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Question Summary: Bill O'Reilly's Clinton Interview

I've watched two clips of Bill O'Reilly's interview with Senator Clinton: Part 1 and Part 2

O'Reilly asked about 7 major issues by my count (paraphrased):
1. Reverend Wright: "can you believe this guy?"
2. What are you going to do about high gas prices, and why don't you support ANWAR drilling or nuclear power?
3. Don't you realize that HillaryCare will bankrupt the country? After all, existing medicare is bankrupting New York and California!
4. Your husband is Rich, and I'm rich. How much are you going to raise taxes on rich people? What about the cap on social security taxes?
5. Obama is a nice guy, but you're a polarizing figure, and this is a personality contest.
6. You said you'd help out New York state when you were elected Senator, but it's gotten worse. And has high taxes!
7. Are you surprised that fair and balanced Fox is giving you more favorable coverage than the biased liberal media?

O'Reilly was indeed bombastic, and faux confrontational, and overall I think Hillary came across quite well: she was calm, sounded rational, and refused to be bullied by him. When he was directly critical of Clinton, it tended to be issue-focused: you'll raise my taxes, why don't you want to drill for oil in Alaska, your health care plan will cost too much. By contrast, O'Reilly did give a lot of time to talking about Wright, and framing the race as a "popularity contest" in which Obama must be more likable.

I got the vibe that O'Reilly thought, "we may disagree, but you're a hard-nosed scrapper like I am, and I respect that. To a point."

It's clear to me he was hoping to help out Hillary in the primary here, and her appearance probably doesn't hurt her. Nothing was said about Iraq, the possibility of a recession, or the sub-prime mortgage crisis, but apparently the rest of the interview airs tonight.


Comments (5)

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In general, I liked the interview. I thought Sen. Clinton gave as good as she got, and came-off very well overall. Her command of policy details under stress is truly and obviously exceptional, and she has the kind of strong personality it takes to hold on in those kinds of situations.

As to Mr. O'Reilly, I must confess that I've always been oddly fascinated by him. He has a lot of what Chris Matthews has a little of: Often bullheaded, bullying, crude, just plain dead wrong without concern or apology - but every once in a while, hitting something way up into the bleachers.

I would think for Democrats, he would be the local version of one of those "enemies" that Sen. Obama gets credit for wanting to "talk to". Therefore, it's a little hard for me to understand the resentment many people have toward appearing on his show.

I agree. She did an excellent job.

By the way, make sure you also check out left's blog on this, and be sure to recommend it. It deserves to be on the recommended list, IMO.

I won't repeat everything I said on left's blog here, but I will say that I think that O'Reilly and Fox News are being nice to Clinton only because they wants to keep this race lasting as long as possible. I don't think there's any genuine love there.

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I thought Hillary did a great job as well.

IF Hillary is willing to go on the very right wing talk show where she has been personally bashed and ridiculed, and set all of that aside, to discuss Obama and Wright? That sounds to me like she's a real slimeball. Oh, and opportunistic and manipulative to boot.

Remember when some commentator on MSNBC made the "pimping out Chelsea" remark? At first she threatened to boycott them. But when it became apparent that NBC was holding the next major debate, she sold out all of her outrage to be on that big stage for their debate.

Talk about "Big Pimpin'" politics.

Hillary has NO principles.

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I have taken the liberty of linking to this article on my website, http://www.marchreport.com/; it at the bottom of column 1 in the "Blogs" section (or, it is today [2008-05-01]; the sections move around). Hope this is ok; if not, e-mail me to delete

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