Barack Obama To Appear On "Countdown With Keith Olbermann"

Just days after he appears on "The O'Reilly Factor," Barack Obama will sit down with O'Reilly enemy Keith Olbermann on "Countdown." On Monday, September 8, Obama will help MSNBC kick off the homestretch of the political season by appearing on its marquee show. That same night, "The Rachel Maddow Show" will debut in the 9 p.m. hour.

Obama is set to appear on Fox News' "O'Reilly Factor" Thursday for the first time. Earlier this week, news broke of Obama's secret meeting with News Corp chief Rupert Murdoch and Fox News overlord Roger Ailes, a meeting in which they reportedly brokered a truce but during which Ailes made clear to Obama that Fox News would not be "in the tank" for him.

Full MSNBC press release below:

DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SEN. BARACK OBAMA ON MSNBC'S "COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN," MONDAY SEPT. 8

ST. PAUL - Sept. 3, 2008 - Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama will join MSNBC's Keith Olbermann Monday, Sept. 8, on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," 8-9 p.m. ET. It is Sen. Obama's first "Countdown" interview since March and since he became the Democratic party's nominee.

"Countdown with Keith Olbermann" telecasts weeknights, 8-9 p.m. ET on MSNBC. Izzy Povich is executive producer.

Comments

[maxwellinformed]

Let's just hope they can think of a new line of questioning on KO and BILLO. Questions about issues, and not about PUMA's, or appalachians. Let's continue the tough talk about the reality of McCain's dangerous stance on international issues. Palin's extremism. Then keep telling those ditzy undecided voters how important this election is and what's really going on.

[All57States]

Actually a smart move by BHO. If he fills his pants on O'Reilly (highly unlikely since O'Reilly is a terrible interviewer) he can go on with Keith. Keith will console him by jumping in his lap and caressing his cheek all while talking about the nasty Republicans.

[Peteyman]

Yeah and then Mac will host another bbq for the press, and press will forget all about Palin and continue rehashing his talking points....­.

[generationyes]

You should probably change your own pants before you blog crap like this.

[heal57]

Did you fall on your head when you were little?

[white mende man]

[Ailes made clear to Obama that Fox News would not be "in the tank" for him.]

wow please don't flatter yourselves. Obama will speak and take all sick questions from Fox news and Obama will answer all of them forthwrightly unlike John McCain who cannot even accept an interview with Larry "Pussycat" King.

[freedomthrutruth]

Ailes did not have to say that to Obama, who likely already knew that Fox News would not be supporting him,but would instead be making every effort to provide the American people the kind of propaganda that would insure a McCain victory. I'd like to hear from Obama himself what this peculiar meeting was all about and what he expected to gain from it. I strongly suspect Obama is trying to demonstrate he has the capacity to meet with, and talk to, his staunch enemies despite the striking differences in ideology. This ability will serve America well in the international arena.

[pilgrim7]

KO deserves it. He's Obama's fiercest supporter ever. Hope he gets first dibs at Press Secretary.

[Kynn]

Noooo!

Look, I'm good with Olbermann being in it for Obama. But I'm sick of the press and the Pols being in bed.

There needs to be a new line drawn in the sand.

[just4shiggles]

Great! Two of my favorite and most respected intellectuals at the same time! I hope that it is a nice, long interview that gets out as much information possible. Surely when he is on with Billo he'll be lucky to get a word in edgewise. It will be fun to watch Obama's expression as Billo embarrasses himself in front of him. I don't know how he keeps a straight face!

[Roose]

Good get Keith. Go get em!

[Susej]

Please Huff, put a reminder in the header above on that night.

[SwingVoter]

There was a time I thought Keith Olbermann was a dangerous individual, but it wasn't long after the presidential campaign began that I realized how important Olbermann is to America.

[MorningJoeMikaIsMarried]

How very true

[OrganOfThought]

Kieth O is a real patriot, unlike those criminals in the White House he rails against that don't care what happens to the USA as long as they get theirs.

[BrockSampson]

He is both important and dangerous.
I like that.

[emr3857]

I cant waith both of my favorite men on Countdown with Keith. :-)

[STAYATHOMEMOMMY]

I love Keith Olbermann especially his worst person of the day segment it always makes me laugh. Obama is great as is Biden. Obama is going on Bill-o's and Olbermanns Countdown . I wonder what Olbermann will say about Obama going on Bill O's.

[MorningJoeMikaIsMarried]

My 15 Year Old Daughter Love The Worst Person in the World Part

[Judyisacutie]

YAY!

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

I have to say that I think Obama going on Fox News is a good move -- one main reason is that he's not running for President for just the left, he needs Independent and the right-wing too to win. We have to understand that Barack Obama wants to work for the good of all Americans and you can't just go on shows that are safe. This will be a test for Barack Obama but I think it's a good test. For example, Palin should be talking to all news media but they have her in hiding to get her ready. Obama is ready -- and I think it will be a hard interview, but still one he must take -- to get his views to the American people.

I'm listening to Romney now -- fear talk.

[1forthetruth]

Thank you for that take. I posted something similar and got flack for it.

Maybe with a picture and the orange and green thing you won't.

:0)

[Dynamohum]

Maybe they are hiding Palin because they are busy cloning her......G­OP robot. hehe

[Dynamohum]

My only real concern is the soundbites that they will make out of one hour of speaking, that Fox will twist and turn and spin until it isn't recognizable to those of us that know Barack. It will not end with just the interview.

[CharlottesvilleVA]

You are spot-on correct. He has to show that he isn't intimidated ("if he's afraid of Bill O'Reilly how can we trust him to stand up to evildoers?") and that he actually can and will reach across party lines. Even if all he gets out of it is O'Reilly admitting that Obama is a nice guy, that's a huge win. The people who live watching Fox News need to learn that Obama isn't a threat to the American way of life. There's only one way to do that. It takes some guts and confidence. He seems to have both in abundance.

On the other hand, we have McCain canceling an appearance on the softest of softball interview shows because he didn't like the answers one of his "spokesmen" gave after Campbell Brown did a truly masterful job of painting him into a corner he couldn't "talking point" his way out of. Is McCain actually afraid of Larry King? Jeeze!

What are the odds we'll ever see McCain on Olbermann? Maybe it's time for MSNBC to start running their own "countdown" clocks to show how long it's been since McCain has visited!

[dajay]

Oh please, why would Obama be afraid of Bill O'Reilly and why would McCain be afraid of Keith Olbermann.

How ridiculous. Two media hacks from each side, that don't even know the meaning of the word credible journalism.

Laughable.

[terentz]

From A. Sullivan: Sarah Palin sat in a church where this message was given. Two weeks ago:

Brickner [Palin's Pastor] described terrorist attacks on Israelis as God's "judgment of unbelief" of Jews who haven't embraced Christianity.

"Judgment is very real and we see it played out on the pages of the newspapers and on the television. It's very real. When [Brickner's son] was in Jerusalem he was there to witness some of that judgment, some of that conflict, when a Palestinian from East Jerusalem took a bulldozer and went plowing through a score of cars, killing numbers of people. Judgment — you can't miss it."

Palin was in church that day, Kroon said, though he cautioned against attributing Brickner’s views to her.
How does Hannity deal with this? After what he said about Jeremiah Wright?

[KarenJW]

He doesn't!

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

Well you know our man Keith O. has to get his say... this should be very interesting! Let the debates began.

[rcwblessed]

Gotta LUV Keith! I can't wait for the debates. I think they will be the defining point for this election. Saddleback was not an example of what we can expect going forward.

[chris48]

"Saddleback or Setup"-a lot of the questions posed were specific for McCain to answer lingering questions. And by the way, am I the only person who wants to puke when I hear the word "Maverick" or "That's Just John McCain being John McCain"- NO it's John McCain showing dementia.

[SeanHannity4Obama]

you go boy. Next President of the United States of America. Even G. Bush knows it