Obama On O'Reilly: "Looking Forward" To Going On The Factor

Is Obama headed to the O'Reilly Factor? It sure sounds like it, according to his interview this morning on Fox and Friends, where he claimed: "We're gonna see if we can fit it in." Of course, the last time he tried to make time for a Fox interview with Chris Wallace, it took two years for him to get there. Here's hoping for another 2-year wait.

[WATCH]

Comments

[livesimply]

Well. I sure am not going to watch it. I can watch about ten minutes (tops) of Fox before I get thoroughly disgusted, but MSNBC is getting the same way. They play the same tripe over and over with no substance, but people seem to eat it up. They talk all the gossip and spin it every which way nonstop. Fox will not have much to do if they can't continue to attempt to destroy the dems unless they change their talking points a bit if a dem is elected, so expect to see them change (oh so subtly at first.) Unfortunately, candidates are forced to pander to this crap because people listen. Maybe Obama can assist raising the level of conversation a bit.

[BuckarooBanzai]

Don't do it....Dont­' be stupid....­.Obama has nothing to gain and everything to lose if he puts himself at Bill O's mercy.

Bill's show is a video version of a shooting gallery, guests have no control and the only result is that Obama will look stupid and those clips will haunt him for the rest of the election.

Hasn't the Obama campaign realized that the Hillary interview was scripted and that is why she did so well? Hasn't the Obama campaign realized that FOX and the right wing have a vested interest in building Hillary up and tearing him down?

The Chris Wallace interview was relatively benign and allows Obama to say he did Fox. He doesn't need to do more. The Fox viewers will never vote for him. Best just to stay away.

[KRYSTY]

Oh please! Obama will never do that. What did you expect him say to that whiny DOUTCHY? Obama knows his enemies.

[DoTheMath]

I agree with you. Even with the FOX interview, which was, as you say, "relatively benign," I couldn't believe how long Wallace harped on Wright. Although Obama's responses were fine, and although voter burnout on the topic has reached the point where those pushing this non-issue can expect diminishing returns, this exercise in redundancy does nothing to benefit the Obama campaign or the voting public.

The extent to which interviewers, moderators, and pundits dictate the focus of our political discourse never ceases to amaze me. Our only defense is to stay away from the worst and encourage the best. By the way, I didn't watch FOX or visit their website. I read the transcript in a post from a more reputable source.

[2lib4oh]

Obama can gain from this by simply being reasonable in the face of nuttiness.­It gives him the opportunity to show the viewers he's a real person, not just a person for Fox
to ridicule. He has to be swift like Dean and not allow himself to be boxed in by their
framing.

[surfcitysteven]

He needs to go on and say he will get tough on workplace sexual harassment. See if Bildo turns red.

[08timefortruth]

Actually, I thought he gave the perfect answer...h­e didn't really commit himself one way or the other much like the "maybe later" answer you would a child that keeps insisting on something you don't want to do.......

[Nuff2]

O'Reilly is not a bogeyman. This goes right along with Obama's platform of talking to everyone. All he has to do is make sure there are no sound bites that can bet taken out of context. I think going into hostile territory shows he has just as much guts as his opponent.

It is better Obama addresses O'Reilly's audience himself and not let O'Reilly do the defining of who Obama is for him. Obama must engage those that do not like him or disagree with him. For some people FOX news is all they watch. Reaching out to these voters is MORE important at this time than ever.

[venicesurfer]

he's such a copycat. cant wait to see if he actually goes on.

will clinton bashers bash him if he goes on o'reilly too?

he's such a follower not a leader. he follows clinton.

[BDunne]

are you a democrat?

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

probably just an idiot

[MNmommy]

Where are all the wagging tongues that were criticizing Clinton last week? Are MoveOn and Kos throwing hissy fits about this?

The hypocrisy, it's incredibly thick.

[spotchester]

"Are MoveOn and Kos throwing hissy fits about this?"

I think it's pretty stupid, yeah. And I'm an Obama guy. There's nothing to be gained by reaching out the lunatic fringe, there's only risk.

[BDunne]

Let's not get to ahead of ourselves.­..he hasn't made the appearance yet. Funny thing is you people automatically start to attack him. Lighten up a bit.

[livesimply]

Risk CAN be good.

[transendentilist]

Funny isn't it.

[dajay]

Yes, hypocrisy is alive and well in this primary season, starting from the Obama media right up to his campaign, and lovely supporters.

[elr50]

The only say I"D go on O'Reilly is if I could bring a gun with me and do the world a favor.

[transendentilist]

Advocating murder now???

[trailrunner9]

I'll be waiting with bated breath for Olbermann's hissy fit rant telling us how revelatory it is about Obam's character. It'll be worth it just to see that self-absorbed blow hard's reaction.

Why shouldn't the Dem candidates go on Fox news when clearly MSNBC is perhaps even worse in its own bias and lack of journalistic integrity in terms of its own reporting and editorializing - another words, the pot calling the kettle black.

[transendentilist]

I have stopped watching MSNBC all together. Actually, I don't watch much cable news anyway. I am sick of the pundits.

[dajay]

trailrunner9: Yes, I forgot about Keith Olbermann. He was part of the post here that bashed Hillary for appearing on O'Reilly's show.

I wonder how that loudmouth, egomaniac, will spin an Obama appearance on O'Reilly.

He'll come up with some nonsense I am sure, just like Obama's supporters here will spin till their empty heads explode.

[gwhizz]

He'll call it "relevatory" and say ti "revealed" his noble character.

[JohnCochtosten]

What are you guys complaining about? Sure, Fox sucks. But it has a large number of viewers who aren't all morons and Obama needs to reach these people too. You know, because they're also Americans!

People who support Obama need to listen to what he says about "there are no blue states or red states".

[HopeObama08]

Right on. He knows what he is doing.

[transendentilist]

But when Hillary did it, you Obamians tore her a new one.

[barackobama4prez]

Obama supporters: I feel that Obama should do what he wants to do on this issue. You have to remember that he makes for a rather unique politician because he is always dealing "head on" with folks who do not like him. His aims are to bring the country together when folks usually agree that we need to stay separate.

However, If you feel he shouldn't go on Oreilly...­send him a message and let him know.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/contact2

[pdsldl]

I agree. Obama is not going to force Fox out of business we the viewers will. We need to stop watching the corporate media and kill their ratings and help a new network get going. Fox is the worst , but this election season has proved that all the corporate media needs to change or be forced off the airwaves and out of print.

There is an audience that currently tunes into Fox that Obama can reach by going on their shows and he needs to be able to do that to help with the General.

[ProfEvil]

That is why I do not watch fox.
Any media outlet that promotes the hatred of fellow Americans is an enemy of the State.
Fox news is an enemy of the United States of America.

[patmancando]

Depends upon how well he does. He was a bust on Chris Wallace according to my Move On.org newsletter. On the other hand, Hillary was masterful on O'Reilly, according to the pro Obama pundits on cable TV.

[Ariane]

That is REVOLTING. I was SO disgusted with Hillary for that and I will be JUST as disgusted with Obama. I'm already disgusted with him for dealing with Fox at all after all the lies and smears. But Chris Wallace is one thing, Fox & Friends is maybe 100 times worse than Wallace (evil and inane puppets) and O'Reilly is 10000000 times worse (evil, evil, evil, hateful, racist ...and did I say evil? )

[robXdion]

Just Say No!!!

[mcartri]

If Obama refused to visit with Bill-O, Fox "News" would have announced:If Obama is too afraid to talk to a television host, how can he stand-up to terrorists? I'm a very strong Obama supporter who believes Obama should do the interview. It is also the only way Cheney("I only watch Fox.") can ever hear what the next President has to say about anything.

[patmancando]

O'Reilly will eat him alive! He is afraid to debate Hillary; so is he expecting sympathy from the voters if he is perceived to be mistreated. On the other hand he might just look wimpy and not in grasp of the issues.

[eladora]

Not before he is the nominee. Then he can go.
Heres what I know about oreally. he attacked a 14 yr old boy from Missouri who had been kidnapped & tortured and he attacked him, saying he could have gotten away etc. He is a stupid stupid man whose opinions all fall into that same moment of time. Nothing he will ever say again will ever override that attack.
He has children who will grow up to despise him because of who he is .
I hope if Obama goes on he counters the wright thing with the Catholic priest abuse thing---Colbert was absolutely brilliant on that point.

[gwhizz]

What Catholic is running? There's a lot of Catholic voters in this country and they're already leaning away from O. If he wants to completely alienate them all, he can go ahead and do that.

[Aywaller]

Please, please, please DON'T!!!