doesn't fear confrontation ...

just as a great champion boxer is willing to take on all opponents.

Obama did well and I believe that his ratings will improve.

[southernyankeebelle]

32. I think the president is smart. By showing up he shows what a dick O'Liar is and

shows he can stand up to the crazies unlike Palin.

[Phx_Dem]

34. Because it's like taking candy from a baby. He owns O'Reilly everytime he

sits down with him. How could he possibly resist?

And he did it again this time.

[Trajan]

35. Here is your answer ...

From another DU thread (Thanks impik): http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x606937

http://www.politicususa.com/en/obama-oreilly-super-bowl

"These Fox News interviews are a Godsend to Obama politically. They are the gift that keeps on giving. Every time Obama appears for an interview with a Fox News personality, he helps himself politically. Obama is too smart to play along with the Fox News line of questioning, and he always manages to turn the discussion towards his way of framing things. This president owns Fox News, and even as the network keeps trying to trap him with biased questions, he will continue to dominate them".

Refer to above post by Trajan where he describes Obama listening to Billo's nonsense, and then answering whatever question he wants to answer in whatever manner he wishes.

FAUX doesn't pwn Obama - Obama pwn's FAUX ...

[dionysus]

37. because fox is the channel airing the superbowl. next?

[mkultra]

38. occam's razor: Superbowl same channel same day

[stevenleser]

39. Sorry, we need to be able to play everywhere and not fear anyone. n/t

[Electric Monk]

40. Nowhere did I say I was afraid of or to be afraid of FOX. FAUX is only worthy of scorn.

nt

[stevenleser]

41. You can try to phrase it anyway you like, your concern is fear based. n/t

[WI_DEM]

43. Obama is a big boy who can take care of himself.