Lou Dobbs Becomes “Semi-Regular” O’Reilly Contributor, Talks Palin on Today

Now that he’s gone rogue, Lou Dobbs is free from his CNN constraints to go on any network he wants.

His first choice was Bill O’Reilly on Fox News, and this morning he was on the Today show set at NBC with Matt Lauer. He didn’t reveal his future plans, but maybe there’ll be a lot of media appearances.

The big get was with O’Reilly, after he tried to go on over the summer and it never materialized (and was possibly vetoed by CNN). O’Reilly wanted to focus on why the tide turned on Dobbs’ advocacy journalism, and the implication was the change in the White House. “I discern more of a difference between then, which was the Bush administration when I was criticizing, and now, when it was the Obama administration and an entirely different tone was taken,” said Dobbs, but he noted it was “not so much in the case of CNN management.”

O’Reilly seemed like he wanted to give CNN some advice, since “We don’t have anything against CNN. NBC News – we don’t like.” But Dobbs wouldn’t bite on his ideas for how to improve the ratings. “I’m just talent,” said Dobbs. “Their ratings are objectively without question lower than they should be, lower than they’ve been.”

O’Reilly thought Dobbs “would be a legitimate contender for the Senate in New Jersey,” and Dobbs wouldn’t confirm his interest, but did “guarantee you 100% I’m going to remain in the public arena.” At the end of the interview O’Reilly extended what sounded like a contributor role offer. “I’d like you to come back on a semi-regular basis, would you do that?” “It’d be my honor,” said Dobbs. So get ready for that!

Another topic on O’Reilly was about the whole birther debate – which wasn’t addressed in Dobbs’ Today show interview this morning. Matt Lauer asked about the reason he exited CNN, saying, “the way its been reported is CNN got tired of your opinions.”

“Since I take it a little personally, perhaps it was just mine, but they made it very clear they wanted to go middle of the road,” said Dobbs.

He also weighed in on Sarah Palin (since, everyone else is). He said she’s the front-runner for the 2012 GOP nomination, but he wouldn’t personally vote for her.

Dobbs’ appearances over the last 12 hours, and what are likely to be future appearances as the week and months go on, are a win-win for the new TV free agent. When you get an opportunity to reach new audiences on the top rated cable news show and top rated morning show, he and most others are likely to jump at the opportunity. It sounds like he’ll be back semi-regularly on the top cable news show as well. Dobbs keeps is radio show, so he’s not going away entirely. But whether he goes to TV or to politics, these appearances are sure to help raise his profile, and keep the CNN opinion/news divide (and low ratings) as a topic addressed by others in the media world.

> Update: Dobbs talked to TVNewser’s Gail Shister this morning, telling her, “I’m thinking about” the O’Reilly offer. “I have immense respect for Bill O’Reilly. He’s an outstanding broadcaster.”

>>>NEXT PAGE: Watch the interviews from Fox News and NBC.