Is Obama Warming Up To Fox News?

(The Politico)  This story was written by Michael Calderone.

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On Wednesday morning, Sen. Barack Obama appeared on "Fox & Friends," giving his first lengthy interview to the Rupert Murdoch-owned network since declaring his presidential candidacy.

Perhaps even more surprising, Obama indicated earlier this week that he might one day appear on "The O'Reilly Factor."

On Monday, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly aired his much-talked-about "scuffle" with an Obama campaign staffer during a New Hampshire event. When O'Reilly got Obama's attention, he asked, "Can we have a word sometime?" The Illinois Democrat replied, "How about after the primary?"

While it's not clear from the Fox News transcript whether Obama meant after the entire primary cycle or just New Hampshire, either way, it looks like a strategic change.

Not to mention, his chief Democratic rival has already done so.

In 2007, Hillary Rodham Clinton sat down for interviews on both Fox News and the Fox Business Network. And on Wednesday, the senator from New York appeared on "Fox & Friends" too - just 15 minutes after Obama did. 

So far this election cycle, the only other time Obama has answered questions on Fox News was on Nov. 7, when correspondent Major Garrett briefly caught up to him at an Iowa campaign stop.

Of course, the Democrats have long refused to participate in Fox-sponsored debates. When Obama followed John Edwards' lead last April, opting out of a proposed Fox News debate, his spokesman Bill Burton said, "CNN seemed like a more appropriate host."

Burton did not respond to an e-mail request Thursday asking whether the Obama campaign is indeed changing its strategy toward Fox News.

That Obama chose not to participate in the proposed debate on Fox News should not have been unexpected. In early 2007, his Senate staff criticized the network for propping up a now-debunked Insight magazine story that Obama was educated in a madrassa. CNN later proved the story false by dispatching a correspondent to Indonesia to investigate the rumor.

"Fox News quickly parroted the charges," read the Obama staff memo at the time, "and 'Fox & Friends' host Steve Doocy went so far as to ask, 'Why didn't anybody ever mention that that man right there was raised - spent the first decade of his life, raised by his Muslim father - as a Muslim and was educated in a madrassa?'"

So Obama not only didn't appear on "Fox & Friends" this election cycle, but he also turned down requests to go on the Chris Wallace-hosted "Fox News Sunday." Clinton, on the other hand, appeared on Wallace's program in September.

Last month, Wallace told Politico that he guessed the Democratic candidates would show up more on Fox News once there is a nominee, "because they know that we get a lot of voters they are going to need if they are going to win the election."

There's no nominee yet, but with a thinning Democratic field, Obama appears to already be following that advice.

[hwy71so]

The libs don''t like it when a network focuses on the republicans. Why? Because they prefer the onesidedness of ABC, CBS and CNN. Especially ABC and CNN.

[fastdadddy]

why doesn''t the news people tell Barack Obama full name on tv news. because it''s Barack HUSSEIN Obam. enough said. he''s a fox in sheeps clothing and u people that want him for president better wake up an smell the road ahead if he gets in.

[croft777]

smirk5,
If Jesus Christ came back, it would be the end times, We all know that. Christians know that if someone called themself the messiah, he would be the wolf in sheep clothing Jesus mentioned.

[tucano2]

SpellCheck:
not "Fox" News,
but "FAUX" News

[colonieny]

Thanks for the intelligent comments.
What I am saying, Obama should be given kudos for taking tough questions, and being open to dialogue, unlike Hillary. Dodd and Biden I am sure had the skill and toughness to go on "FOX" too. Just H wants to be scripted. You yahoos just are name calling bunch, your certitude in your ideas are never shaken by actual thought or other''s ideas. While other people have certitute, such as religios "nuts" according to you, you are repelled. Similarly, people with brains are repelled by your closed minded disturbing lock stepped politics. I may not agree with Obama , so far, but I want to hear what he has to say, with tough questioning on FOX (since CBS and NBC are so PC). IF a candidate can''t stand up to FOX what the heck makes anyone think he/she can stand up to even more pressures, like decisions or war, life or death, nuclear threats and worse.
Get a grip.
Obama is free to do what he wants.

[realpatriot1]

Hopetrumps,

Why is it absurd to accuse the Clintons of playing the race card when it''s right there in their own words and those of their surrogates and they vowed that they would be "getting tough".

The hypocracy of these folks who whined about the "vast right wing conspiracy" now playing by the Karl Rove playbook when they''re in trouble is quite revealing.

She''s on Meet The Press right now "shucking and jiving" about her clear capitulation to Bush on the war and her abandonment of Senator Levin''s amendment to tie action to the completion of the inspections.

[colonieny]

Why FOX is the BEST:

1. Open discussion not a PC driven. 2. Some of the best minds debate the issues. 3. FOX is not FEMINiZED: unlike CBS and others, we do not get those stupid stories..."How did it feel to ...." Or NBC Today show blather..."isn''t it time you forgave the man who murdered your daughter with a power saw and "move on."

The facts on CBS and NBC have to fit a story line.

item: Jimmy Carter building homes.. how much millions he pockets from ARABS to be their *** ??...
Or. Clinton''s pardons for money...
OR Burger stealing secret documents down his pants... about 9 11 and getting a fine only !
Without FOX we would be brain dead like NBC and CBS


FOX is great. Obama is truly an inspiring figure - HE IS not afraid of tough questions. Good for him and good for our country.

[candide777]

Fox is proof that if journalists ever did adhere to any code of "ethics," they no longer do. It''s sickening to watch how they alternate between pro-republican and anti-democrat stories as though they are just reporting the facts: "Laura Bush had a busy day baking cookies for the poor and reading to the blind; Up next, Chelsea Clinton makes a nine-year old girl cry, when we return . . ."

[im4honesty]

Anyone left of Hitler who appears on Faux will be nailed to the cross. Why bother getting involved with their right wing blather? It''s all spin.

[forthepeopl1]

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It seems Bain%u2019s decision to allow China%u2019s Huawei Technologies to take a minority stake in 3Com has prompted some politicians to wonder whether Huawei will gain access to the Marlborough, Mass., telecommunications-equipment maker%u2019s technology, which happens to be used by none other than the U.S. Defense Department.