7:18 am February 7, 2011, by ctucker
The much-hyped pre-game interview with President Obama was a slow-scoring game, but the president got the better of it. It started off with Obama having “home-field advantage.” The interview featured a relaxed Obama in the White House, with Fox News host Bill O’Reilly starting the interview by thanking Obama for his administration’s rescue of Fox News journalists who had been detained in Egypt.
Of course, the State Department would work to rescue American journalists. But given the day-in, day-out tone of White House coverage of Obama, you’d think he’d rather see Fox News journalists shot.
I think Obama scores points anytime he sits for a Fox interview, because independents (the few who watch Fox) see a guy who isn’t afraid to walk into the lion’s den. But Obama was particularly deft in this interview. If I may switch sports metaphors, O’Reilly didn’t lay a glove on him.
Political commentary from Pulitzer Prize winner Cynthia Tucker of The AJC
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571 comments Add your comment
granny godzilla
February 7th, 2011
7:25 am
Good Morning Campers….
The look on O’Reilly’s face when Obama laughed at the “hate” question was priceless.
The President was presidential, and Bill looked like a plain old fashioned crank.
CYNT U DESERVE UR JOB
February 7th, 2011
7:28 am
OBAMA IS THE SMART ONE,O’REILLY IS THE DUMB ONE!
T. Nelson
February 7th, 2011
7:33 am
What a sorry attempt at journalism, Fox News is a disgrace to America. I am 78 years old and I have always respected the President no madder if I agreed with him or not.
Bob
February 7th, 2011
7:33 am
Do you really think Obama would like to see the fox reporters shot Cynthia, or would you be the one thinking that. Nice civil tone !
Sonofarevolution
February 7th, 2011
7:43 am
I was particularly fascinated with Obama’s pride at not raising taxes. It was only republicans who stopped him from raising them, while he had all intention and desire to. Yet, he grinned broadly and claimed credit for not raising taxes.
All in all,I have learned that every time he gets that big smile on his face means you have entered into an arean of his forte—lying or misrepresenting the truth.
granny godzilla
February 7th, 2011
7:45 am
“It was only republicans who stopped him from raising them, while he had all intention and desire to.”
Oh my.
How?
Ground hog day
February 7th, 2011
7:55 am
Oh, there are people who should be shot, but they don’t appear on Fox News. Fox News appears here in the copy-cat plagiarizm of the trolls who pest-up this paste-cut of a blog. No troll here should be shot, instead, I would give all you poets a lariat.
bwa.
Obama is the greatest president since Lincoln, and that’s just a fact, and history will applaud his efforts, (God too).
Good Grief
February 7th, 2011
7:55 am
Sonof @ 7:43 -
I’ve also noticed that Obama has a penchant for claiming responsibility for things he had nothing to do with. When BP first stopped the oil leak in the summer (the first cap, you know, the one that failed) Obama seemed to rush out of the Oval Office and claim victory, only for the stop to fail and oil to leak once more. Then, when Republicans refused to budge on any tax increases, he went along with it and acted like it was his idea to begin with.
Peadawg
February 7th, 2011
7:57 am
“no madder” – After 78 years you’d think someone knows how to spell matter…
This will be a fun blog to watch this morning…I may just sit back and enjoy.
Michael
February 7th, 2011
7:57 am
I’m 57 years old, and that’s the only interview of a sitting president that I have ever seen where the interviewer constantly talked over the president’s response. It shows O’Reilly as a man with no class, and an over inflated sense of self worth. He’s an embarrassment to his profession.
granny godzilla
February 7th, 2011
8:00 am
“Obama seemed to rush out of the Oval Office and claim victory,”
Oh My!
How?
Keep up the good fight!
February 7th, 2011
8:01 am
Let the teleprompter commentary begin…oh that’’s right, there were none but dont let that stop ya.
Michael, I agree. O’Reilly came off really bad.
independent thinker
February 7th, 2011
8:03 am
I did not vote for Obama but was truly proud of how our president handled this interview with a Fox thug. He did not lose his presidentail demeanor and made O’Reilly look like a demagogue and not a journalist despite the pleasantries about Obama and the State Department rescuing the Fox news crew. O’ Reilly continuously interrupted the president before he would finish a response and continuously interjected his biased opinions like this was a debate rather than a journalist’s interview. I am sorry it was not O’Reilly who was detained and roughed up by the Egyptians. The rendition program would be appropriate for people like him.
liberal hypocrisy
February 7th, 2011
8:04 am
“I think Obama scores points anytime he sits for a Fox interview, because independents (the few who watch Fox) see a guy who isn’t afraid to walk into the lion’s den. ”
I guess that means Democrats do not watch the news because Fox has been blowing away the competition in the morning, daytime, and primetime. I guess that explains why progressives are so uninformed.
CT we know you are biased about Fox as you are scared to go on and prefer only shows friendly to your biased views like Chris Matthews, MSNBC, ABC This Week, etc. Plus you hate O’Reilly as he calls you out on his show. Stop hiding behind your keyboard on go on O’Reilly’s show as I am sure he would love to have you. Or are you to scared like I stated before?
JohnnyReb
February 7th, 2011
8:05 am
I noticed Barry is hard of hearing.
Keep up the good fight!
February 7th, 2011
8:08 am
Hypocrisy, ahh yes. Ratings means informed and accurate right? And of course you forgot to point out that its only cable ratings and that Spongebob gets higher ratings. So how many times has Sarah been on MSNBC despite numerous invites/
Silly
February 7th, 2011
8:08 am
Cynthia, do need a tissue?
I mean, to wipe some of the brown off of your nose.
The Game and The Interview | JordanCornblog
February 7th, 2011
8:10 am
[...] The Game and The Interview Posted on February 7, 2011 by JordanCornblog Packers won the game … and it seems that Obama won the interview. [...]
granny godzilla
February 7th, 2011
8:11 am
Yep….Fox beats all in CABLE numbers…..Now take a peak at the broadcast news numbers. Compare and Contrast.
To quote Garman…you’ll be “recalculating”….
granny godzilla
February 7th, 2011
8:14 am
Rant
Rant
Rant
james
February 7th, 2011
8:14 am
who cares about fox, cnn, msnbc, abc I just hope the pres continues to move towards the center and be a president for the good of the country
granny godzilla
February 7th, 2011
8:16 am
namejacker 8:14
lie
run
hide
get laughed at
Good Grief
February 7th, 2011
8:16 am
Wow, talk about that “civil discussion” thing hanging around for a while. Imagine the uproar if one of us “wingnut” conservatives had said that we’d like to see liberal journalist beaten up.
Granny- I remember BP putting their first attempt to block the spill in place, and then Obama appears claiming repsonsibility for the fix. Of course, the first attempt failed. You don’t hear about it anymore, and you didn’t hear much then, because the media seemed to blow over it.
I was no George Bush fan, but it seemed like every word he spoke was picked apart by the media, but Obama gets a lot of free passes.
Ground hog day -
What?
Common Sense
February 7th, 2011
8:17 am
“We do not need to refight the battles of the last two years”.
Interpretation: I am right and you are wrong even if it is unconstitutional.
“If the Republicans have any good ideas….”
Think that was tried at the health care summit.
BHO’s response there? “John, I won the election”.
Sorry Prezbo, it’s why we have three branched of government.
Call it like it is
February 7th, 2011
8:17 am
And really what were you expecting? O’Reilly to come in swinging at the President, Chairs being thrown around, Gay Nazi midgets swinging down from the roof. Just because O’Reilly disagrees with the President on different matters, doesnt mean a civil discussion can’t take place.
granny godzilla
February 7th, 2011
8:18 am
namejacker 8:16
lie
run
hide
get laughed at
Aliquando
February 7th, 2011
8:20 am
If you were born in Berlin, you would write how the Germans won WW I. What a homer.
B Cosby
February 7th, 2011
8:26 am
CT, did you see the same interview the rest of the world saw? O’Reilly had Fauxbama on the ropes from the start. All Fauxobama did was to demonstrate his weakness to the world that he cannot control a conversation or interview. O’Reilly pounced on him like you on the cut & paste function of a keyboard! All Fauxbama did was to reinforce the nation and the world’s belief that he is a muslim supporter and watch the back of the muslim brotherhood. If anyone except you was to mention a reporter getting shot, the liberal/socialist sky would fall, but you believe the common liberal double standards allow you say what you wish. Perhaps those that can’t seem to stomach your point of views would rather see an idiotic loser AJC Pulitzer prize winning non-journalist shot.
granny godzilla
February 7th, 2011
8:28 am
“then Obama appears claiming repsonsibility for the fix”
oh my.
How so?
Gotta Quote?
Keep up the good fight!
February 7th, 2011
8:28 am
the world’s belief that he is a muslim supporter and watch the back of the muslim brotherhood
Someone has been watching a lot of Beck lately…..
0311-0317-1811-1801
February 7th, 2011
8:30 am
O’Reilly disappointed us and should be ashamed.
Nothing but softballs.
granny godzilla
February 7th, 2011
8:30 am
B Cosby
On the ropes?
Ah. nope.
J. Kase
February 7th, 2011
8:32 am
Kinda mundane here today. The saber rattlers must still be in bed, or Super-bowled out. Does anyone have the over/under on the interview?
Honest Broker
February 7th, 2011
8:32 am
Was this a competition?
Dave from GT
February 7th, 2011
8:33 am
You are right in that OReilly took up too much time on the Egypt thing. He should have focused on the issues, especially the issues where Obama said one thing during the campaign, and the opposite in real life. All Bill had to do was to make a top five list, point out the facts, then ask Obama to explain the flip-flop. OReilly missed a great opportunity, but hey, no time for controversy on such a patriotic day ! BTW, Aguilera muffed the National Anthem and no one noticed !
granny godzilla
February 7th, 2011
8:36 am
B Cosby
On the ropes?
Ah. nope.
Good Grief
February 7th, 2011
8:37 am
Granny -
I’m sorry, but I don’t have a quote. I could look for one, but I’m just to darn tired. Mostly I’m tired of this blog, where conservatives seemingly have to come with research papers and sources for every bit of info they have, but a liberal can say anything and get away with it. Have fun.
granny godzilla
February 7th, 2011
8:41 am
Good Grief
is that written excuse signed by a parent or responsible adult?
Keep up the good fight!
February 7th, 2011
8:43 am
Mostly I’m tired of this blog, where conservatives seemingly have to come with research papers and sources for every bit of info they have, but a liberal can say anything and get away with it.
Really Grief….I and others have posted any number of links to support statements made. I have witnessed Granny doing it a number of times. Your whine rings false.
resno2
February 7th, 2011
8:46 am
CT, you think obama scores points every time he opens his mouth or walks into a room. Had he gone into the interview without the canned questions, and having time to rehearse his responses, I might have been impressed. It was nothing more than another obama dog and pony show.
Rufus
February 7th, 2011
8:53 am
Kissy…Kissy…. OH MY GOSH !
Please wipe your nose.
joe
February 7th, 2011
8:55 am
Tell me CT, how does “one” actually “win” an interview? Is it like a boxing match, where the judge awards points based on how many times one lands a punch, or is it based on how many times one stumbles on his words?
If he “won” anything last night, it was a superbowl bet…not an interview. And no matter how you try to spin the almighty one, he’s doomed in 2012 purely for his stance on key issues like entitlements and spreading the wealth around…not to mention his failure to do anything about runaway spending and cutting down our debt.
granny godzilla
February 7th, 2011
8:55 am
resno2
are you accusing Papa Bear O’Reilly of a CONSPIRACY to make President Obama look good?
all with the knowledge and approval of the Fox News Nation?
wouldn’t it be easier to just believe the truth? Obama behaved like a President, Bill O behaved like a crank.
Pinky Lee
February 7th, 2011
8:57 am
Yeah buddy, Obama won the interview. And I guess Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl. Man please.
granny godzilla
February 7th, 2011
8:59 am
resno2
are you accusing Papa Bear O’Reilly of a CONSPIRACY to make President Obama look good?
all with the knowledge and approval of the Fox News Nation?
wouldn’t it be easier to just believe the truth? Obama behaved like a President, Bill O behaved like a crank.
kayaker 71
February 7th, 2011
9:00 am
That cagey smile says it all. When asked a difficult question that he didn’t have an answer for, the smile comes forth, his chin drops and he makes believe that he has the situation well in hand. Bozo still doesn’t get it. He lost in November. Badly. His policies were soundly rejected by the electorate and he still maintains that same narcissistic demeanor. At least he didn’t thrust his chin into the air and try to look presidential. I especially liked the response to the hate question. Same smile, same demeanor. Narcissists don’t much like to be challenged, disagreed with or told that people don’t like them. It evokes a smile to try to hide their true feelings, followed by some feeble response that just doesn’t fit. Bozo didn’t win anything, CT. And with this piece, you haven’t either.
carlosgvv
February 7th, 2011
9:00 am
O’Reilly is essentially a moron, so knowing this going into an interview with him makes all the difference.
DANNY
February 7th, 2011
9:01 am
Same old Tucker!
AmVet
February 7th, 2011
9:01 am
What the higgity?
The faithful seem particularly unhappy with Firefight O’Reilly’s performance last night.
Did he fail to call the president an Uppity, Marxist Kenyan or some other insult?
Did he forget to ask about a long form birth certificate?
Did the words teleprompter, income redistribution and socialism not get used?
Good times at Faux News…
Matt
February 7th, 2011
9:02 am
CT has shown us the problem with politics today with her title for this rant… it shouldn’t be about someone winning and someone losing. That sort of thought hasn’t served us well for the past several decades.