Obama Doesn't "Take Fox On," After All

TPM ^ | April 27th, 2008 | Greg Sargent

[The_Republican]

The Fox News Sunday interview is over. And Obama didn't take on Fox at all in any meaningful sense.

On Friday, a senior Obama adviser responded to criticism of his decision to go on Fox with a bunch of tough talk, saying that Obama knew full well that Fox has been at the forefront of spreading "the most specious of rumors" (i.e., lies) about Obama and vowing that he would "take Fox on."

Well, it didn't happen. Obama definitely pushed back hard on some of Chris Wallace's questions, but at no point did he draw attention to Fox's spreading of lies about him or critique the network in a general sense.

Obama had a perfect opening to do this, too. Wallace pressed him repeatedly about Jeremiah Wright and the bogus "flag pin" nonsense -- a perfect set-up for Obama to point out that Fox had obsessed about both these issues to an obscene degree and that Fox had been at the forefront of spreading the Obama-is-a-Muslim lies.

To be clear, Obama wasn't obliged to go after Fox. But a senior adviser said Obama would, as a way of quieting criticism of him. And he didn't.

This will likely further dismay liberal bloggers who had worked very hard to get Dems to boycott Fox as a way of deligitimizing the network and who already criticized Obama for agreeing to appear in the first place.

Obama turned in a perfectly solid performance. He probably succeeded in making a positive impression on many voters he might otherwise not have reached. But the broadcast was clearly a big victory for Fox and Chris Wallace, too.

Indeed, at the very end of the interview, Wallace told Obama to not "be a stranger." Obama's response:

"I won't."

Late Update: Matt Stoller has some strong criticism of Obama's appearance.

Late Late Update: Several of you are arguing that there was something ambiguous about what the senior Obama adviser said on Friday. Here's what the adviser said:

"He is going on their Sunday show to take Fox on..."

Keep in mind that this adviser said this specifically to mollify critics who worried that Obama's decision to appear on Fox would help legitimize the network and hence hurt Dems overall. There's no ambiguity here to speak of: The adviser was telling these critics not to worry, that the reason Obama was going on was to "take Fox on."

And this just didn't happen in any meaningful sense. When Wallace brought up Wright and the flag-pin, for instance, Obama didn't point out that these bogus stories have been pushed relentlessly by Fox or that the network has pushed the Obama-is-a-Muslim lies. Again: Obama was not obliged to take on the network. But either way, the bottom line is that he didn't do it. Partly because of this, the interview -- which was a solid performance by Obama -- was also a victory for Fox.

[Jeff Head]

Obama and Wright desperately want to put a "good" face on, and clean up something that simply will not wash. You can sugar coat a cow paddy...but it is still a cow paddy.

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH - OBAMA'S CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND SUPPORT


Communist Party Members, Marxists, Communist Leaders, Marxist Leaders, Communist Party USA


Domestic bombers & terrorists, International Islamic Terrorist Organizations & Financiers, Fundamental Islamic Leaders


Black Liberation Preachers and militants, New Black Panther Party, Black Nation of Islam, Socialist Party

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH - BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY AND OBAMA'S CHURCH


"Not God Bless America, no, no, no, God Damn America!" "911 is America's chickens coming home to roost"


"AIDS was created by the US for black geneocide," "If God is not for us & against whites, then he is a murderer, and we'd best kill him."

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH - OBAMA'S LACK OF PATRIOTISM TOWARD THE FLAG



THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH - OBAMA'S IDEOLOGY ON DISPLAY




Che Guevara was a radical, murderous Marxist revolutionary in Argentina, Cuba, and Bolivia. He became Fidel Castro's executioner.
Why, then, is his picture proudly diplayed at Obama election Headquarters? What change does Obama intend. What is his hope?

[ClearCase_guy]

Political amateurs set expectations high: "He's going to take Fox on".
Result: Disappointment.

[Dante3]

This picture is going to be one of several problems for Obama.

[moose2004]

Empty suit!

[Red_Devil 232]

Here Is Another Picture That Will Be A Problem For B. Hussien Obama

[buwaya]

All this goes to show that Obama has better political understanding than the characters at TPM.

“Take Fox on” indeed.

[Army Air Corps]

The “eloquent communicator” stumbled and stammered a lot. That, and he was ruddy boring.

[Eye On The Left]

I turned it off after about 20 minutes and erased the CD. Not sure why I was expecting anything more from Cris Wallace. I find it amazing that people like him, who get paid millions to do what they do, seem to know next to nothing about what’s really going on. Another blown opportunity to fully inform the folks. Still, I’d hate to be back in the pre-FoxNews era.

[whitedog57]

Yes, but she has “ghetto booty” going for her.

[kenmcg]

What a disappointing interview...a real puff piece. Chris Wallace did not ask pointed questions.

[Mike Darancette]

Obama finally did the right by not being truculent with Wallace. Both Fox and Obama were winners this day.

[ex-snook]

"Chris Wallace did not ask pointed questions."

He asked him all of Hillary's talking points. What did he miss??

[y6162]

Fox anchors bend over backwards to make the Dems feel like they’re getting a fair hearing. Confounds the left’s propaganda campaign against Fox.

[squarebarb]

I think Greg Sergeant was dissapointed that Obama didn’t go into a screaming, spitting leftist rant.

I think that’s what he means about not taking Fox on.

He wanted Obama to accuse, blame, shout, call names and attack. Like so many leftists do.

[CMailBag]

You’re saying that he was expected to act like Bubba.

Wallace hasn’t done a “hard” interview of a Democrat
since Clinton chewed his a$$.

[Publius6961]

BUMP!

[Publius6961]

BUMP!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Nice!

[Publius6961]

BUMP!