Why the Smartest Thing President Obama Can Do is Go on “The Factor”
After President Barack Obama spoke to a joint session about health care reform last night, Senior White House adviser David Axelrod appeared on “The O”Reilly Factor.” Bill O’Reilly asked Axelrod about a number of issues surrounding the debate, and finished by asking him to extend a welcome for Mr. Obama to come on “The Factor”. It’s a shame that Axelrod demurred at the suggestion, because a long-form, unedited and civil conversation is exactly what President Obama should do to change the tide of the debate.
As we’ve said before, the real debate over health care appears to be between the Obama Administration and Fox News; that is to say that among all cable news networks, FNC seems to most consistently — and at times stridently — question the basic assumptions of the left. While some have found the style of FNC to be “distasteful,” their ratings prove that no single news outlet currently has more influence, particularly given the comprehensive, nay, relentless coverage of the issues that Fox News holds most dear.
So why go on “The Factor”? Of all the “big-time” personalities on FNC, O’Reilly is arguably the most moderate. A proud, self-described “independent,” O’Reilly was the least antagonistic towards Obama during the presidential campaign, which Obama rewarded when he agreed to sit down for a much ballyhooed interview — an event that not only got great ratings, but appeared to help Obama in the polls.
Since the inauguration, O’Reilly has been a fairly vocal critic of this administration, but his critiques have been relatively tepid, which was evident after the Obama speech. As MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough noted via Twitter after the speech, “Bill O’Reilly is sounding somewhat supportive of the President’s insurance reforms right now. Opposes the plan but likes some parts.”
The current trend of opinion journalism has turned a partisan divide into a seemingly insurmountable chasm. And if Obama is genuine in his desire to cross the aisle for a bi-partisan solution, as we think he is, what better way to demonstrate that by going on “The Factor?” The same held true last year for their first and only interview, which was wonderfully described by Time’s James Poniewozik:
And to continue to freeze out Fox would go against one of Obama’s most consistent messages: that people are sick of red-vs.-blue America divisions and that we should be able to talk with people who disagree with us. In that sense, Obama made his strongest argument simply by showing up.
O’Reilly at least gave Obama props for that. In typical O’Reillian fashion, the host had two analysts on immediately after the segment, essentially to assess how well he had interviewed Obama (verdict: great!), and O’Reilly praised him for coming onto the show. “He’s a tough guy, Obama … I looked at him eye to eye — he’s not a wimpy guy.”
Obama, after all, had stared down Papa Bear. And in the No-Spin Zone, that’s the greatest leadership credential of all.
O’Reilly’s relatively warm reaction to the speech last night has given the White House an opening — one they’d be short-sighted to ignore. While those on the left might be concerned that there will be some dirty tricks or ambush by Factor producers, no one respects the station and decorum of the office of the President more than Bill O’Reilly (also a self-described traditionalist).
It might be Obama’s best chance for exacting the sort of change he hopes for.
17 comments
m says: Isn’t it interesting? That O’Reilly (who’s a conservative) is the most “moderate” out of all the opinionated Fox News television hosts.
TfT says: “As we’ve said before, the real debate over health care appears to be between the Obama Administration and Fox News; ”
Isn’t that an interesting observation. The media is here to look out for the people, not look out for the Government. Fox News covers the protesters, covers the town halls, covers the voice of the people. The debate is not between Obama and FNC, it is between Obama and the people. Like you say, FNC is the ONLY network that gives a voice to the people.
It’s just that ABCCBSNBCMSNBCCNN don’t provide a voice for the people — they only provide a voice for the Government. Shame on them.
I’m glad to see you put it so clearly.
Like today, Beck and FNC are covering the ACORN scandal — have any of the other networks even bothered to mention it?
JimW says: TfT should be offered a columnist job at Mediaite.
lledo says: TFT, not quite so simple. It wholly depends on who’s on the inside and who’s on the outside looking in as to who looks out for who. I clearly remember O’Reilly making disparaging remarks about protesters when Bush was in office, but when the protesters line up with their thinking, everyone’s a saint deserving to be heard (how else would I know Obama was simultaneously a nazi, muslim, socialist, and foreigner. Thanks town hall crazies, and makers of Abilify). Speaking of covering scandals, I’m still waiting for the Fox piece on that lying/cheating gov from SC. Must be tied up in that stupid fact checking phase.
TfT says: It is clear Hedo, you do not watch Fox News. You are apparently watching MSNBC talk about FNC rather than watching the source. Try it, you might like it. Try watching the full clip of O’Reilly rather than the clip you saw on Jon Stewart’s show.
TfT, ABCCBSNBCMSNBCCNN and Fox News are all part of the problem, yes even Fox News.
The reason why it makes sense for Obama to show up on O’Reilly is because he’s the only semi-reasonable person on that network that would provide an somewhat honest debate on the issue. Being on the opposite side of the debate doesn’t mean he stand for “the people,” as much as you’d like to think that. I’m not full of myself enough to think that my point of view represents 51% of the country, I would just like to see a civil debate between two adults of opposing views for once.
lledo says: Well, as someone with three O’Reilly books on my bookshelf and having watched Fox News plenty (love you Shep), I see what he’s about. I liked him better when he was covering the weight gain of celebs on ET. The career ladder doesn’t always lead up I guess. He’ll get back on his feet. I’ll give him this, the guy loses his sh*t on air like nobody else. And for Stewart……simply the best half hour on TV. I say this in full awareness it may lead to full revocation of my Glen Beck for mental health czar membership. Sacrifices kids. Tell me this, when you watch Bill disect Stewart, you then immerse yourself in the Daily Show right to get his perspective? Funny, I didn’t get that from reading your posts. How many Stewart books have you read to get the other sides perspective, imagining first that Stewart could pen a book?
lledo says: “Shut up! You shut up! Cut his mike off, cut it off.” Interviewing at its best I guess. Tune in to some of Jon’s interviews with those of opposing views, you might like it. That wuss treats em with respect and allows them to air their views even though he clearly maintains a liberal view. Comedians doing news….. What next, gossip show guys doing news? Oh wait.
Stewart has never presented himself as anything but a comedian. He has, from time to time, had some of the most sober and educational interviews with people he doesn’t agree with, even though he’s under no responsibility to do so.
O’Reilly’s first interview with Obama was the toughest one of Obama’s entire career. Not since that interview has he faced any real questions. The Obama team goes out of their way to appear on ever network except the one everyone watches — Fox News.
He needs to prove he’s not an empty suit and make an appearance now that he’s president.
ImNotBlue says: (Advance apologies if WordPress & Mediaite post my original post, which appears to be stuck in “moderation,” probably due to the unformatted links. Ah well.)
Oh, lledo, lledo, lledo… what are we going to do with you? Well, I don’t know what “we” are going to do… but I know what I’m going to do. Here are all the things you said that are wrong thus far:
“I clearly remember O’Reilly making disparaging remarks about protesters when Bush was in office,”
What was the context? If it as the clips that Jon Stewart played (as is mentioned), then he called them out for being anarchists, terrorist sympathizers, and being anti-American… not because he THOUGHT they were, but because THEY said they were! And not to play the “bad behavior game,” but if folks like you and Stewart praised or accepted the Bush protestors (who frequently called Bush “Hitler” or “Nazi” or had pictures and posters fantasizing about his murder), but had big issues with the townhall protestors… aren’t YOU also hypocrites?
“Speaking of covering scandals, I’m still waiting for the Fox piece on that lying/cheating gov from SC.”
You mean like these?
POLL: Should Mark Sanford Resign?
‘Special Report’ Panel Says Sanford’s Political Career Is ‘Toast’
Sanford and Sins (On The Record)
Video From 2001 Shows Woman At Heart Of Sanford Media Firestorm
Argentine Woman Admits Relationship With South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford
Sanford Rebuffs South Carolina Lt. Gov Bauer’s Call to Resign
Or the other one’s from FOX? Seems like as someone who “watch FOX,” you would have seen some of these.
“Well, as someone with three O’Reilly books on my bookshelf and having watched Fox News plenty (love you Shep), I see what he’s about.”
Which books? When did you read them? Do you watch his program, or does just generally “watching FOX News” give you enough insight?
I liked him better when he was covering the weight gain of celebs on ET.
O’Reilly never was a part of ET… he was one of the original hosts of “Inside Edition,” and when it began was more of a hard-news/investigative-journalism program… not a gossip program.
Tell me this, when you watch Bill disect Stewart, you then immerse yourself in the Daily Show right to get his perspective?
Bill dissected Stewart ONCE (after praising him as a comedian), and showed the corresponding news clips. I did watch the full segment on ComedyCentral.com afterwards, and saw that O’Reilly changed/edited nothing. Is there something specifically you saw?
How many Stewart books have you read to get the other sides perspective, imagining first that Stewart could pen a book?
Stewart is responsible (at least partially) for two books: “Naked Pictures of Famous People” (before he hosted TDS), and “American (The Book)” which came out a few years ago.
““Shut up! You shut up! Cut his mike off, cut it off.” Interviewing at its best I guess.”
And how many times has that happened exactly? Seems in an FNC career of over 12 years, 4 or 5 blow-outs isn’t really that bad… is it?
That wuss treats em with respect and allows them to air their views even though he clearly maintains a liberal view.
Jon Stewart “respectfully” to Tucker Carlson (on CNN): “You know what’s interesting, though? You’re as big a dick on your show as you are on any show.”
And there you have it. But please feel free to try again.
“It’s just that ABCCBSNBCMSNBCCNN don’t provide a voice for the people — they only provide a voice for the Government. Shame on them.”
TfT, Anderson Cooper has spent this entire week providing a voice for the Marines in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. His reporting this week has been excellent, and his entire team has been excellent, especially Michael Ware.
You might complain that most of the more vocal critics of FNC don’t actually watch it, and you may very well be right…but the same goes for the opposing networks. If you weren’t watching 360 this week, you missed a great opportunity to hear from our soldiers fighting overseas, and I certainly consider them a very important demographic when it comes to giving a voice to the American people.
ignatz says: Isn’t that an interesting observation. The media is here to look out for the people, not look out for the Government. Fox News covers the protesters, covers the town halls, covers the voice of the people. The debate is not between Obama and FNC, it is between Obama and the people. Like you say, FNC is the ONLY network that gives a voice to the people.]]
So why didn’t they do that when Bush was President?
Oh.
SuperSmart says: ignatz, I think what you meant to say was that Fox News is the only network that gives a voice to the idiot moronic racist people.
m says: ignatz makes an extremely valid point: all the people today who complain about MSNBC supporting the Obama Administration are the same people who watched Fox News when they were slobbering all over the Bush administration. It’s a prime example of pure hypocrisy.
Difference from now and then is that MSNBC wasn’t a solid liberal network because they only had Countdown. Olbermann, for years, was pretty much the ONLY place in the mainstream media that vented the frustration many liberals had. This is why his Special Comments had such an impact. I remember when he did it the first time – I was like “What? Liberal opinions in the mainstream media? I thought that was taboo.” and was expecting his show to get cancelled and replaced by another opinionated conservative. For years Olbermann not only took on Fox News, he took on the Bush Administration – completely solo.
It wasn’t until recently MSNBC turned liberal – and who can blame them? Fox News built a cottage industry around courting a clear conservative audience. Fox News viewers are very loyal – and pretty much all of them believe that any other source other than Fox News is a part of the librul media and not “fair” or “balanced”. It’s a nice little bubble they’ve created. And it works!
ChrisNH says: In my perfect scenario, Obama’s fortunes plummet so far that he’s left with no other choice than to go on O’Reilly. Bill-O’s response? “Take a hike, butt-boy…I gave you EIGHT MONTHS to come on here. Today, you need me a whole lot more than I need you.”
ImNotBlue says: ignatz says:
September 12, 2009 at 9:39 am
So why didn’t they do that when Bush was President?
Can I see some evidence that they didn’t. I don’t recall that being the case.
m says:
September 12, 2009 at 9:14 pm
all the people today who complain about MSNBC supporting the Obama Administration are the same people who watched Fox News when they were slobbering all over the Bush administration. It’s a prime example of pure hypocrisy.
Yours, or theirs? If FNC did as you claim, and MSNBC does now, but you support MSNBC’s coverage… how can THEY be hypocrites, and you not be?
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