Hillary Clinton agrees to appear on Bill O'Reily's show

Does it bother anyone that Hillary's base is lower income, lesser educated aging whites and Republicans? Not that young educated people aren't supporting her to some degree and women of course but her base is basically arcane Democrats and Republicans bent on keeping the status quo. That should be telling in and of itself.

That's a fair point Jan. The 2000 election (and probably the 2004 one too with all voting machine tampering) was stolen by operatives of the Republican Machine.

But shouldn't we make a little bit of a distinction between the Republican politicans and everyday people who just happen to be conservative on some issues?

I think the Republican politicans have done a masterful job of convincing the average Republican voter that this is a huge/massive gulf between their "values" and those of Democrats. And we haven't been doing a very good job of convincing those Independents and semi-conservative voters otherwise.

We need a candidate that can communicate effectively to both sides of the political spectrum.

I don't think Sen. Kerry ever really had a shot at being that guy. He just didn't have that natural ability.

I don't think Hillary does either. And isn't she somewhat enforcing that dysfunctional us/them dynamic by priding herself and being a "fighter" who is going to defeat "them"?

True, we need someone that won't betray the roots of the Progressive movement, someone who will remain steadfast in the face of obstructions -- but we also really need someone that can accomplish our goals without making the other guy feel cheated or defeated. The other guy being defined NOT as Republican politicans, but ordinary voters who might disagree with us on certain issues. Getting the other guy to willingly compromise is always preferable in the long run as opposed to just beating them down. Failing that another good idea is to present your case in such a way that the other guy thinks he actually got away with something awesome, when in reality he came out the loser.

I think Obama has the ability to do this and Hillary doesn't.

Well John you do make a point. If you want a candidate who un-apologetically voted for the war, has no problem with $2.3 billion in earmarks and who runs her campaign straight out of the Karl Rove play book...then you're right, she looks great. But if you want to stick with Bush why not just vote for McCain. I think the idea here is to reach out to disillusioned republicans and try to bring them over to our side...not to become republicans.

No, the Republicans "won" in 2000 because they STOLE IT. It wasn't because we didn't kiss the ass of FOX viewers.

Or it could be Republicans don't want to take a chance of Obama getting in the White House just in case. Clinton scandals are old news, Obama scandals are fresh and new. I'm not worried about "The First Black President" getting black votes. She is a moderate, he is far left, her supports will jump ship before his.

I used to fall into that thinking myself. We can't risk dealing with "those people" because everybody knows they're crazy.

I think the entire Democratic Party seems to be thinking that in some form or another.

Remember how aghast we all were when we heard Obama say, "Republicans do have SOME good ideas"? We couldn't have been more shocked had he spit on the flag. How could Obama ackowledge any merit in "those people?"

Maybe this kind of thinking is a mistake.

In the case of Fox News I know I've fallen into that thinking. I used to just assume that anyone who watches Fox was white, male, Southern and spent their weekends beating up gays or blowing up abortion clinics.

Obviously those types of people do watch Fox News -- but the vast majority of viewers are probably just regular people.

And maybe we're actually creating rifts that can be avoided. What if a Independent who was torn between McCain or Obama struk up a conversation with a Dem and mentioned that he saw Obama on Fox and the Dem said, "Pfft! You watch Fox, eh? Oh so you're one of those people, are ya? Shouldn't you be burning crosses on somebody's lawn ya Nazis?"

More than likely that person will walk away thinking the Dems are jerks and feel more comfortable with the Republicans.

And isn't that how the Republicans have been killing us for years? Kerry was a snob. Obama is an elitist. Maybe now would be a good time to start healing the rift.

There has got to be a way to talk with people who might not agree with us on gun control and abortion without compromising our vision or making the other guy feel insulted and demeaned by a liberal elitist.

I wish Spock were here.

Hillary is simply going for every vote she can get. The better question is why do the Republicans want to help her out so much? One good reason is they have been preparing to go up against her for years and they have ample ammo on her. Another reason is they know giving her the nomination will split the party at this point and the Democrats will lose the all important Black vote. Also, Hillary's base is solidified for the most part so the Independent vote will go mostly to McCain as opposed to going to Obama if he's the nominee. Basically no matter how you slice it Hillary is a loser in the general and we can't afford that, again.

crob and krag! Other than your names go together extremely well......Great points both by both you!

"Not everyone who watches Fox is a Republican."

And even if that weren't true, when did it become a crime to talk to republicans? Don't these people pay taxes and vote? Why are they suddenly beneath our contempt? A large part of my family falls into that group, they are good people who do not deserve to be looked down on because they hold a different political point of view. Some of these people are very disappointed by the current administration and are open to something new. But...no, let's not reach out to them because we don't like their choice in news channel. That makes a lot of sense.

Not everyone who watches Fox is a Republican.

That's like saying everyone in San Fransico is a homosexual.

Or that everyone is Pennsylvania is a bitter, uneducated blue collar worker.

Maybe we're allowing ourselves to get caught up in stereotypes and we're alienating viewers who may be less strident in their political views then we give them credit for?

Yes the journalists on Fox suck, but should we dismiss the viewers for the sins of Fox?

True, Fox News is bad journalism with a right-leaning bent -- but we shouldn't make the mistake of assuming that ALL Fox's audience are hardcore Bush supporting borderline neo-Nazis obsessed with gay marriage and guns.

And maybe that assumption is costing us in the heartland?

Maybe this is why Dems have the reputation as being elitist? Isn't that what we're doing with Fox News? Just assuming the worst about the audience? Thinking they're all idiots who wouldn't ever vote for either Barrak or Hillary?

So now both Democratic candidates can state they pandered to Republicans on Fox. Another similarity.

republican in democratic clothing

Hillary has already been on Fox News before, no big deal. Hill isn't scared.

"Ole Bill" will go lightly since she is daring to face off with him... I thought that she would go with Gretta... I give her credit. She is one tough girl!

Wow, Hillary is no joke. She will do absolutely ANYTHING at this point. If that doesn't tell you all you need to know nothing will.

Still, Crob, that would damage Hillary, and not further her campaign.

This woman is already seen as jaded, sneaky, distrusted, dishonest, disingenuous, and, worst of all, in Rupert Murdoch's hip pocket. She needs to focus on winning 69% of the votes left to be cast by a crowd who trusts that nitwit O'Reilly about as far as we can pitch an elephant. She doesn't need anything to add to her astronomical negatives at this point. Voters are tired of the vitriolic contention Hillary has for Obama taking up time in the discourse where we need to hear about important issues. Voters don't need her on this show going long and caustic with this idiot asking deliberately leading questions about her opponent. We heard enough about him from Chris Matthews last week. We need her to get off the low road to gutter opportunism and start taking the high road to glory. Win with some doggone dignity and integrity for refreshing change.

You could be right. Besides, it sure seems the republican party wants Hillary as the nomonee because they think she's easier to beat in this election. Isn't that why they were supposedly telling followers to switch parties and vote for Hillary?

On the other hand, Bill has a bad disposition and a personality that is hard to control and I'm not sure how "well behaved" he can be with any democrat. It will be interesting, no doubt about that.

Maybe we're not giving Hillary enough credit?

Maybe Hillary knows that Bill hates Obama and all his questions will be in the vein of:

"So, Hillary, how badly do you think Rev. Wrights comments will hurt Obama?"

"Let's talk policy, Sen. Clinton. You're healthcare plan covers everyone and Obama's doesn't. Why do you care more about America than he does?"

Bill may not like Hillary, but I feel as though he hates Obama even more and will try to help her win votes with slanted questions.

Would Bill rather spend 4 years ranting about a Clinton or being accused of racism for ranting about our first African American President?

I wouldn't put it past Bill to think like that.

Krag, your keyboard to God's screen.

My worry for Hillary is that dingbat Louffa Boy. Even his intended aid and comfort can witlessly become an iron anchored netting of cinderblocks to someone struggling at the deep end of the ocean. He's proof sometimes that the road going directly to hell is paved well with the good intentions of some real idiots who honestly mean no harm, but, alas, have done nothing good and helpful.

You know it's bad when even I'm worried and feeling sorry for Hillary. This is Louffa Boy on Fixed Noise where carnage is fairly unbalanced.

See I don't think it's going down like that. I think he'll be somewhat respectful and toss her some softball questions. She'll come out of this interview smelling like a rose. The republicans have no interest in this nomination battle doing anything but continuing.

At least that my prediction. We'll see.

"Chris Wallace and Bill O'Reily might look the same to the outside observer (both jerks) but there is a difference between them."

Yeah, Chris Wallace's ignorance is limited by his shame, while Louffa Boy whore'Reily is absolutely shameslessly ignorant at all times.

Woe be unto Shillary and all the Fixed Noised viewing inhabitants of this earth who dare to witness that pinhead screaming to cut Hillary's mike the very first time she nervously exhibits her smart a$$-side as her defence mechanism during this inquisition. I hope she's prepared to laugh at all this jokes and make him feel like the journalist he's told his dog he is.

ivxx - Ha! You know it . . . there's Fox and then there's FOX. This is the "shut up!" guy.

Whoa! Good luck with that. O'Reilly can be really nasty and rude, we'll see how she does.

So I think Hillary can say it went well if O'Reily even waits for a response before he starts informing her how wrong she is and how infallible he is.

The problem here is that Hillary is lumping all of Fox News together and not seeing the subtle classes-within-classes.

Even among regular Fox viewers Bill O'Reily is held in some disdain. Well, actually a lot of disdain. Just because people watch Fox News doesn't mean they love all parts of it equally.

To me this simply enforces how Hillary is out of touch with America or at least isn't very good at picking up on subtle cues. If you spend too much time outside a specific culture, then you lose touch with it and can't relate to it anymore. Or if you were never really apart of it to begin with it could be impossible to understand as an outsider. Take Parise Hilton. From her vantage point she won't see any difference between Target or Kmart or Wal-mart. She never shops there and to her they are roughly identical in price and merchandise. To her Kmart is just the same as Target. But to the middle class there is a HUGE difference between the three. Huge. People (even if unconsciously) will infer a lot about your background depending on which one you go to.

Same with Fox News.

Chris Wallace and Bill O'Reily might look the same to the outside observer (both jerks) but there is a difference between them.

I think Hillary's decision to go on O'Reily's show will cost her points on both the Dem side AND the Fox viewer side.

Well I do.

I didn't think it was wrong for Obama to go on Fox and I don't think it's wrong for Hillary. I'll reserve judgement for what she has to say. Which if her recent interviews are any indication (come on everybody...let's nuke Iran), I'm sure there will be plenty to talk about.

Bill O'Reily sucks though. I don't need to see a second more of footage on that gas bag to form an opinion.

If it's good enough for Obama, it's good enough for her. They are both panderers to Republicans anyway. Amazing the double standard some have about it. And gee, Murdoch supports her and his daughter supports Obama. One big happy family.

Hell, why not? It's probably part of her promised Murdoch support for her campaign.

Gross