This has nothing to do with black and white or even a gray area. It has to do with Obama trying to beat around the bush and give another answer that has nothing to do with the question. O'Reilley is the first person to press him on his answers. I'm glad someone finally asked him questions everyone else is protecting him from. If Obama had not put a 30 minute time constraint and O'Reilley had more time I'd agree he shouldn't have pressed him like he did.

This is why Obama doesn't want to do town hall style debates... he doesn't know what the questions are going to be. When Obama isn't scripted he falls apart. Unfortunately for Obama his true colors have come out. Voters are starting to see that he won't answer certain questions no matter what. 6 months ago people were too busy being swooned by his amazing intellect... Now we're tired of hearing 5 minute answers to a simple question.

 

I saw the segment.

O'Reilly - "What's your cap on capital gains?"
Obama - "Thir........."
O'Reilly - "Thirty!!!"
Obama - "No Bill,...Twent......"
O'Reilly - "Twenty !!! It's 15 now Senator!"
Obama - "Bill, sixte..........."
O'Reilly - "15 Senator! I'm paying 15 now!"
Obama - "uh, Bill..."
O'Reilly - "Let's move on, ok Senator? I'll ask the question, then you answer, then I'll answer, then we'll let the folks decide."

 

Sounds like an auction.

 

 

In this case, you can't even say what Obama's answer would be. It does have to do with black and white. If asked how you would say, stimulate the economy, "Cut taxes" is too simple. You owe the person you've asked the question to answer it, plain and simple. You can't understand anything when two people are talking, when that person beats around the bush, then the interviewer has the right to beat on the interviewee for not answering the question. If Olbermann treated McCain or Palin like this, you'd be whining all day. Fair is fair, I don't care for O'Reilly or Olbermann, but I'll call a good interview a good interview and a bad one a bad one.

 

Anyone who watched all of the O'Reilly interviews segments with Obama learned more about this candidate than they would have learned from the sum of all the previous Obama interviews that have been broadcast.

As noted, O'Reilly only was given 30 minutes with the candidate. That doesn't allow for any time to be screwing around hemming and hawing. O'Reilly's style is to be agressive and brash. If you don't like it, watch Obermann or Matthews instead. Oh, wait, they got demoted for being in the tank.... never mind.

If you don't like O'Reilly and his style, go back to MSNBC and be happy.

Steve

 

Well said

 

O'Reilly's basic premise is a "no spin zone". *Anyone* who hems and haws gets his wrath, conservatives and liberals alike. Anyone going on his show MUST be prepared to answer questions concisely and directly. Bullsh1t and drivel doesn't float on his show.

 

I refuse to defile my soon to be bailed out FoMoCo product with political party stickers no matter if I vote for Palin or not...