Obama vs. O'Reilly: The Complete Interview

For the past year, Progressives have been intent on trying to undermine Fox News Channel's credibility as an objective, unbiased news source by pressuring Democratic politicians to not dignify it by appearing on it. After the channel parroted unfounded internet rumors that Obama had attended a Madrassa as a child in the Philippines, the candidate all but boycotted the station.

It was with mixed feelings on both sides that Obama agreed to an interview with conservative pundit Bill O'Reilly, (albeit during the RNC, guaranteeing him a huge conservative viewership). Some diarists on Daily Kos protested that Obama was weakening the entire party by allowing O'Reilly to shout down the party's presidential nominee (the nominee being, you know, him). A lot of people on the Left take it as a sign that Obama is just rolling over and playing dead, and losing by allowing the Right to frame the arguments, and playing by their rules.

But actually, doing this is very much in character for Obama and consistent with his philosophies. During the primaries, Obama was billed as a moderate that had the respect of Republicans, because they trusted him to hear them out and deal with them respectfully. In this interview, he proves he can walk the walk as well as talk the talk on the line, all the while advancing his own position. Any Obama fans that didn't watch out of principle missed one of the liveliest and most persuasive interviews he has ever given. He was assertive, but gracious. He schooled O'Reilly on the facts in a way that no liberal on the Factor ever has, without once losing his cool or treating O'Reilly with anything less than respect.

While it's true O'Reilly tries to talk over him on several occasions, focusing on that misses the bigger point: Obama came out of this winning O'Reilly's respect, which most on the left would never have thought possible. And while I doubt he'll be switching candidates just yet, O'Reilly has now even told his viewership that he trusts Obama on foreign policy. If Obama can win over this guy, he can win over anyone.

Here's the entire interview, Parts 1 to 4, Thursday September 8 to Wednesday September 10.

Part 1:Foreign Policy, Iraq, Pakistan


Part 2: The Economy and Taxation


Part 3: Jeremiah Wright, Ayers and the Left

The one interview where Obama flounders a bit. In the end, asked to give the name of a conservative friend, he stammers and can't say anything. Then he protests, "If I name someone, people will complain I'm comparing them to Bill Ayers!" In a perhaps unprecedented show of grace, O'Reilly chuckles, concedes the point, and lets it go.

Part 4: Oil, Green Energy, Relations with Europe, More Foreign Policy



Actually, this interview could mark a sea change for Obama on Fox. Apparently, behind the scenes of all this, Obama has formed a tentative truce with Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes.