# Bill O'Reilly's pre-Superbowl interview with President Obama **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 7, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541 "2011-02-07T17:21:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/41 "2011-02-08T19:54:39Z")
If he were wearing a tie for a Superbowl party, he would have been inappropriately dressed. Being President does not mean “wear a tie for absolutely everything no matter what”. ---
**Author:** ![Gustav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Gustav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gustav)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/42 "2011-02-08T19:56:13Z")
Far as I’m concerned “the head of state of the most powerful nation in the world” means you can wear pretty much whatever you damn like. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/43 "2011-02-08T20:23:01Z")
> [@Gustav](#): > > Far as I’m concerned “the head of state of the most powerful nation in the world” means you can wear pretty much whatever you damn like. Howabout a wife beater? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/44 "2011-02-08T20:33:27Z")
Heck, he can wear a third-world beater. He’s the _president_. ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/45 "2011-02-08T20:36:23Z")
As far as I’m concerned the higher your station the sloppier you should dress. Really, who does Bill Gates have to impress? Why not wear sweats to meetings? The President is the most powerful person in the world he can wear whatever he wants. How petty can one be? “That Obama, I’d respect his policies a little more if he’d let his hair grow out.”? What is this, 1964? We still judge people by what kind of shirt they’re wearing? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/46 "2011-02-08T22:07:08Z")
Little flag pins seem to be important to some people. Not to me, though. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/47 "2011-02-09T01:17:18Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Actually, Obama interrupted O’Reilly by starting to answer questions before he finished answering them. This is an inaccurate statement. AND YOU FUCKING KNOW IT. From the transcript posted above. I’m only going to post the ends of statements including the interruption. Back to back statements (no extra line break) indicate sequential interruptions. > [@O'Reilly Interview Transcript](#): > > OBAMA: So, I’m just glad these guys are – > O’REILLY: Those guys could have died. > > OBAMA: …but one that is a meaningful transition and that leads to a government that’s – > O’REILLY: So, you don’t know when he’s going to leave? > OBAMA: Well, you know, ultimately, the United States can’t absolute dictate – > O’REILLY: You can’t force him to leave. > > OBAMA: They don’t have majority support in Egypt. They are – > O’REILLY: Are they a threat? > > O’REILLY: But you don’t wan [SIC] the Muslim Brotherhood… > OBAMA: What I want a representative government in Egypt. > OBAMA: Well, I don’t think that’s… > O’REILLY: The Supreme Court is going to hear this one way or the other. > OBAMA: if you have ideas that I can embrace on things like… > O’REILLY: They’re not going to bother with it, though. > > OBAMA: I mean, if you’re talking about the Wall Street Journal editorial page… > O’REILLY: I’ve got to tell you, that’s what this is. > OBAMA: You know, that’s like quoting the New York Times editorial… > O’REILLY: Do you deny the assessment? > > OBAMA: And that’s something that I think that the majority of Americans… > O’REILLY: OK, but you understand that a lot of Americans feel you’re a big government liberal who wants to intrude on their personal freedom. Now, they also say that you have been moving – now, that’s – come on, you know that… > OBAMA: I think that a lot of folks who watch you don’t believe that. > > OBAMA: And now our focus is not on refighting the battle of the last two years… > O’REILLY: So you’re not moving to the center? > OBAMA: I haven’t – I didn’t move to… > O’REILLY: You haven’t moved anywhere? You’re the same guy? > > OBAMA: You know, you can’t go to the corner… > O’REILLY: Everybody watching every move you make. > > OBAMA: You don’t have the best… > O’REILLY: So it’s like wave after wave of complicated problems and there you are. > > OBAMA: It could affect… > O’REILLY: I know that. > OBAMA: Well, that – look… > O’REILLY: Preoccupied? > > OBAMA: And for all the arguing that we get into and all the debates between Democrats and Republicans… > O’REILLY: A tremendous country. Right? It is. > > OBAMA: No. Because you know that if you just… > O’REILLY: Doesn’t it annoy you sometimes? > > OBAMA: You know, barbecue – > (CROSSTALK) > O’REILLY: But are you going to watch the game? Are you going to – > OBAMA: Of course. I’ll watch the game. > > OBAMA: I’m not going to – > O’REILLY: You know, like, football, you know, like, blitzes and coverage and all that? By my count, O’Reilly interrupted the President of the United States 19 times. including 5 times sequentially. The President of the United States interrupted an opinion broadcaster, invited into his home on Superbowl Sunday, 3 times. One of which was AFTER he’d been interrupted by said blowhard. Another time is apparently during a time of “(CROSSTALK)”, but I gave you that one anyway. Look I know you’re a right winger, but at least be an ACCURATE right winger, for Christ’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/48 "2011-02-09T01:47:59Z")
O’Reilly’s apparent surprise that the president might be familiar with football reminded me of his comments after having dinner at Sylvia’s Restaurant. (In September 2007, he ate at the famous Harlem soul food restaurant with the Reverend Al Sharpton. Later, on his own radio show, he said, “I couldn’t get over the fact that there was no difference between Sylvia’s restaurant and any other restaurant in New York City. I mean, it was exactly the same, even though it’s run by blacks, primarily black patronship.” He also said to Juan Williams, “There wasn’t one person in Sylvia’s who was screaming, ‘M-Fer, I want more iced tea.’ You know, I mean, everybody was - it was like going into an Italian restaurant in an all-white suburb in the sense of people were sitting there, and they were ordering and having fun. And there wasn’t any kind of craziness at all.”) ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/49 "2011-02-09T01:57:13Z")
Wow. So, uh, did O’Reilly draw any conclusions from that experience? And how does anybody miss that Obama is a sports guy? I heard him mention basketball, baseball and football–not stupid politician platitudes, but actual fan comments–all before he was inaugurated. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/50 "2011-02-09T02:26:33Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > This is an inaccurate statement. AND YOU FUCKING KNOW IT. > > From the transcript posted above. I’m only going to post the ends of statements including the interruption. Back to back statements (no extra line break) indicate sequential interruptions. > > By my count, O’Reilly interrupted the President of the United States 19 times. including 5 times sequentially. The President of the United States interrupted an opinion broadcaster, invited into his home on Superbowl Sunday, 3 times. One of which was AFTER he’d been interrupted by said blowhard. Another time is apparently during a time of “(CROSSTALK)”, but I gave you that one anyway. > > Look I know you’re a right winger, but at least be an ACCURATE right winger, for Christ’s sake. You obviously are unaware of **Clothahump’s** posting style and history on this board with regard to…well…pretty much anything. ---
**Author:** ![brocks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@brocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brocks)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/51 "2011-02-09T02:31:04Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > It boils down to this: who’s gonna pay for it? And the answer is that the U. S. government is going to force Peter to pay for Paul’s health insurance, and that is just wrong. Regardless of how many times they have done it before, such as the boondoggle of Medicare. Our economy simply can’t handle it. There are only two alternatives: either you simply let people die for lack of care, or you have them wait until whatever they have is serious enough that they can be admitted to an emergency room, which will be MUCH more costly to you, and have a much worse outcome for the patient. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/52 "2011-02-09T02:36:27Z")
He probably thinks requiring ERs to give service to everyone who actually needs care is unjustified government intrusion. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/53 "2011-02-09T03:48:05Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Oh, come now. It boils down to this: who’s gonna pay for it? And the answer is that the U. S. government is going to force Peter to pay for Paul’s health insurance, and that is just wrong. Regardless of how many times they have done it before, such as the boondoggle of Medicare. Our economy simply can’t handle it. If only we could look to other countries and see what their cost is for universal coverage, and what the outcome of UHC is. ETA: Becuase if other countries ahd lower costs than the US and still provided UHC with good results then I am sure that liberals and conservatives would agree that it is a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/54 "2011-02-09T03:53:51Z")
> [@sh1bu1](#): > > ETA: Becuase if other countries ahd lower costs than the US and still provided UHC with good results then I am sure that liberals and conservatives would agree that it is a good idea. Optimist… ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/55 "2011-02-09T04:01:51Z")
If Obama had been wearing a tie, the story would have been about what an out-of-touch elitist he must be to wear a coat and tie to a pre-Super Bowl interview. O’Reilly should consider himself lucky that the President put on pants for him. I’d have been tempted to conduct the interview through the door of the Oval Office crapper. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/56 "2011-02-09T13:23:33Z")
Every time Bill-O interrupted Obama: [http://gawker.com/#!5755578/every-single-time-bill-oreilly-interrupted-obama](http://gawker.com/#!5755578/every-single-time-bill-oreilly-interrupted-obama) ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/57 "2011-02-09T16:34:58Z")
I generally like to watch Obama interviews but passed on this one because I don’t care for O’Reilly’s style. He’s rude and caustic, and asks stupid questions. If you score a big interview, you should try hard to make the best of your time and ask good questions. So, O’Reilly really asked Obama about people ‘hating’ him? How dumb is that? What’s Obama gonna say- “I hate them back” ? What a dumb question and a waste of time. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/58 "2011-02-09T20:19:00Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > So, O’Reilly really asked Obama about people ‘hating’ him? How dumb is that? What’s Obama gonna say- “I hate them back” ? > > What a dumb question and a waste of time. What I took away from the whole exchange (and the equally idiotic, condescending questions about whether Obama knows football) was that O’Reilly, in typically clumsy fashion, was trying to drive home the point that Obama somehow masks his true personality and views; that he’s a phony. That’s been a pretty common theme of conservative criticism of the man, and taken to an extreme, results in nonsense such as the rumors of him being a Kenya-born muslim. I will say that I’m generally pretty loose on the protocols of office. If I didn’t have any particular problem with Jon Stewart’s treatment of a Presidential interview, I wouldn’t with O’Reilly, although the latter did come off about 20 times as obonxious as the former. That’s fine, though; Mr. Bill presented himself as precisely the sort of jackass he has been throughout most of his career. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/59 "2011-02-10T03:26:01Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > O’Reilly came off as kind of an idiot How could that have happened? Did somebody miss their cue? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2011, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541/60 "2011-02-10T03:37:00Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > How could that have happened? Did somebody miss their cue? They forgot to give him control of the president’s mike. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreillys-pre-superbowl-interview-with-president-obama/570541.md?page=4)