Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is about to enter the "No Spin Zone."The Illinois senator is due to be interviewed by Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, host of the "The O'Reilly Factor," on Thursday, the final night of The Republican National Convention, according to TVNewser.com. I am sure executives at Fox parent company News Corp. (NYSE: NWS) were high-fiving each other when that interview was secured. The clash between the suave Obama and the bellicose O'Reilly will make for interesting television. It will be like a car accident on the highway that people can't help themselves from gawking at.
Maybe Obama views it as a chance to show his supporters that he is not afraid of O'Reilly, who is a pussy cat compared with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin. It's also quite a contrast to the strategy of Republican John McCain, who is keeping the media at an arm's length. His campaign even canceled an interview the candidate had scheduled with CNN's Larry King because it did not like the tough questions anchor Campbell Brown asked its spokesman about the qualifiicaitons of his running-mate Sarah Palin.
Both the Democratic and Republican conventions have been a dream come true for the cable news channels. More people tuned into CNN, which is owned by Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX), for Obama's acceptance than for Fox, MSNBC and the broadcast networks. The address got more viewers than the American Idol final, the Oscars, or the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.
Fox, though, continues to attract more viewers overall, especially during the Republican get-together in St. Paul. General Electric Co.'s (NYSE: GE) MSNBC is gaining viewers too, though some may be curious to see if its feuding on-air personalities will break into a fist fight. All three of the cable news networks are raking in major bucks from those annoying 30-second TV spots that are an unfortunate part of American political life.
A winner has already emerged from the Obama-O'Reilly confrontation before a single punch has been thrown: News Corp. head Rupert Murdoch. The media baron lusts for the power to set the nation's political agenda. Come Thursday night, that's exactly what he will be able to do.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-03-2008 @ 4:11PM
panola said...
O'Reilly has a lot of nerve claiming NBC has been unfair with their pro Obama coverage while he schedules his Obama interview during RNC primetime.
9-04-2008 @ 12:38AM
MajKarma said...
Bill O'Rielly is a Chicken Hawk Pig, a Liar and Self Serving Traitor who is a disgrace to all Americans. particularly us Whites, us Veterans and those of us who believe in our Constitution. The man should be deported.
9-03-2008 @ 4:33PM
Beltway Greg said...
Just make sure that Obama doesn't leave his phone number or he might become the recipient of a few of those famous unwanted O'Really late night phone calls. Now that Obama is going to appear on "The No-Win Zone" how about a little trip to Rush land so that he can be interviewed by the thrice divorced, drug abusing, draft dodging agenda setting fat man for the ridiculous right. O'Reilly cannot cut off someone in the studio like he does to people who phone in and is paralyzed by anyone with an IQ above 20. I can't wait to see another sacred cow of the right get slaughtered.
Beltway Greg
9-03-2008 @ 5:06PM
JERRY said...
Bill just doesn't get it ! He says he is a Rep. but he is selfish and wants his own personal world to be fixed by what ever sized government is ncesessary. Which in his case is large. He is a demogog ! He just can't walk the talk ! Go get him Obama ! And yea don't blame me I voted for Kerry !
9-03-2008 @ 5:52PM
Thomas Crown said...
How does Obama feel about being "PUNISHED" with two children?
9-03-2008 @ 8:56PM
william lindblad said...
From a political standpoint what Obama is doing is very smart. O'Rielly may be caustic, but Obama is a good orator, quick with response and too polished to fall prey to anything Bill can dream up. He took the interview because it is to his advantage.
Free Press - and I do mean free.
To the rest of the commentators that have posted - Bill has a job of being controversial and that is how he makes a living. Obama is a politician and that is how he makes a living.
The latest economic proposals from the Obama campaign are about as asinine as possible, yet they sound good. That is the intent. Selling a policy that would turn the U.S. into a nation of savers sounds great - except it will never happen.
Fairy tales - expect many before Nov.
A few years ago Malcolm Forbes entered a presidential race and proposed a "flat tax". Said tax would be income progressive and without loopholes and the fairest proposal in years. I don't see anyone coming up with something new and innovative from either current camp.
Getting elected is not about telling the truth.
9-04-2008 @ 7:41AM
Snoop said...
O'Reilly, Hannity & Colmes, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter----are all Tall Tales----Fox News is the biggest Tall Tales.
9-04-2008 @ 7:43AM
MajKarma said...
I'm not sure how I got involved on this blog except I utterly dispise O'Reilly. However, don't be the typical dead-head American and be fooled by this Presidential race; Obama is blood kin to both Bush and Chaney, and is just another hand picked lap dog of the New World Order, the Federalists, Big Brother, Big Oil, Big Media, the CFR and the true enemies of our Constitution and the Republic our founding father sought to create and upon which America became great. MOB Rule and Democracy are what America is becoming..the repression of the few under False Flag the Common Good. I am of the opinion if the Media Likes Them, they are crooks. For my part, I am voting NONE OF THE ABOVE and preparing for the worst.
9-04-2008 @ 7:44AM
sheila said...
As much as I would like to see Obama win i wouldn't watch him on your show ever. Why is it when Jamie Lynn Spears announced her pregnancy it was a sin and a shame she was a disgrace she was not to be considered a role model and her show on Disney should be canceled imediately. Yet Ms. Palins daughter will recieve the love and care from everyone, its private, shes off limits, we're forgiving kind people lets ask Jamie. Ms Palin can come out and belittle Obama attack him for everything, shes the tuff attack dog but if he says anything back or Biden says anything hard during the debate they will be killed. She put herself in the race so she should be fair game. Now I know what MCCain is willing to do to win it may not have been loose a war but everything else goes. By the time Ms. Palin came on stage I was already in tears it was one after the other dragging Obama through the mud Guliani made him almost appear unhuman nothing was said that would help you understand MCCains stance on anything I don't believe anyone deserved to be treated that way and the smears and smirks on their faces they did it with pride and personally I didn't see the God in none of that. The Dems took a shot here and there but Obama told us what his plans were and how he planned to get it done as well as the other speakers but tonight that was the lowest of low and it showed by the grace and the ease in which it was done how well they are at it and it made me very sad to be an American and this is why as Affrican Americans we can say that we haven't been proud of our country in years because who could have pride in a country that would stoop that low. I've never watched a program and felt as hurt as I do now. Theres attacks and theres attacks and you know what God bless you all im sure the party is going and Im sure you believe that won it for you but these are not the people I want representing me. Mr. Obama did not take a shot at her he congradulated her and told his camp that family is off limits just as he had said about his own family and this is the respect he gets I'm done with politics.
9-04-2008 @ 7:48AM
Yoni said...
Well, I like to think that I stand positioned firmly in the center and try to look at things as openly and unbiased as possible. And, to tell you the truth, I'm surprised at how much absolute vitriol I find on these blogs by otherwise perfectly sound minded commenters.
Be forewarned, I am an Independent who will likely vote for Obama this coming election.
Firstly, there's the topic of why Obama is allowing himself to be interviewed by O'Reilly in such a way. Personally, I thought it was somewhat obvious. Why he would choose to appear upon a rather conservative TV station on the last day of the Republican convention? In order to steal the convention's thunder, of course. With this, much of the Fox news conservative base water cooler talk will be of the Obama interview instead of the Republican convention. A very good tactic, in my opinion, but to naively think otherwise is a bit silly, in my opinion.
Now, onto Sheila's comment. I'm thinking you may be letting your political bias (everyone has one, no worries) soften your image of the Democratic convention. I watched it, and there were quite a number of jabs aimed directly at McCain, many even by Obama himself during his (Overall impressive) speeches. Some jabs were well deserved but others were very misleading and even false (References if you want them).
Was the Republican convention any better? Nope. Not really. In some ways even worse. Again, a number of jabs at Obama, again, some very misleading (Again, references if requested). But your comments make them appear to be devils in the flesh. It was pretty negative, yes, but overall the two conventions shared somewhat similar levels of negativity, in my view. I personally don't believe this is any way to elect a man to such an office, but too many people nowadays believe misleading one-liners they hear instead of doing the research themselves. Sadly, the tactics work.
But to not be proud of your country because of your disagreement with the elected party seems a bit silly. Yes, there are large problems in America today, but you may lack perspective considering the many past problems the nation has had to overcome in order to even be where you are today. I could name tens of historical equivalents to wiretapping, unpopular wars, search and seizure, racism, classism, debt, and overall nastiness. It's not good, but none of it is new either. The key is to look past the imperfections at the whole picture when making sweeping, grand generalizations. You may not like some of the current governmental leaders, but I bet you like many of the people, the unique blend of cultures, the opportunities entitled to all Americans and the general structure of government. Though, I admit, you seem to have had honest intentions in your comment with no malice at heart.
List is far too longwinded and no one will read this, so I'll quit here.
9-04-2008 @ 11:36AM
charlie said...
I don;t care if they are black, female, have 5 kids or no kids.. I look at their POLICIES. Obama is for higher taxes, more government control and thus bigger government, no drilling for oil and natural gas. Limits on 2nd amendment rights. I am aginst these policies so I support the Republicans.
9-04-2008 @ 2:34PM
marlene said...
It's all a bunch of rederic, what it comes down too
who is the best salesman and who can deliver.
9-15-2008 @ 9:54AM
JJC said...
Forget Obama and O'reilly.....is there anyone on Wall Street with an IQ over 70?? Oil prices go up..and they say the reason for the stock market decline is oil prices; oil prices go down..and they say the reason for the stock market decline is oil prices.....Interst rates go up.. and they say the reason for the stock market decline is fear of recession; interest rates go down..and they say the reason for the stock market decline is fear of inflation. The only reason these morons can work on Wall St. is that they can't get a job working for a company that demands performance. These people have sinecures with idiot companies like Moron Stanley, JP Moron, Shearson, Lehmon, etc. The sad part is that innocent retired folks get caught in the whipsaw of these larcenous/moronic hedge fund and commodity traders. When will someone tell the emperor he isn't wearing any clothes. The only people who are bigger morons than those on Wall St. are those people in the media who report on what they say.
9-05-2008 @ 12:56PM
MARK MUENDO said...
yep.....mmmhh... good work.hey you guyz have really done qiute a good work.congratulations,i thank you so much and let's keep on going that way.bye
9-07-2008 @ 5:22PM
J Johnson said...
I would have loved to see Obama on O'reily. I watched Fox News 24/7 until I figured out that's why I was on antidepressants. O'reily pitbull needs to get the pitbull with lipstick on his show. This republican is for Obama. Let Hothead McSame drill for oil in on of his nine backyards. Shelias comments above are so true..............
9-13-2008 @ 1:46PM
DKE said...
For the first time, I saw O'reilly back off a little on a person who is trying to be our President. I was very disappointed in Bill. Maybe he wants a position in the WH, or play Basketball. That should boost his ratings! Or maybe Bill is getting soft in his old age!
11-10-2008 @ 12:20PM
CARM said...
Oreilly is a vindictive hatefull person and his kind is why there is so much hate in this country.He and bush would make great cult leaders. I am sick of his knock on GE that employs hundreds of thousands of hard working people that he affects with his continue bashing. Keith O is right when he calls him one of the worst people in the world.