Obama To Appear On "O'Reilly Factor" Thursday

New York Times:

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.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[TheImpaler]

Why O’Reilly? Couldn’t he talk to Chris Wallace or someone else (don’t know who) who could pass as a journalist? This is bad, this legitimizes O’Reilly. Who is next, Limbaugh? That meeting with Murdock must have gone well; still, there is no upside to this unless, as it was with the Saddleback church, the idea here is not to get the conservative vote but to present himself in a way less threatening than portrayed by those guys. In other words, Republican base is not crazy about voting FOR McCain, but they may came out to vote AGAINST Obama if sufficiently scared/energized. Obama may not get a lot of votes out of this, which is not the goal; the goal is to possibly reduce the sense of urgency of voting for McCain. It may work.

[ItJustSux]

He has been on Chris Wallace's show and he did a great job. Not even that knucklehead Kristol could say anything bad about it.

[mccainisaphony]

He's doing it to steal ratings from McCain's "big night" at the RNC...and rightfully so...McCain attempted to steal ratings from Obama's speech by announcing his "historic VP candidate" the very next day. He may have stolen ratings...but look at today's Gallup. Either way..it's very smart of Obama to go on O'Reilly...his timing is perfect and stragetic. If you can't fact your critics, you can't claim to be tough. Let him go on there....republicans deserve to be informed of what they're potentially voting against...hear it from the horse's mouth and not from malinformed word of mouth and inadequate research.

[TheImpaler]

That is very interesting. Good point!!!

[marylandtravelinman]

This isn't Sarah Palin we are talking about. O can handle himself. He beat Hillary and the Clinton machine for pete sake. If Billo cuts him off, he will cut him down. The difficult chair to be in is Billo, it is harder to talk trash about someone when they and their secret service agents are right in front of you. And when they know you have been talking smack about you for 2 years. GO O.

[UnbiasView]

Maybe you have some interview footage I don't, how do you know that Palin can or can't handle an interview?

[OriginalScreenName]

Apparently you missed the radio show where she laughed when the DJ called her cancer surviving political opponent a "bitch" and a "cancer" then proceeded to make fun of her weight.

That's a rookie mistake if I ever saw one. Ever wonder why the McCain campaign hasn't allowed her to give an interview?

[PublicusOrator]

Right On. There is a tremendous "Alice In Wonderland" aspect to some of the posted comments; Off with their heads, verdict first, trial afterwards

[davesideas]

there's plenty of footage out there; she isn't stupid, but if you'll notice, she's always working in front of a supportive audience and when the talking pointing points get thin she shifts to flirting.
How well do you really believe she'd do in the booth with Rachel Maddow?

[stepintothelight]

Doesn't that scare you on any level. Next possible veep and we are "searching" for interview footage. Oh the irony!!!

[kingofscotts]

Just so I understand.

You are saying that if O'Reilly asks questions that Obama doesn't like he will have his secret service detail beat Bill up?

Ok then........

[Jamesdean]

Just another example that O b ama would do anything - even if it means cosying up to jo kers and
id iots - to get elected.
from wire tapping to oil drilling, that man is willing to go to any length to get votes.
but the best part is this is just a start...imagine what would happen after he gets elected!!!

[IndependentPAVoter]

your an idiot!!! So because hes a Dem he should only champion Dem issues and forget about the other half of the country??? Hes running for the presidency of the United States not the presidency of U.S. democrats. I know Bush and McBush have you a little confused about how this works but the president is the president for all people not just the ones in their political party!!!!

[FanofPaine]

Thank you! I think it shows courage because he knows it's a hostile environment.

[mccainisaphony]

So...ummm....presidents shouldn't face their critics? They shouldn't attempt to understand and serve the masses? They shouldn't have debates? Tough conversations? Hmmmmmm...isn't that like...a dictatorship?

[stepintothelight]

Remember ... O promised Bill o that he would sit down with him after the nomination. Oreally was assaulting O in a handshake line after a speach during the primaries. Orally was yelling about someone not "blocking" the shot. Some of you say O is just a man of words .... It's more like he is a man of his word!!!

[plainsman]

Ugh. Why? Screw O'Reilly.

[Chavez08]

Does this mean McCain or Palin will go on Obermann?

[rwe]

Olberman is a coward, he will never have anyone on but the bootlicker crowd,,,Maddows,Gregory, Matthews and lib pundits or pols.....

[matthewhusseinsmith]

Interesting point. Never thought of KO as a coward, but wonder why no one that he criticizes ever appears on his show. Could it be he asked but nobody ever comes?

It would be dynamite if Bush, Hannity or Rush had a one on one with KO!

[nellie]

Bet you'd never have the nerve to say that to his face.

[Egalitare]

You're kidding, right? Obama is on O'Reilly to demonstrate that he's not afraid to go anywhere to defend his record and positions, and take just a little wind out of McCain's sails on his marquee speech night. Knowing that Fox News viewers voted for Bush over Kerry 88-7, this is the equivalent of entering the "Lion's Den" when the lions haven't been fed in a couple of months. If just a HANDFUL of O'Reilly's regular veiwership comes out of this thinking that Obama might not be the AntiChrist, the hill for McCain gets that much steeper.

McCain blew off Larry King because he didn't think that was going to go well. Obermann won't get even a return call of an offer.

My question is will O'Reilly offer Obama some "M-Fing Iced Tea"....

[UnbiasView]

If Olbermann reached an audience the size of O'Reilly's . . . yes he would.

[davesideas]

on the night that McCain or Palin showed up on Olbermann, Olbermann's audience would rival O'Reilly's...

[connorin]

Check out Olbermannwatch.com for KO's guest list...republicans are less than 1% of his guests and I don't think he's had one on for nearly a year...haven't checked the list in a while

KO is afraid of any debate of ideas. He puts up a strawman argument for his opponent whom he never contacts and then does silly voices while presenting half truths, "managed" quotes and out of context snippets...Murrow is rolling over in his grave like a top!

[marylandtravelinman]

We know that "Bill O" will do or say something so dumb that is will be in Firday's paper and will steal some of McCainosaurus echo. At least there will be something interesting to watch on Thursday night now.

[Chavez08]

I find it interesting that Obama is trusting Ailes after that quick meeting. I'd really like to know what was said....

[TheImpaler]

Why O’Reilly? Couldn’t he talk to Chris Wallace or someone else (don’t know who) who could pass as a journalist? This is bad, this legitimizes O’Reilly. Who is next, Limbaugh? That meeting with Murdock must have gone well; still, there is no upside to this unless, as it was with the Saddleback church, the idea here is not to get the conservative vote but to present himself in a way less threatening than that portrayed by the far right media. In other words, Republican base is not crazy about voting FOR McCain, but they may came out to vote AGAINST Obama if sufficiently scared/energized. Obama may not get a lot of votes out of this, which is not the goal; the goal is to possibly reduce the sense of urgency of voting for McCain. It may work. But O'Reilly? Yaaak!

[jansky]

To be prepared to suffer through that shows that Obama really is a man who puts the country first. Very impressive.
Obama-Biden 08

[jcause28]

Ha, McCain cancels Larry King because reporters are asking scary questions. Obama is going into the fire and will come out looking much better.

[rbspickles]

Heh :) This I've GOTTA see!

[kwinter]

In defense of McCain ... I don't think it's that he's afraid of Larry King so much as he's channeling Bush again... "Watch out media if you do your job too well I'll deny you access!"

[connorin]

scary questions?

OK, lets have the reporters ask him to take a dna test to prove Obama is the father of those two girls

[mccainisaphony]

please respond with real rebuttal....cuz what you're doing weakens your credibility....most of us up here are just laughing at you...fight back strategically...ur just throwin the kitchen sink...real debate is welcomed...what you're doing is just making you look uninformed

[RabidRightRebel]

I wonder if McCain has the courage to sit down with Olberman? Or is McCain simply unable to defend his positions?

[BLinCincinnati]

He cancelled with soft ball expert Larry King. I doubt he'd ever agree to sit down with Olberman, but that would be great to see.

I always thought they should have a primary debate with a host from the other side of the spectrum. That would be so entertaining. Let Keith Olberman host a republican primary debate, and Glenn Beck host a Democratic primary debate. That would be entertaining :)

[Pronto]

Your Olbermann/Beck debate idea is a good one.

[dphilip]

Courage? Do you need courage to be confronted by someone who suffers from the anger issues and personality disorders that Olbermann has?
I'm serious. His reputation is sinking fast.
The only people who support him are his sycophants.

[oscartucker]

John McCain would never be on Olbermann's show nor on "Hardball" with Chris Matthews. Pallin wouldn't either. In fact, I think the McCain campaign is going to try to keep Pallin from a press conference as long as they can. Keith is good at his job; he is the ONLY one who brings up some of the issues and informs his listeners. I will have to watch Obama on O'Reilly's show; I believe Obama will do very well. ***Just announced: Obama will be on "Countdown" with KO on Monday night, just before Rachel Madow's debut.

[UnbiasView]

Hmm, Olbermann doesn't do interviews of guests that don't agree with him.

Also, Olbermann doesn't have the ratings to get big time guests . . . hence the guy from VH1 every week and a bunch of yes men. Once KO beats O'Reilly's repeat in the ratings, he may have a shot.

[connorin]

Olbermann first would never invite him...can't have a dissenting voice in the echo chamber, plus KO admits he is afraid of debate

Matthews has had McCain on a number of times previously...that's why a lot of you seem to think that CM is a republican

[nootrope]

This is brilliant. Steals the thunder from the RNC (or was that just a lot of loud farting?), and allows the Obama campaign to draw the distinction between Obama not being afraid to appear on oreally and mcsame canceling out on larry king. what exactly is mccain so afraid of? :D

Obama has nothing to fear from Oreally, he can run rings around billo and his bluster. Good move!

[connorin]

Then why did he take soooolong to sign up

[eddiebly]

Like one blogger sad before...tming. Obama is playing chess while McCain isplaying checkers. This VP lady is about to experience the Obama Freight Train.

[Pronto]

What do you know? Signs of a spine for Barack.

[nomobull]

he always had one. again he is doing in his time not theirs. that takes spine.

[nomobull]

what takes more spine to do it when he was ready not when they said he should. or to cancel an interview because one of your surrogates got exposed for a wind up toy.

[marylandtravelinman]

Yeah, imagine a guy who didn't have a father, who put himself through school, graduated at the top of his class to have a spine. Hum? Amazing isn't it!

[connorin]

How about a woman, mother to 5 (1 of which has downs) becomes mayor, then governor, then VP candidate even though she knows here daughter is 5 months pegnant and that will come out...but still accepts the challenge for her country

[Fudgefase]

Will Bill dare tell O to "shut up!"?

[marylandtravelinman]

Not with the secret service there.