Fox News Finally Lands Obama Interview, "Obama Watch" To End

Fox News anchor Chris Wallace says it's been 769 days since Sen. Barack Obama agreed to an interview that never materialized. But this Sunday, the wait is over. According to a Fox News release, Sen. Obama will be appearing on Wallace's "Fox News Sunday" this weekend.

From the press release:

FOX News Sunday's "Obama Watch" to Stop This Weekend

FOX News Sunday host Chris Wallace will sit down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with Democratic Presidential Candidate Senator Barack Obama airing on Sunday April 27, 2008.

This interview follows the much talked about "Obama Watch" clock that FOX News Sunday began running on March 16, 2008 to track the time that had lapsed since Senator Obama accepted Wallace's initiation to appear as a guest: 730 days, 13 hours, 53 minutes and 18 seconds.

The last clock count as of last Sunday was 765 days, 13 hours, 54 min, 47 seconds.

Wallace had started a weekly segment called "Obama Watch" last monthwhen, 730 days since he claims that the senator had agreed to an interview, Sen. Obama still hadn't appeared on the channel. Those many days means that Sen. Obama agreed to the interview in 2006, far before Democratic candidates for the 2008 election famously refused to participate in any Fox News debates.

Although Sen. Obama's camp has yet to release an official statement, Wallace wrote a post hinting that the upcoming exclusive interview may be the result of Sen. Obama's "double-digit loss" in Pennsylvania.

Missed Wallace's "Obama Watch"? Read Jason Linkins' Sunday morning coverage of "Fox News Sunday" and more here.

This item has been corrected from a previous version that said Senator Obama refused to appear on Fox News Channel. In fact, Obama has been interviewed on Fox News several times. The Huffington Post regrets the error.

Comments

[escobar]

Sen. Obama has nothing to gain from this?
Why would Fox not simply interrogate him as a hostile witness?
They control the microphones and will shout him down if he does not follow the interrogators line of twisted reasoning. They certainly do not care about intelligent discussion, ever.
His granting Fox an interview legitimizes people who refuse to grant him the same respect.
Sombody needs to tell him to take off his Superman cape.
His ego must have taken over his sense of judgement.
Arrogance ruins the potential of a lot of people.

[avicenna]

I would strongly urge him to speak slowly, use smaller words and fewer abstract or complex concepts. After he had addressed the nation in that memorable speech following the Rev. Wright fiasco, Jon Stewart had proclaimed in faux awe - "He's speaking to us like we're not little kids!" - this may be part of the problem for Obama getting through to the "core voters" - he is putting the ilk of FOX audience members on the same intellectual plane as himself which is leaving them left out of the conversation.
Good luck with that.

[KYJurisDocto]

May I suggest that it is bone headed mistake!

[Myshkin57]

Seems like after that ABC debate, he decided he needed to talk to journalists with greater integrity than Gibson or Stephanopoulos.

[cct1984]

Get a grip folks, it's just an interview. It's not like he's being waterboarded...besides, if he is half the candidate you all believe him to be he should do fine. Sure, he'll get asked tough questions...unlike the powder-puff lovefest interviews he's been doing in the past...but it'll be good for him and for the nation. A large segment of America still doesn't know this guy and up until now we've had very little to go on, other than associations with Rev Wright, Mr. Ayers, and a few public gaffes. Here's his chance to set the record straight. Like it or not, FOX represents a large segment of America and Obama will need some of those votes if he hopes to win in the general election (assuming he gets that far). He ignores these voters at his peril.

[shockmagog]

"He ignores these voters at his peril."

'Yet, in our 2004 polling with Media Vote, using Nielsen diaries, we found that Fox News viewers supported George Bush over John Kerry by 88 percent to 7 percent. No demographic segment, other than Republicans, was as united in supporting Bush. Conservatives, white evangelical Christians, gun owners, and supporters of the Iraq war all gave Bush fewer votes than did regular Fox News viewers.'
http://thehill.com/mark-mellman/hounding-fox-news-coverage-2007-03-20.html

Perhaps the "we report, you decide" Fox News viewers are slowly coming to realize that their elephant is finally dead, and that maybe voting for a Republican this time really IS against their own best interests.

[BlackmaninAmerica]

By going on Fox News, it strengthens his argument about trying to unify America. If you are a progressive politician and can stomach an interview on Fox News, which is extreme right wing, that speaks volumes about your ability or at least attempt to correct the partisan breach.

[tbone99]

Iran or Korea will be a cakewalk after that.

[KarateKid]

Chris Wallace is a disgrace to his father's name and legacy, a complete sell out to Murdoch's right wing harangue gang.

[SickoPoliticos]

Must be running scared! Why else would he choose to increase the ad revenue to a network which will use the money to see his defeat either this summer or this fall? He doesn't need any additional media exposure - his poll numbers go down with each appearance on a McCain/Clinton network.

Obama needs to decide if he wants to be remembered as a "Nice Guy", or the Democratic nominee with a shot at the White House.

[ceasenake]

Why is he going on FOX? Does he smell the stench of defeat in the air, like McGovern before him? He needs the Reagan Democrats to swing his way before the super delegates start to jump ship en masse.

[BlackmaninAmerica]

Trust me, the supers will not jump ship. Looking at all states that dems win and swing states, Obama has done very well among those so-called Reagan Dems in states like Iowa and Virginia and Colorado. He did well with them in NH, although he didn't win. So to make the argument that is he another McGovern is absurd and unfounded. You are buying into the MSM spin because the right wing wants to run against HRC.

[CosmicGalaxy]

I'm sure Karl Rove at Fox News, will be burning up the Blackberry with zingers to Chris Wallace to get Barack Obama tripped up and agitated so as to get a sound bite to play over and over.
Sean Hannity has been anything but fair and balanced. He has baited every guest with questions about Wright and has his finger on the Reverend Wright video loop to play in the background.

Brack Obama has to man up as they say and point the finger back at right wing Fox News and all the crazies that hate-hate liberals and progressives. Barack, be forceful and look in the camera and tell America that you love this country and that you will not let these hate mongers bring you down!

Sean Hannity will be his usual rapid self; foaming at the mouth at the prospect of derailing the prospects of the 1st Black President. Think about it. What prominent Black leaders does Fox news promote or encourage? None!

Now CNN has hired the smooth talker Tony Snow of all people, a true partisan to provide commentary at CNN. Who's bread does he butter I wonder?

These boys are playing to win! Barack, don't let them do what they did to John Kerry. They ripped the medals right of of John Kerry's chest. Black is white. White is black Annimal Farm. Is it the florine in the water that has Americans sleep walking?

[Bushwillresign]

I kind-of hope he (Obama) answers the questions like C. Rice answers questions. 5 minutes of B.S. and by that time no one even remembers what the question was in the first place. Rice enjoyed that type of "battle" when questioned by Congress. The repubs enjoyed that type of "battle" also since they didn't believe she had to answer any questions from America.
After a few 5-min. answers, Wallace will interupt and say" Give us a yes or no answer, you're wasting my time". We'll see what happens...

[ceasenake]

Kerry ripped his own medals off and threw them over the White House wall in protest, remember? He later (when it becam politically expedient) claimed they were someone elses medals.

[Probus]

Obama is a smart politician no matter how much Wallace tries to bait him into losing his cool he won't succeed in getting Obama to lose his temper like Bill Clinton. Obama is also an excellent debater. If he goes, Obama will do well.

[SarahLee]

I just hope to God that if they ask Obama what flavor of Kool-Aid he likes, that he doesn't say "Red".

[musselmanm]

He will grab Chris Wallace right by his undereducated balls and belittle him so fast and so badly that Faux will have to dismiss Wallace.

[SarahLee]

Barack is going to tea bag him? hmmmmmm

[Calinative]

As an Obama supporter this makes me nervous. The downside is that he might give the smear machine more ammo.

The upside: he'll reach a demographic he doesn't already have and have a chance to counter Fox spin.
He just can't get railroaded like the ABC debate where he got diverted by side issues. If they bring up flag pins, he should turn it to something really unpatriotic, like trashing the Bill of Rights. If it's the economy, we're in a recession because of the war. If it's Rev. Wright, point out that Wright is a veteran and speaks for himself. If it's health care, point out that he's the moderate and Hillary is the socialist.
Every question he'll have to bring the interview back to message.

This could be a make or break, but I think he'll do well.

[indypete]

Best fox news line I've heard in a long time was on John Oliver's special last week... "If you walk into the Fox News building and randomly punch someone in the face, the chances are they deserve it."

[TocinoHumano]

I'll vote for Obama, but I'd feel much better voting for someone who told Fox to go f*ck themselves.

[Exit]

This is a big mistake. They are going to try to get some more sound bites out of it. FOX News is nothing more than a Republican Infomercial.

[RobertaInCT]

And with Wright's interview will Bill Moyers tonight they will have fresh ammo..............

[LoloZ]

Okay Barack, you better kick some ass on FOX. Chris Wallace is a complete idiot, put him in his place, make him wish he never started the countdown. GO GO GO OBAMA!

[independentrepublicrat]

I don't agree with him accepting the FauxNews invitation. I don't like the idea of one party so easily getting bullied by the other. The democrats always cave. He should have just rejected and denounced his previous statement to appear on Faux and let the chips fall.

[magen]

Gee, I wonder how many times they'll "mistakenly" refer to him as Osama.

Also, I wonder how many thousand questions they'll ask him about meaningless sh!t, compared to the one question about war, or healthcare, or the economy, or education, or the growing inequality in this country.

[Nyla785]

Obama is learning exactly how underhanded these right wing media outlets can be--'churning' the Rev. Wright story , over & over, 24/7. It's called 'hyping the story until its magnified to gigantic proportions'. Fox News and right wing talk radio leads the effort--and in fact, Fox has NOT LET A DAY GO BY that they haven't 'churned' both the story and the videotape, even on the Greta Von Susteren show! And of course Rush and Hannity and others do the same..until the mainstream media picks it up and starts churning it too. Then, of course it looks HUMONGOUS!! And Obama can NEVER ANSWER THE STORY ENOUGH!
The right fears an Obama candidacy--they will be impeded in fighting him. And their right wing online activists will inevitably sound racist--which will hurt them in the end, and they KNOW it.



Don't be scammed again. You've seen how they've done it in the past.

[ndnndpendent]

There is the right media and extremists in the wing, as disgusting as they are there is some validity to their concerns about Wright. I am an independent supporting Obama, but I believe he must rebuke and disown Wright. The indepth New Yorker feature on Michelle Obama reveals the sentiment ' i can no more disown (him) than my own grandmother..' may stem from Mrs. Obama's sentiments. It is association by marriage that Obama has ties to Wright. This is an intimate issue and its goes to the very core of their marriage. This being said, I think the American people are unsettled at the thought of Wright visiting the White House and possibly affecting U.S. policy. Rightly so, therefore, the Obama(S) must make a concerted effort to reassure the American people that they will not be influenced by extremists and to make an attempt to reassure the American people that their spiritual advisors pass the smell test.

[realpolitic]

Bill O'Reilly shows the loop of Rev. Wright's remarks every day. He says questions need to be answered. Of course, O'Reilly wants to keep playing on people's fears and there is no answer which he would accept.

[ndnndpendent]

By continuing to hang on to Wright, Senator Obama cannot claim the moral high ground. That he failed to act to rebuke and disown hin has in itself kept this controversy alive. Obama has made missteps within the black community---not attending the State of the Black Union forum but retaining ties to Wright? What gives? There needs to be some clarity and he doesn't seem consistent when he says: there are not blue states and red states but the United States....I just fail to see how he can maintain credibility as a unifier if he doesn't acknowledge theres some validity in the concerns of the right and take action to break from Wright altogether. I am neither left or right but more of a center....but even I am growing uneasy that Obama did not effectively deal with this.

[lizzytysh]

ndnndpendent said:

"By continuing to hang on to Wright, Senator Obama cannot claim the moral high ground. That he failed to act to rebuke and disown hin has in itself kept this controversy alive. Obama has made missteps within the black community---not attending the State of the Black Union forum but retaining ties to Wright? What gives? There needs to be some clarity and he doesn't seem consistent when he says: there are not blue states and red states but the United States....I just fail to see how he can maintain credibility as a unifier if he doesn't acknowledge theres some validity in the concerns of the right and take action to break from Wright altogether. I am neither left or right but more of a center....but even I am growing uneasy that Obama did not effectively deal with this."

Dear ndnndpendent ~

I've read this along with several other comments by you re: Obama/Rev.Wright.

You may have already done so. If you haven't, the interview on Fox isn't until tomorrow. You have time to watch Bill Moyers's interview with Rev. Wright.

You'll be astonished and leave with a more balanced perspective their relationship. Wright is a fine man; Barack has no reason to distance himself in any way.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04252008/watch.html ~ includes the main page, where the transcript is also available

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04252008/watch2.html

Please.


~ Lizzy

[tbone99]

Obamaites who gave H.C hell for appearing on FOX - eat your hats

[pacats]

The difference is the following:

1). The owner of Fox Network, Rupert Murdock held a fund raiser for Hillary.
2). Hillary is embraced by most of the Fox commentators.
3). Hillary belongs to the religious group known as the "Fellowship", the leader of this church group, Douglas E. Coe has stated his admiration for the skills of Hitler. Her association with Coe seems to be okay with a lot of folks. Although, this is well known, the corporate media has not touched it, except for MSNBC, Brian Williams and Andrea Mitchell, Steven Brant 3/28/08 on this site, and a few others.

Obama understands the importance of shared dialogue with everyone. Fox has done the most in presenting sensationize stories, which is why they are usually concerned with having their candidate announce their support for the Fairness Dortrine, as Hannity did with McCain during his one-on-one interview. Obama has practiced inclusion of all people, fair treatment for all, and will do a nice job of presenting his views, and plans on the issues to Matthews.

[tbone99]

I'm sure he will, and I look forward to him making them like the petty partisians they are. Thanks for the explanation on the differences on the two appearances .However Isn't it duplicitous to complain on the one hand about H.C connections to these people at the same time B.O seems to be courting Obamicans, who have slept with these folks for years? . As far as her religious connections vs his - they're all scarily crazy from the point of view of many.

Although I agree with Wrights version of history , I don't think the black commandments would be looked on benignly by most white people.

[VietVet]

FOX should be sued just for having "News" in their name.

[MPeter]

I am not sure how wise it is for Obama to walk into this Right Wing honet. There is nothing good likely to come out of this appearance except dredge out divisive, controversial stories that have been reported to death. If you think what happened at the ABC debate was bad, wait until Hillary's best friend Murdoch unleashes his attack dogs. And why do it during this short span between the next primaries? I sure hope Obama's advisers know what this will lead to.

[realpolitic]

Chris Wallace always adopts right-wing talking points in the construction of his questions. He will probably ask Obama why he is said to beat his dog.