Obama To Go On Fox News

by: Chris Bowers

Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 15:56


Ah, 2007, the time when Democratic presidential candidates rejected Fox News debates and instead debated at Yearly Kos. Now, flash forward to 2008:

Barack Obama is going where his campaign has never gone before: Fox News, where he'll be interviewed by Chris Wallace this weekend on Fox News Sunday.

The Obama camp has more or less shut out Fox ever since they ran with the fake story about him supposedly being educated in a madrassah, so this is a big break from the standard practice. Even before that, Obama didn't have much time for Fox -- by the channel's count, the time between his last sit-down interview with them and this upcoming one will have been 772 days.

For accepting the interview, Fox's Chris Wallace promptly implies Obama is lazy:

Wallace said if Obama had won Pennsylvania, he may not have accepted the invitation.

"If he had won he'd probably on a Caribbean island this weekend."

I'm sure this interview will go well for Obama. Except, in this case, if he ends up getting trashed, don't look online for any help in his defense.

UPDATE from Matt:  Annoying scenario predicted!

Chris Bowers :: Obama To Go On Fox News

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Obama To Go On Fox News | 41 comments
Stupid Move (4.00 / 1)
Its not like going on is going to turn any Clinton-folks back his direction.  Why not send a surrogate like Clinton does with McAuliff (sp?)?  I'd still be annoyed, but it doesn't look as bad as this.  Is there any justification for this move?  Oy.
this is fucking stupid. (4.00 / 2)
I'll do everything to get our nominee elected. But if Fox demolishes Obama using footage from this interview, it's Obama's fault. Plain and simple. He should know better.
Did you happen to see FNS last weekend? (0.00 / 0)
Sens. Durbin and Schumer aptly demonstrated why no thoughtful, erudite, level-headed Democrat need fear Chris Wallace.

I agree, its a bit risky, but from what I've seen of Obama, he can handle Wallace.  BTW - if Sens. Obama and Clinton had shown half of the poise and shared purpose during the recent ABC Debacle, they could have turned the whole thing on its head.  Instead they insisted on slapping at each other, i.e. they played right into Georgopolis' and Gibson's hands.



"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."

[ Parent ]
Cool (4.00 / 1)
Wallace does not do well when he gets thrown off of his script - Obama should try an surprise him early and counter-attack by rejecting his frames.  Rope-a-Dope - he's a sucker for it.



"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."

No defense from me (4.00 / 1)
I just finished defending Obama on another thread but won't do so here.  I agree this is stupid.

I will make one exception, though.  If Obama takes it directly to Fox news and use to opportunity to declare them just a propaganda outlet, then I'm cool with this.  I don't expect that, though.

Obama wants to reach more voters... (0.00 / 0)
...than the few viewers on MSNBC and KO.

Clinton in '08. Or give Carter a 2nd term. Vote for Obama!
[ Parent ]
huh? (0.00 / 0)
Olbermann doesn't get "few" viewers by any reasonable standard.

He isn't going to "reach" hard core republicans when he's back on his heels being attacked on Fox News.  

[ Parent ]
Unity and bridging our divides (4.00 / 1)
are part of his message.  Given that his message reengages people in the democratic process why wouldn't he reach out to voters who frequent a media outlet different than one he is more comfortable with?  This may be risky, but it is entirely consistent with his message.
[ Parent ]
Triangulation (4.00 / 1)
Obama's going to get on Fox News and triangulate, talking about how he's always been a supporter of gun ownership rights, etc etc etc.  I can only assume it's the first step in the move toward the center he's going to have to make for the GE.
It might, if he was starting from the left... (0.00 / 0)
but from where I stand, if Obama moved toward the "center," he'd be moving left, not right. He's already PLENTY right-of-center.
[ Parent ]
Yeah, but other people don't see that... (0.00 / 0)
...he's being called an outright communist on right wing radio...

It IS ironic, since Hillary is the more progressive candidate on policy, but is portrayed as the more conservative one.  Obama is more conservative in regards to policy, yet he's viewed as a far left candidate.

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

[ Parent ]
That's cuz, in the Standard Political Narrative, Negroes Are ALWAYS (0.00 / 0)
more extreme than women, more dangerous, more unpredictable.

Hillary's no progressive, either, by the way. They're both safely centrist, globalist, corpoRatist tools. They wouldn't be where they are if they weren't.

If our old pal irony hadn't expired in the '80s with Kissinger's nobel peace prize, he'd get a good chuckle over the spectacle of two centrist, corporatist, globalist, free-trade, militarist Dems fighting to assume the mantle of the "Liberalism" that each are entitled by virtue of being avatars of their "identities" to wear, while at the same time having to reject--at least distance themselves from--the very values and policies, and indeed the politics, which their avatars inhabit as archetypes.

[ Parent ]
It might, if he was starting from the left... (4.00 / 1)
but from where I stand, if Obama moved toward the "center," he'd be moving left, not right. He's already PLENTY right-of-center.
[ Parent ]
If Obama Wins (4.00 / 1)
If Obama wins the nomination, it wouldn't hurt him to get the votes of some people who watch Fox News. And if he becomes President, he'll be not just our President but the President of people who watch Fox News as well. I'm not 100% comfortable with this, but I don't think it's a major mistake to go on the network from time to time. If they don't succeed in using the appearance against him and if he manages to get his message out to a few people who otherwise wouldn't hear it, more power to him.

And with Fox News now literally running promos featuring Terry McAuliffe praising the network and Hillary successfully pandering to the "Democrats who watch Fox News" demographic, what else is he supposed to do?

he's winning. he doesn't have to do anything. (0.00 / 0)
and there's democrats who watch Fox news?
[ Parent ]
There are idiots who are registered to vote (4.00 / 1)
who watch Fox.  He's giving it a shot.

But Chris is right. He's on his own. Because we won't be defending him if he gets "taken out of context".  It'll be his own damn fault.

[ Parent ]
Giving it a shot? (0.00 / 0)
From The Hill:
http://thehill.com/mark-mellma...

An audience that decides for itself, based on "fair and balanced" coverage, ought not to reach monolithic conclusions. 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.

So is Obama going on Fox News to speak to the 7 percent of Democrats who watch it?  Of those 7 percent who voted for Kerry, how many are primary voters, 3%?

I'd hazard a guess that Fox News viewers represent close to the ENTIRE 28% of the country who still approves of President Bush.

Obama's appearance won't do him any good, and only enhances Fox News' reputation as a legitimate news organization.  Obama gains nothing on this, save maybe stupid process stories about he "braved Fox News" and came out alive.

I'm one of Obama's most committed supporters, but this is flat out stupid and harmful to progressive efforts to marginalize Fox News.

[ Parent ]
I will still defend Obama... (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
dumb (4.00 / 2)
fox news is simply not a credible journalistic enterprise. i'd prefer it if our nominee would not imply otherwise by sitting in front of a first class halfwit hack like wallace.

oy...

It's time:the albany project.

What the matter with Kansas (4.00 / 1)
I wish I knew what possessed Obama to accept another ABC style interrogation? I wonder, could it be that his internal  Indiana polls tell him he can reach a sizable # of Dems via fox. I am disheartened that he has deemed it necessary to lower himself and give a repiglican front network a minute of his time. I will continue to support him but this is not going over well with progressives I can tell you that.
Thats the first thing that came to mind... (0.00 / 0)
I fear this is Part 1 of Obama's plan to run to the right in hopes of capturing voters in the unmistakably conservative bastions of Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia. I assume Hillary will be doing much of the same.

"Don't hate the media, become the media" -Jello Biafra
[ Parent ]
God Damn It (0.00 / 0)
There goes my May donation.  Sorry Barack, don't be stupid and you can get my money.
A Reaction Formation? (4.00 / 1)
Chris Wallace's dad had a reputation for being tough but fair.
And Smart.
Chris is none of those things, and couldn't stand comparison with his famous father on those grounds.
So he just became a notorious dick, instead.
and burnt to a crisp tan (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
Why are our candidates acting like battered wives? (4.00 / 1)
Are they ALL secreted away inside information bubbles like Bush has been his whole term?  Are they not hearing the people saying they're tired of conservatives running things into the ground?  Why do they insist on throwing bones to these authoritarian idiots?  Praise McCain, lie(?) about redoing NAFTA, lie(?) about health care reform... did the parties merge and someone forgot to send out a memo?
Has anyone ... (4.00 / 1)
gotten a response from Axelrod .. or Ploufe regarding this? ... so we can find out exactly why they feel the need .. especially with the Wallace quote just posted ...I don't see any Rethuglicans going on Air America
He's going on FOX to reach old people (4.00 / 1)
I don't agree with the decision either, but the Obama campaign just acknowledged today that they are having trouble reaching older people with his message.  Older people do watch Fox (sadly!).  As a fairly old person in a red state, I sort of get why he's resorting to this. I doubt it will really work. I hope it doesn't backfire. It's always difficult to stick with such positions in a long campaign. I just hope when he's president, he makes clear to Fox that he and we know who they are.  He can and should diss them as much as possible as president.
Chris Wallace (0.00 / 0)
Was the person defending him on fox news morning when they were going nuts on his "typical white woman" comment.  I don't think Wallace's comment about being in the Caribbean is insulting either - wouldn't you take a little time off after winning the nomination?

Still, I would rather he didn't do this.

an interview is not a candidates' debate (4.00 / 1)
I'm a little shocked that nobody seems to get this.  In the ABC debate, Obama was catching it from both sides (Hillary and ABC).  The rules of the debates are that you pretty much HAVE to answer.  If you don't, Hillary stabs you.

In an interview, if Wallace asks a stupid fucking question, you can say, "My dear Mr. Wallace, that is a stupid fucking question!"

People's comments seem to reflect serious ignorance and contempt and elitism regarding the people that Obama was trying to reach in the "bitter" flap.  Coming from Tennessee hillbillies, I resent that.  It even makes me bitter.

Mistake! (0.00 / 0)
I couldn't believe when I read this at HuffPo (though the last   I checked, the post had been moved or removed).  Is this a true story or a plant?

Assuming it's true, I'm appalled.  Obama had a reasoned position in not lending legitimacy to Faux News.  He's now destroyed that position and lends legitimacy to whatever outrage they purvey from here on out.  If he needs to reach older viewers, he should use local news.  I'm really angry about this and fear disaster, particularly if he flubs the interview (knowing Fox, he only has to give them an excisable quote they can use on attack).  

What really makes me angry is that he doesn't seem to have faith in his own coalition.

The questions (0.00 / 0)
Rev Wright? Hate America? Why you a terrorist? You like Bill Ayers.  Maybe you love him.  You going blow up buildings?  Americans think so.  Think you hate flag.  You maybe want smash flag.  No eat waffles.  Why funny ear man call good Americans bitter?  You hate them and want blow up buildings?  Ha.  You want run from Iraq.  You not real man.  Not have experience like John McCain, he is Maverick.  Next question, you hate America?  Your preacher shout "God damn America".  This what we need know.
Discouraging (0.00 / 0)
Obama will get no support from me on this one.  In 2004, Fox News viewers voted for Bush by an 80% margin.  This is just stupid.  He will convince no one, and lend legitimacy to a right wing propaganda outlet.  Hard to see what positives he sees in this.  Dumb move.
So... (4.00 / 1)
Obama is trying to reach that 20% and maybe a few percentage points more since Bush is so unpopular. A lot depends on how Obama reacts to outright Fox bullshit. If he calls it bullshit it's a smart move. If he gets drawn into a dance of repudiate and denouce then it's a bad move. But that's a bad move on any network.

The grassroots effort to marginalize Fox News as a right wing network was highly effective. Now that Clinton surrogates like Ed Rendell and Terry McCaulife are sucking up to Fox News Obama has to make a decision on how to counter and in my view he's made the smart choice to counter CLINTON today, beat Clinton for the nomination, and live to fight the media bias wars another day.

Obama is reacting to Clinton appropriately in my view. He gave Fox News a whack on the nose for peeing on the rug. You'll never know if the puppy has learned anything unless you let the puppy inside again. It's not the end of the world if Fox News treats Obama like shit in one interview. President Obama can return the favor for 8 years.

John McCain

[ Parent ]
yeah... (0.00 / 0)
this is the first moment that I officially fear we'll lose in November.

I wish John Edwards could get back in the race.

I take it back if Obama's going on to pull an anti-Fox stunt, but I really doubt it.

Here is the beauty (0.00 / 0)
We won't have to wait long to find out who is right and who is wrong.

John McCain doesn't care about Vets.


He is probably reasoning (0.00 / 0)
that he can't be treated worse than he was treated by George Staphoccocus and tweedle-dumber.

John McCain doesn't care about Vets.


[ Parent ]
this appearance may have something to do with limbaugh? (0.00 / 0)
Operation Chaos... the Limbaugh dittoheads are only hearing one side of the story and that's from Limbaugh's microphone.   So, Obama uses Fox News to speak to these Ditto-heads directly before they follow through with Limbug's order to go out and  cause "chaos" in the democratic primary...  which could be the deciding factor in Indiana..
He won't get the chance (0.00 / 0)
> Operation Chaos... the Limbaugh dittoheads are
> only hearing one side of the story and that's
> from Limbaugh's microphone.   So, Obama uses
> Fox News to speak to these Ditto-heads directly

As we know he won't get the chance.  Even if the Fox operatives don't trip him up with their pretzel logic in realtime, they will edit the video to make him look like an idiot and loop it for weeks.  

sPh

[ Parent ]
Before we get upset... (0.00 / 0)
...let's see what happens.

The Obama campaign isn't stupid...  There's a method to this madness...

We'll find out soon enough if it was a horrible idea or a brilliant strategy...

I still hate it, though... I liked it more when they froze him out...

He better not assume that it's going to be a fair interview, or my faith in Obama is shaken!

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

Obama on Fox (4.00 / 1)
Don't be stupid.  As much as we may want it, Fox isn't going away so fight them is their house.  Take it to them.  Don't let them get away with anything.  If you can't do that, you might as well go into a hole.
I'm nervous about it, but I trust Sen. Obama (0.00 / 0)
I don't like Fox News either, but I trust Sen. Obama's instincts, and I hope that some good comes from this initiative.
Obama To Go On Fox News | 41 comments
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