Obama Going on Fox Thursday Night

02.09.2008

There are reports out that Barack Obama will go on The O'Reilly Factor Thursday to steal some headlines from John McCain (Fox News is sure to have a huge, huge audience that night).

Basically I think this is a smart move on the part of the Obama campaign, with one caveat. Anyone who has seen O'Reilly's show over the past six months can attest to two truths: First, O'Reilly has been kinder to Obama than one would have expected, and second, O'Reilly has been obsessed with getting Obama to come on the show. Those familiar with O'Reilly's ego can decide for themselves whether or not there is a connection between these two things.

Therefore the concern is that once Obama goes on the show, O'Reilly will spend the last two months of the campaign unloading on him. Perhaps, then, a strategy of stringing along the Fox host for several more weeks would be the wisest course of action. Let's call it the EU strategy, in honor of those Europeans who counsel dangling the prospect of EU membership in front of the Turks--thus ensuring liberal reforms--while putting off the actual date of admittance.

--Isaac Chotiner

Posted: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 10:41 PM with 5 comment(s)

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thejauntyboulevardier said:

I don't know. I think that Billo may actually like Obama. I bet he goes easy on him, at least on the interview. Bill is a bully and he won't challenge Barack face to face.

That is my prediction.

September 2, 2008 11:04 PM

kevincollins said:

You know, it's easy to forget that O'Reilly actually had the guts to question the war in Iraq about 2-3 years into it. Yeah, he caught a whole lot of hell from that and eventually backpedaled, but for once the guy seemed innately concerned as a human being and not as a one-sided GOP defender.

September 2, 2008 11:16 PM

bhunziker said:

Obama can always promise to come back one more time, but this is a good move. There's absolutely nothing to lose but lots to gain, especially if Bill goes easy on him. His interview with Hillary suggests he will.

September 2, 2008 11:28 PM

CharlesFosterKane said:

I'd like to see him on Hannity & Colmes. It would be a treat to watch him run circles around that blowhard. Hannity would be sure to bring up Bill Ayers, but than I suspect O'Reilly will as well. I concur with the opinion that Bill will suddenly become polite - perhaps even fawning in demeanor (though he'll still ask tough questions) - with Obama around. Much of Bill's wrath is directed at people he sees as persecuting him; he's like the kid who, if you let him sit at your lunchtable, will suddenly become your best friend (look at how forgiving he is of Al Sharpton, while he can't abide Jesse Jackson. Why? Sharpton frequently appears on his show).

September 2, 2008 11:55 PM

BHLnyc said:

O'Reilly's politics are not that easy to pigeonhole. He has a libertarian streak that surprises every once in a while. As CFK notes, his wrath is usually saved for those he thinks are persecuting him, so I suspect he's not going to try and score big points off Obama.

As for Hannity, I can't help but wonder whether he's going to even acknowledge Palin's crazy preacher. He was all over the Jeremiah Wright story, of course, so fairness would dictate that he's got to deal with this. Not that anyone has ever accused Hannity of being "fair."

September 3, 2008 9:49 AM