Obama appears on FNC’s air…
An interview with Senator Barack Obama taped this afternoon aired on FNC’s “Special Report with Brit Hume” tonight. Obama discussed McCain’s newly announced position on the war:
I don’t doubt John McCain’s sincerity on this issue, but I doubt his wisdom on it. The fact is I’m somebody who opposed the war when it was unpopular to do so.
UPDATE: The Obama interview occurred with a group of reporters asking questions, one of whom was from FNC.
UPDATE2: The above update is incorrect and I got duped. Greg Sargent has the full details. So I again reiterate the question; why did Obama back out of FNC’s debate and make a statement about FNC’s coverage and then less than a week later do an interview on FNC?
In a way it does. He gets to make points with the pressure groups by talking boycott and pulling out, but he knows that Fox can’t, and won’t, boycott him in return. It’s the best of both worlds.
Comment by johnny dollar — April 11, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
It’s called hypocrisy, Spud.
Comment by Goldfish — April 11, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
Where did McCain announce his opposition to the war? I can’t find this anywhere and it would contradict everything he’s said for oh….four years.
Comment by Edward Schatz — April 11, 2007 @ 7:57 pm
Obama is a “political whore” They all are until they get elected a show their true colors
Comment by VMart — April 11, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
So the Democrats don’t need Fox News? HA! Maybe they do after all.
Comment by Goldfish — April 11, 2007 @ 8:17 pm
I thought John McCain was going to announce a new position that was even more pro-war. When did he announce opposition to the war? I agree with johnny dollar that Fox will not shut Obama out — Brit Hume said back when Obama cancelled the first time that Fox would welcome him anytime. Maybe Obama got some bad feed back from his pollsters that it was a bad idea to ignore FOX.
P.S. SPUD - It has taken me awhile to read all of todays post and comments. This certainly has been an eventful day. It appears to have created alot of work for you and I say thank you.
Comment by Aunt Mary — April 11, 2007 @ 8:37 pm
TV Newser posted that the Chicago Tribune and Detroit News each panned the Dems in editorials about canceling the debates.
Comment by Goldfish — April 11, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
This the only article I could find talking about McCain, and mentioning Obama:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,265260,00.html
But I have no idea where or when he said he was “opposed” to the war. I think we may have a typo or sorts on our hands.
Comment by ImNotBlue — April 11, 2007 @ 9:05 pm
Ya, what is this thing about McCain being anti-war?.. If dems say Fox isn’t a real news organization, then why are they appearing? HYPOCRITES.. they know it’s the number one news network, but won’t admit it publicly
Comment by Chet — April 11, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
ImNotBlue: Yes, it appears Spud made a typo (opposition). Aunt Mary has the accurate description of the McCain story.
Comment by Ira — April 11, 2007 @ 9:19 pm
I think Spud just mistyped. It was actually a speech by McCain that did reference his past criticisms of how the war was prosecuted, but reinforced his support for the new counter-insurgency policy.
Comment by johnny dollar — April 11, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
Better late than never!
Comment by mike — April 11, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,265260,00.html
Comment by Chet — April 11, 2007 @ 9:26 pm
It was a typo alright.
Comment by Spud — April 11, 2007 @ 11:26 pm
I am glad I was not at home when the Brit Hume/ Obama interview aired. After the way Obama has treated FNC, he doesn’t deserve a platform there. You are correct, Spud.
I just read Obama’s comments in The New York Times. He states that his two young daughters are facing racial stereoptypes in America today. Yesh, right. Best treatment, best schools, best of everything! Give me a break!
Comment by cella — April 12, 2007 @ 7:53 am
This guy’s an empty-suit media creation. When the Wicked Witch of the North, Hillary, unleashes the infamous Clinton attack machine on him, he’ll fall like a house of cards.
Comment by spiffo — April 12, 2007 @ 9:16 am
Yay, good for Obama to go on Faux Noise to bash McCain in “his house.” Even better than he and other Democrats are refusing to allow Faux Noise to sponsor a Democratic debate. Democrats don’t watch Faux Noise and those who already watch it aren’t voting for a Democrat!!
Comment by Yvonne — April 12, 2007 @ 11:20 am
Hm. Obama is lacking substance on an issue? Big surprise. I’ll reserve my vote for Edwards; sorry Obama.
Comment by Mike K — April 12, 2007 @ 11:33 am
I think, to a certain extent, it makes some sense. McCain threw a nasty hit at Obama. Obama is fighting back where it hurts McCain most, by talking to McCain’s base. He’s spreading the message to more McCain supporters (assuming he has some) by talking on FNC.
Comment by jasmine — April 12, 2007 @ 11:49 am
You missed the point of pulling out of the debates. The whole movement was about not giving the network the respected format of a Presidential debate, legitimizing them as a news outlet. This is entirely different from appearing as a guest, which candidates should feel free and comfortable doing no matter how partisan the format is.
Comment by Do — April 12, 2007 @ 11:51 am
If none of the Democratic candidates want to take on FOX, how will they ever convince voters they have what it takes to take on the terrorists?
Comment by Skip McRae — April 12, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Being interviewed on FAUX is way different than having a debate moderated by FAUX. There is a distinction.
Comment by Rickeagle@kos — April 12, 2007 @ 11:56 am
Wow. A kossack blasting FNC? What’s next?
By the way, Mr. Rickeagle the kossack, how can you defend a guy who probably won’t stand up to Iran if he won’t even take on a TV network?
Comment by eddiebear — April 12, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
eddiebear: Where did all the riff-raff suddenly come from?
Comment by Ira — April 12, 2007 @ 1:24 pm
Ira — I thought we would have silence on this thread — guess I was wrong, it took them some time to come up with talking points and excuses to put some spin on this. They should just understand that Obama figured out that he needs Fox News.
Comment by Aunt Mary — April 12, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
…..it took them some time to come up with talking points and excuses to put some spin on this.
Yep and the fact that this post is now worthless b/c Obama didnt even speak with Hume and only to an FNC reporter at a press conference means all you CONS wasted your time here this morning….oh well back to job hunting guys
If none of the Democratic candidates want to take on FOX, how will they ever convince voters they have what it takes to take on the terrorists
My reply
If GWB doesnt want to make speeches in front of crowds of people who disagree with him, how does he have what it takes it takes to take on the terrorists???…hmmm
In Conservative Fantasy Land:
Refusing to speak to a partisan propoganda network is cowardly…..
Refusing to speak to the citizens of the USA is macho.
Comment by lib4 — April 12, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
They need to come out in full force and try to bully people around… otherwise people will continue to see them as cowardly.
But they are always funny… FAUX instead of FOX… hillarious. The words almost look the same, because they both have an “F” and an “X” in them… and if you’re uneducated, you might pronounce it “F-aw-ks” instead of “F-oh.” Oh, and don’t forget the “Noise” part.. instead of “News.” Classic.
You’d think that a group so well supported by comedians would be more clever.
Comment by ImNotBlue — April 12, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
Is there anything more predictable and cliche’ than today’s modern liberal? I think not.
Comment by spiffo — April 12, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
Mike Allen why didn’t you state the fact correct, Obama was
in a group of reporters asking questions, you made it seem
like that he went on Foxs news for interview. Good for him
you know the manager made fun of obama
Comment by doris lewis — April 12, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
ib4, this isn’t about George W. Bush. This is about democratic candidates for the President of the United States who have previously appeared on Fox News numerous times, suddenly bowing to the fringe elements of the progressive movement, MoveOn.org and the netroots.
As many people have noted, did John Edwards just decide during the NV debate controversy that he views FNC as an inappropriate host for a debate? He sure didn’t have any problems appearing on FNC prior to that. Anything for a few points in the polls eh John? As I have said before it is there loss, not reaching out to more voters.
Comment by Buck — April 12, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
It was a big mistake for the Dems to have canceled the debates. As a Democrat, I’m embarrassed that they ran and hid from Fox. That was a show of weakness by a bunch of cowards who are being coerced by idealogues.
Comment by Goldfish — April 12, 2007 @ 6:00 pm
Aunt Mary: When I suddenly see a bunch of strange names here (add #26 & #29) all basically say the same thing, I wonder whether there is some sort of organized effort to invade this website.
Comment by Ira — April 12, 2007 @ 7:44 pm
Just more liberal thuggery. How much is Soros paying these commie freaks?
Comment by spiffo — April 12, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
If this is an organized effort to influence anyone, stop wasting your time. We’re not sheeple.
Comment by Goldfish — April 12, 2007 @ 7:56 pm
Obama is still learning. He’s listening to handlers and pulling punches regularly. It’s so unfortunate that he drums his original opposition to the war but fails to understand the dire need to end it immediately. He hedges on the withdrawal of funds and speaks guardedly about a vague care-taking requirement for our troops that will be cautiously executed in a yet unstated fashion. He is afflicted with this pie in the sky notion that SOMETHING will make a draw down less horrific if it is executed in a plodding manner. That simply isn’t the case. It can’t fail to be tragic and no amount of thoughtful consideration can change that. Quite the contrary, delay makes it more grim.
I don’t care what his original position was, he sounds more like Hillary Clinton now. The body count is racking up while they strategize for the campaign win. That can’t see the forest for the trees thing hobbles them both.
I want to support him, but, man oh man, I’m having a hard time with it.
Comment by 714Day — April 13, 2007 @ 3:43 am
“The fact is I’m somebody who opposed the war when it was unpopular to do so.”
I am so sick of this. Does he have to repeat this in every interview he gives? Does he have to continue to give the impression that he was actually in Congress when the vote on Iraq occurred? The fact is that he opposed the war while he was IN CHICAGO, not D.C. The war was never popular in Chicago.
Comment by old dem — April 13, 2007 @ 11:18 am