Posted on 03/17/2008 11:48:44 AM PDT by jdm
Obama's Friday interview by Major Garrett, in which he describes his membership at Trinity United and his connection to Rev. Wright, has been called one of his worst ever. At the time, people were wondering what he could have been thinking, especially given the Democrats on-again-off-again boycott of Fox News.
Melanie Morgan says that as soon as it aired Garrett got an earful:
As I was waiting to go on-the-air, Major Garrett of Fox News was on stand-by to do further reporting on his excellent interview with BHO in which he simply asked a number of questions like: "Did Reverend Wright marry you? Did Reverend Wright baptize your children? How often did you attend church? Did you donate money to the church?"After that segment aired, Major Garrett's phone started buzzing. He received a call from Obama's campaign, and they were REAMING him over the report. From his end, I heard Garrett say "I have nothing to apologize for."
He repeated that several times, and he amplified by saying that he was merely asking questions that everyone wanted answers to.
That did NOT satisfy Obama's people, and Garrett flushed a couple of times while responding to the invective thrown his way.
Strategically, *I'm not sure why Obama would choose to go only to Fox News with this story, especially because I don't think that anyone ever believed this one would be confined to "conservative" media. So far it looks like every decision he's made about Wright has only made him look worse. Obama himself admits that "my judgment at the time [that he asked Wright to join his campaign] was that this was not as problematic as what I've seen over the last couple of days.
Genius.
Transcript of the interview is here. YouTube video is below the fold.
h/t Greg Pollowitz at National Review's Media Blog.
and so because of FOX being so bad , you watch???
Should this standard apply to others who said stupid things but didn't "repeat" them? As an example, should Don Imus have been given another chance? Obama needs to clarify this.
Geez! I bet Beckel went out of there and started drinking again! His AA sponsor will be busy this week, trying to get Bob back on the wagon.
But, really does he expect the public to believe that the racist anti-American comments were made *only* when Bammer’ wasn’t there? Over a period of 20 years?
re: “A real reporter, asking real questions...”
EXACTLY!
Bill Clinton was partially right—this whole thing is nothing but a fairytale. The media coverage of Barack Obama’s run for the presidency, that is. Total fairytale.
Now a reporter has actually given him a quizzing worthy of someone running for POTUS and the guy crumbles.
Hat tip to Major Garrett. I saw it live and jumped out of my chair like a Trinity United member...I was really impressed with his direct inquiry of Obama with the simple, precise questions that we all wanted to hear the answers to.
It did sound like an interrogation or cross examinataion. As it should have. This is serious business.
Amazing to hear a media/BHO interraction with zero pandering. It was refreshing.
Matt
Matthew Reid
http://www.Rice2008.com
McCain - Rice 2008
(McCain: Reluctantly) (Rice: Strategically)
If Obama's number crater over the next 10 days look for the Tedster and some members of the Black Caucus to have him come down for a 'talk'.
Sure. McCain needs more conservatives to throw under his bus.
Now Rush has to start propping up Obama for the next few Democratic primaries. Continue Operation Chaos!!!
Hildabeast has sky-high negatives. And now her name will be mud in the black community if she gets the nomination, which will help her candidacy just soooooo much.
With any luck the Democrats will have to find a third compromise candidate. That will really help their credibility.
I saw that interview live and it was awesome. Major Garrett is my new best friend.
Keith Olbermann had an interview about the same time as Garrett’s.
“When did we EVER get into the chatty and chummy interviews that produce no information and are really just an opportunity for two idiots with over sized egos to see themselves all over the screen?”
I think Barbara Wah-Wah had something to do with that.
“Lately, he’s been back to his thuggish, belligerent self.”
Except, his hair color is different. I think he’s nipping a little too much Grecian Formula.
mark
The Obama camp is probably miffed because Garrett did`nt ask the “tough” questions like the rest of the media does. Like “whats your favorite tv show, Mr. Obama?”
"...The dialogue about Wright’s controversial comments appears to have had at least a short-term impact on public perceptions of Barack Obama. The Illinois Senator is viewed favorably today by just 47% of voters nationwide. That’s down five points since last Thursday (see recent daily results). The number with an unfavorable view of Obama has risen from 44% on Thursday to 50% today. Among White voters, Obama is now viewed favorably by 43% and unfavorably by 54%.
"...Looked at from a slightly longer perspective, Obama’s overall favorable ratings peaked at 56% on February 21, shortly after he won the Wisconsin Primary. At that point, Clinton began raising questions about Obama as part of the campaign that ultimately enabled her to win the Texas and Ohio Primaries. Since then, Obama’s net favorability ratings have fallen seventeen points (from plus 14 points on February 21 to minus 3 points today).
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