Obama & O'Reilly

Bill O'Reilly interviewed Obama recently. The first part of the video aired on Fox last night:

Although I think Obama did a reasonably good job of addressing the issues, I continue to be disappointed with how he handles "spin"terviews such as Bill O'Reilly and Rick Warren conduct. McCain ends up appearing stronger in these venues, because he panders to the audience by providing tidy little stump-speech soundbite answers, which highlight his cock-sure decisiveness but offer nothing to suggest he has an adult-level understanding of the issues.

At what point will it become standard operating procedure (for all public figures) to address not just the words of the questions, but their unspoken premises? I know Obama's got it in him. It's what he did with Jon Ralston a while back. So why doesn't he stick to it?

And with all Bill's interrupting, Obama should have said to him sternly and in no uncertain terms:

"Bill, you're asking me simple-sounding questions but these are very complex, important issues. It takes more than a couple of sentences to do them justice, and the American people deserve the opportunity to hear what I have to say about them. You're going to have to allow me the opportunity to give you honest, complete answers, or there can be no point in continuing this conversation."

Next instance:

"Bill, if you're not going to permit me to respond to your questions, you are not conducting an honest or ethical interview. This is not how adults communicate. I am not avoiding your questions; you are avoiding my answers. I understand that as president, I may have to contend with some belligerent, bellicose leaders of foreign nations, but this is beneath you, and beneath the American people."

Third instance:

"Mr. O'Reilly, unless you are intentionally positioning yourself as hostile to me, you need to let me answer your questions completely and honestly. Otherwise, it's safe to say that diplomacy has failed, and just as if I were negotiating with a hostile foreign leader, I will move away from talks and on to sanctions."

If O'Reilly doesn't immediately adopt and maintain a more respectful tone, the response should be:

"You've made your choice, Mr. O'Reilly. I regret that you have chosen to serve yourself, rather than the American public, and I cannot be party to this. Goodbye."