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Shuster on Baier's Obama interview: If you look back at previous interviews with Bush, you'll find a "very different style"

March 18, 2010 12:10 pm ET

From the March 18 edition of MSNBC News Live:

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Previously:

After exclusive access, softball interviews during Bush admin, Fox News blasts ABC for White House exclusive

Has Fox News' Baier boarded the Bush legacy bandwagon?

Williams slaps down Baier's false equivalence between those questioning Obama's legitimacy and those who questioned Bush's

Baier ignores precedents, hypes cost of Obamas' NYC trip

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    • Author by nerzog (March 18, 2010 12:13 pm ET)
      10  
      More like this...

      [http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pJttl5qZBmw/SaNmkukZGRI/AAAAAAAAA0c/dgCzzVmOkyY/s320/Grovel.jpg]
      Report Abuse
      • Author by bintx (March 18, 2010 12:23 pm ET)
        6  
        I was thinking of kissing a little higher up!
        Report Abuse
        • Author by draftedin68 (March 18, 2010 12:36 pm ET)
          4  
          I was thinking of sucking...
          Report Abuse
        • Author by jeter2 (March 18, 2010 1:13 pm ET)
          2 1
          I was thinking of kissing a little higher up! [Bintx]

          I was thinking of sucking... [draftedin68]

          Wow, I didn't know you guys liked Bush that much ;-)
          Report Abuse
          • Author by Übermensch (March 18, 2010 2:23 pm ET)
               
            ...I see what you did there
            Report Abuse
            • Author by jeter2 (March 18, 2010 2:51 pm ET)
                 
              Well it looked like a set up too good to pass up ;-)

              I'm glad you got it, I know my clever jokes/remarks can sometimes bomb here. Ha!
              Report Abuse
              • Author by Übermensch (March 18, 2010 3:31 pm ET)
                   
                I appreciate your contributions to the ongoing debate. I may not always agree with what you post, but you at least have a sensible side to your point of view.
                Report Abuse
                • Author by jeter2 (March 18, 2010 4:25 pm ET)
                     
                  Thanks Uber, I really do appreciate hearing that from time to time. Hey I've been posting here for 4 plus years, & I've had a brawl or two, but for the most part it's been a good experience. I find that most folks here are very receptive if one can be reasonable, even if they don't agree with the opposing view..
                  Report Abuse
      • Author by Bobby Jindal fan (March 18, 2010 2:24 pm ET)
          10
        Obama does not deserve the same courtesy and defference as President Bush. Barry is not an honorable man and does not deserve my respect.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by txthinker (March 18, 2010 2:49 pm ET)
          1  
          George W. Bush is an idiotic war criminal who should be in prison right now. He made a mockery of the office. He is the lowest of the low.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by MickD (March 18, 2010 3:44 pm ET)
          1  
          Hey BJ, see that sucking post.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by political_left-religious_right (March 18, 2010 12:22 pm ET)
      6  
      True enough. You'll see softer-than-cotton-candy interviews and the president still making a fool of himself with his responses.

      The very opposite of today.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Conchobhar (March 18, 2010 12:47 pm ET)
        9  
        This is the only interview from the Bush years that I can recall where Shrub's feet were held to the fire by the interviewer. Interestingly enough, it was not a member of the American media showing some pellets, but an Irish woman.
        And who can forget the howls of outrage that came from the right over the "disrespect" shown to the President? Made me proud that she might be a distant cousin.

        I have no problem, in principle, with what Baier did. Reporters should put presidents and politicians on the grill. But they should do so as seekers of fact and truth, not as point men for a corporatist agenda.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by thaneb (March 18, 2010 12:28 pm ET)
      3  
      "more bang for the buck" backfiring a bit?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Dradeeus (March 18, 2010 12:41 pm ET)
      4  
      Mr. President, how do you remain so awesome, in the face of unpatriotic liberal Americans?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by RKAllen (March 18, 2010 12:44 pm ET)
      4  
      Nixon was the master of filibustering an interview and controling the tempo through anecdotal or rhetorical nonsense.

      However, I don't think the President was trying this tactic during the interview. I think he has a honest and legitimate concern that people who listen to the Fox network have not been given the opportunity to hear an opposing position to their reporting of the health care debate. I think he was trying to get some key points out about the bill that he wanted their audience to hear.

      I think Baier was being a bit hypersensative to this, and if I had to guess was probably drilled on staying firm and "on message."
      Report Abuse
      • Author by DellDolly (March 18, 2010 3:50 pm ET)
           
        It wasn't just a five minute interview. There was plenty of time to give the President a chance to give long answers. I suspect that's why he AGREED to this interview with this format - so they could NOT legitimately claim that they had to rush on to the next question because there was so little time.

        But Baier STILL tried to interrupt the Prez on way too many occasions.

        And I agree, I think that the reason Obama went on FoxNews was because he believes that there are a few souls who watch it who might be able to be persuaded by a reasonable, logical argument that informs them of facts, not nonsensical propaganda from the right!
        Report Abuse
    • Author by manofmystique (March 18, 2010 12:54 pm ET)
      9  
      Of couse you would "find a different style". You would find a different style because the interviewer would have respect for the other presidents (all white I might add). Baier, who is usually a class act, was out to please critics of the president, more than giving Obama his due honor.
      Baier was a terrible interviewer. He was disrespectful and rude. Baier was more interested in repeating Republicans talking points than he was in hearing what the president had to say. How many time did this idiot interrupt the president? I lost track. Baier would never have treated Bush this way and if he did he would lose his job.
      Fox News and their audience are happy with Baier's performance, even though he was totally unprofessional to the president of the United States.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by jeter2 (March 18, 2010 1:18 pm ET)
        4  
        Mano, I didn't see the interview [but will go find it], but I'm gonna figure you probably described it pretty accurately, just knowing FOX's attitude towards President Obama. Having watched their interviews with President Bush [all softball], I will be curious in seeing the contrast.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by DellDolly (March 18, 2010 3:58 pm ET)
          1  
          Here's a link that will get you to the compilation of the interruptions.

          Baier was incredibly rude. Even after Obama made it clear SEVERAL times during the interview that Obama was NOT going to allow Baier to interrupt his answer, after which most ANY legit interviewer would have STFU and listened, Baier would CONTINUE to interrupt!

          It was so politically partisan and offensive that if FoxNews had any credibility, they'd apologize and Baier would be suspended. Instead, FoxNews pundits say that Baier won - like a reporter is supposed to win an interview!
          Report Abuse
          • Author by jeter2 (March 18, 2010 4:27 pm ET)
               
            Thanks for that link Dolly, I'll check it out.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by Bronwyn (March 19, 2010 11:11 pm ET)
                 
              Jeter, did you see the 3/17 thread under Kelly, where I was accused of being you and trying to punk someone? First time in my life I've been accused of being a guy.
              Report Abuse
                • Author by juliajayne1 (March 20, 2010 2:51 pm ET)
                     
                  J2, you have helped engender my feelings of mistrust and paranoia. But if that's the way you want to play it, carry on.

                  And Robyn, if you're not J2, then I apologize and am sorry that you got caught up in this. And perhaps you should both stay away from me as a result. I wouldn't mind you apologizing to me for that comment about Yankee stadium and me being a slvt though.

                  No hard feelings otherwise. To both of you.

                  My email address is juliajayne1@aol.com for the apology.
                  Report Abuse
    • Author by pete592 (March 18, 2010 1:00 pm ET)
      3  
      Oh yeah, I remember the typical Bush interview.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Quicksilver M.S (March 18, 2010 1:44 pm ET)
         
      Baier's Obama interview:
      Today on Fox Mews:
      Baier 10
      Obama -3
      Report Abuse
      • Author by manofmystique (March 18, 2010 2:48 pm ET)
        2  
        to Quicksilver:

        "Fox News and their audience are happy with Baier's performance, even though he was totally unprofessional to the president of the United States".

        I rest my case.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by 4teepee (March 18, 2010 7:18 pm ET)
      1  
      MSNBC got rid of Phil Donahue for being too far to the left and never has Noam Chomsky on as a guest.
      Report Abuse